We've been thinking a lot about politics this fall thanks to the 2004 presidential election. While Election Day was a week away when we finished this issue of the Leader, today we know the outcome of the presidential race. Or at least I'm assuming we will not have had a delay. Some of us will have celebrated because our candidate of choice was declared the winner and we are confident our country is still/again on the right course. Others of us will have seen our candidate defeated and subsequently may be concerned about the future of our nation. We may also be concerned about political events in other parts of the world. I'm thinking specifically of places like Iraq and Afghanistan where U.S troops are on the ground.
These and other international events prompted us to focus this issue of the Leader on national politics. We begin with a sermon preached 10 years ago during a time of great change in the international political climate. Author Nadine Pence Frantz reminds us that God is involved in politics and that we are witnesses to his work. Her message is paired with reflections from a Mennonite Central Committee worker living in South Africa at the time of that coyntry's first free election, an event that Frantz anticipates in her sermon
Mennonite Brethren in Paraguay give testimony to God's gracious hand in the political changes their country is currently experiencing. A president who is affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren church and who has appointed MBs to key national leadership positions currently governs Paraguay. Their story begins on page 7. The Democratic Republic of Congo is another nation in which MBs hold influential positions John H Redekop recently visited DR Congo and gave 12 lectures, including the one reprinted in this issue , to church and political leaders in that country. His challenge to the Congolese-and to all Christians-is to pray for our leaders, a request Paraguay 's leaders echo .
Governance has also been a recent priority among u.S. Conference leaders In late September the new USC Leadership Board met together for the first time. A report of that event is included in the news section along with an interview with Randy Friesen, newly appointed MBMS International general director
The theme of God at work in our world is also reflected in the news section. Zoar MB Church of Inman , Kan ., one of the oldest Krimmer MB Churches, celebrated its 125th anniversary this fall and we review their ministry. From Kansas we go to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where a recent fire near the MB church has brought ministry opportunities along with threats of violence This summer we introduced readers to a German Mennonite couple who refused to abort their conjoined twins. While their story doesn't have a fairytale ending, we none the less see God's hand at work in their experience . Readers interested in assisting victims of this fall 's remarkable hurricane season will find an update from Mennonite agencies on relief efforts May these stories inspire you to give witness to God's work in the world -CF
COMING
• NOVEMBER 19·21 - Southern District Conference youth convention, Pine Acres MB Church, Weatherford, Okla
• JANUARY 23, 200S - World Fellowship Sunday sponsored by Mennonite World Conference
is believing
Review the events of the past decade, and you will see that we have been witnesses to the many changes and movements of God in the world around us BY NADINE PENCE FRANTZ
5 Remembering South Africa's first democratic election
Witnessing South Africa's 1994 elections causes one Mennonite Central Committee worker to consider her role in supporting elected officials BY LEONA DUECK PENNER 7 Cleaning up their act
If Paraguay's President Nicanor Duarte Frutos succeeds in cleaning up his country, Mennonite Brethren will share in the accomplishment. Here's why. BY
WALLY KROEKER
Appointees tackle taxes, corruption
Three Mennonite Brethren businessmen are working to help Paraguay's Duarte bring his country to moral and fiscal responsibility
How can I most effectively pray for governments? Are there common concerns to address regardless of the nation in which I live and whether or not I support my country's leaders? Consider these sugge stions BY JOHN H. REDEKOP
Reflections on Congolese politics and faith
John H Redekop talks about his opportunity to address national policy- makers and religious leaders , including cabinet members and the vice president, during a recent trip to DR Congo
DEPARTMENTS
Ph'lip Side by Philip Wiebe 16
• Stop the exaggerations, please Inquiring Minds by Marvin Hein 17
• How real is the Amish practice of rumspringa On the Journey . by Rose Buschman 18
• I just saw JESUS Conference Call. by Chuck Buller 19
• " Come
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By Nadine
Seeing is believing
Is God involved in politics? Yes! Consider the events of the past decade.
All of us are wjtnesses.
All of us are witnesses to the many changes and movements of God in the world around us.
When future generations ask us about the opening of the Eastern bloc , we will be able to tell them the story of how the borders were opened and how the Berlin Wall came down. When they ask how our perception of the Soviet Union changed from that of the "Evil Empire" to that where the Soviet president could walk down a Washington D.C. street shaking hands, we will be able to tell them stories of politics and perestroika. When they ask us about the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Mrica, we can tell them the story of Nelson Mandela and President De Klerk
All of us are witnesses to the many movements of the Spirit around us.
The book of Acts tells us how faithful, devout Jews were coming to the city of Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost. They came from every nation, to celebrate the Festival of Weeks which marks the 50th day after Passover and the harvest of the firstfruits of the season They came upon a house where the followers of the one who called himself Jesus of Nazareth were staying and heard from inside the house strange, bewildering things. There were a multitude of languages being spoken and yet the ones inside were all Galileans. They were speaking about God's power and deeds and yet the one they called the Christ had been killed 40 days before. "They are filled with new wine," was the comment, "there can be no other explanation."
"It is all politics," we say, "nothing could really change South Mrican apartheid that quickly."
I held out for a long time in disbelief, assuming there would be little change in , South Mrica I despite what /President De Klerk said. I was one of the cynics watching the release of the
political prisoners, thinking they would never dare release Nelson Mandela And even with his release, I didn't believe he would be taken seriously "It's all superficial," I said, "the South Mrican government could never seriously consider a change so radical and so deep." But I and the other skeptics were wrong.
New wine or not, the disciples are proclaiming that Jesus is risen, that he is not dead Not drunk, but filled with ecstatic excitement, the followers of Jesus are proclaiming that it is indeed Jesus who is the expected Messiah.
All of us are witnesses to the change and movement and presence of the Spirit around us. All of us are witnesses to the surprising ways in which God moves and acts Who could have anticipated such things? Who could have plotted them out? Who could know where the Wind will blow next?
My husband and I struggled for years to have children. We went through tests, procedures, more tests and medications. We were on quite a medical regimen to see if we could have a child. Emotionally exhausted, we took a break from it all, to see what was ahead, to see if we wanted to go on with any more medical options.
Then, out of the blue, there came a call from a friend in Bakers-
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT
high school girl who had decided she could not raise it?" In six months, we held Bryan and we became parents, not as we expected, not as we had planned and calculated, but fully and truly parents, none the less God does come . God does act . That is Peter's sermon to the crowd at Pentecost. "Fellow Israelites," he says, "let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. God has raised from the dead the one who was crucified. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the one who will bring all our enemies to our feet, the one who will bring about the reign of God. Listen, all you faithful and devout people. The reign of God is not coming in the way that you expect. The reign of God is coming through the one named Jesus who is the Christ And the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him" (ACts 2:32-39, paraphrase) God does come. God does act. But most likely not in the way we expect, not in the ways we predict. Whenever we gather together for communion, whenever we take the bread and the cup, we anticipate, as a body, the presence of God in and among us Coming together at the
table of the Lord is our way of opening ourselves to the presence of the Spirit and to its movement in our lives.
But we do not know how that will be manifested . We do not know how we will be touched as a body. Who we are and how we are God's is in God's hands We are but witnesses of all that takes place. We are only able to watch it, experience it and proclaim it. We do not bring it about.
As the United States of America we have set ourselves up as the protector of democracy, as the deliverer of freedom to the world. We have planned carefully how to bring that about; we have calculated our resources and our might and have invested it in countries we thought had a chance of moving towards democracy, countries that would respond to our help with a shift in the balance of power And while we tinkered and plotted in Central America, in another corner of the world the Berlin Wall came down, and the Eastern borders opened. While we miscalculated the devastating effect of our actions in the Iran-Contra affair, the Spirit blew elsewhere and the power of God changed the shape of the world we live in.
God does act. God does come. Whether we're there
Remembering South Africa's first democratic election
An MCC worker recalls a once-in-a-lifetime election
Time and again, while we lived in South Africa, my husband Peter and I experienced what it was like to be at the brink of civil war as
along racial and tribal lines sought to sort out their differences so that a free vote could be held.
The months before the 1994 elections were incredibly tense We were often afraid to turn on the evening news because of what we might hear-there were so many politically related killings In our province there were around 300 deaths per month, including children who happened to be caught in the crossfire .
On the Easter weekend just before the election, there was a particularly brutal killing of a young
woman who was praying for peace at the foot of a cross in "no man's land." We found this death especially devastating because we felt as though we knew her.
On Good Friday, we had joined thousands of other South African Christians in a silent march for peace through Durban. This woman and several others from the same troubled township carried a cross at the head of the procession. The cross was made from timber taken from houses that had been burned down during the conflict.
That same cross, a few days later, figured in her death . Her name was Nomfazi Ethel Danisa and she was only 25 years old. She was just one of the many thousands who died so that
• the people of South Mrica could have their first democratic, peaceful election
On the day of the voting, April 24, 1994, Peter and I walked th e streets of Durban, checking on what was
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT
or not. Whether we are inside the house receiving the tongues oUtre or whether we are outside watching it happen. There are times when all we can do is repent; there are times when all we can do is bow before the almighty presence of God and repent of our past actions that have been against God's presence and God's spirit, repent of our actions which have hindered the Spirit, and be baptized into the new reality that is before us
Most likely, we will find ourselves receiving the good news in unanticipated ways rather than our calculated ways. God moves and acts and sometimes we are but witnesses.
But then we are given the power of witnessing to others of the mighty acts we have seen Then we are asked to repent and believe and proclaim that what we have experienced is of God. The miracle of Pentecost, the birth of the church, is that those who were outside heard and believed. They saw the events, heard the tongues of fire and then were convinced by Peter that what they had seen and heard was of God. And they welcomed this message, repented and were baptized, about 3,000 ofthem .
According to Acts 2, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in
happening . What we saw was truly amazing . People of every age and hue stood silently for hours in long queues, waiting to cast their vote Some had brought chairs and drinks along Many had umbrellas to shield them from the sun Some were feeding newborn babies.
There was no evidence of irritability over the long wait , nor any of the boisterous laughing and shoving that usually accompanies celebratory events. People's faces were serious and there was a feeling of awe in the air It was only after they had marked their ballots that the smiles broke out. '
Peter commented that it reminded him of an especially significant communion service where everyone lines up prayerfully to receive the bread and wine . After partaking, people return to their seats with their faces shining.
Later, we heard stories of how p e ople who had never interacted before suddenly
6 • THE C HRISTIAN LEADER
the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people" (42-47a)
That was the miracle of Pentecost-that so many who had anticipated God would come to them in the form of a king, as a new David, now were touched by God and believed he had come in the form of the crucified and resurrected Christ, the one they had known as Jesus.
All of us are witnesses. We are witnesses to the many events around us that demonstrate the movement and action of God in our lives We are witnesses to the surprising, new beginnings which the Spirit brings to our lives, which require us to repent, to change our ways and to follow one we previously thought was of no account.
And all of us are witnesses as our lives and our words proclaim what it means to follow the one whom we call Christ, follow the one we knew as Jesus, the one who died and was then resurrected May our lives reflect that change in direction, that new power, that following after the Jesus who calls us.
This article is reprinted from All Are Witnesses, a collection of sermons preached in North American Mennonite Brethren churches and published in 1996 by Kindred Productions. Frantz is currently a member of the Bethany Theological Seminary faculty and is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren. She came to Bethany from MB Biblical Seminary where she taught in theology and church history. This Pentecost sermon was preached in 1990 at College Community Church in Clovis, Calif.
felt they were citizens working together to create a single nation. There were stories of people sharing each other's food and of elderly people in extreme ill health determined to cast their votes
One 100-year-old crippled woman was brought to the polling station in a wheelbarrow. After voting she announced that now she could die in peace for with that mark she had reclaimed her humanity.
In my fax to Mennonite Central Committee the next day I wrote: "It 's as though I've participated in a birth, a birth which included a lengthy labor involving major heart-stopping complications a birth which required miracles of grace and peace throughout the labor, a birth which brought forth a new child, a new nation, highly vulne rable and dripping with blood .... "
Clearly, the emotion s of that day far outweighed what I felt on our recent
(Canadian) election day That was a oncein-a-lifetime experience But maybe we should count our blessings a little more often and take responsibility not only for choosing the leaders of our country but also praying for them and holding them accountable to their God-given duty to govern with truth, justice and compassion
Leona Dueck Penner is the national correspondent for The Mennonite, the publication of Mennonite Church Canada She and her husband Peter served with Mennonite Central Committee in Africa over three decades (in Zambia : 19 70- 76, Swaziland/Mozambique: 1981-85, Botswana/ South Africa: 1991-1995). This photo by Dueck Penner shows South Africans lining up to vote during elections in 1994. This article was first printed in the July 12 , 2004 issue of The Mennonite and is reprinted with permission
If Paraguay's new president wins his war on corruption, much of the credit can go to a revival in the Mennonite church and business community.
When Nicanor Duarte Frutos became president of Paraguay a year ago, some people rolled their eyes at his pledge to clean up the country Knowing how easily such pro mises are m ade , they may have thought, "Yeah . Right. Show u s ."
Many of the country's 35,000 Mennonites were intrigued that the new president was a Christian whose wife was a baptized member of a Mennonite Brethren church Then they saw him move quickly to appoint some of their own business leaders to key posts in what he called his "frontal attack on corruption "
While some Mennonites may have questioned whether he could pull it off, others have felt refreshing new breezes . Things may be changing after all. And if they do, Mennonite church and business leaders deserve part of the credit.
For people of conviction, doing business in Paraguay hasn ' t been easy. It's hard to run a clean business in a climate of kickbacks and bribes. It takes a lot to play by the rules while competitors take shortcuts, evade taxes and import black market goods Even many Christians have not been up to the challenge .
To grasp the intricacies of a Christian business witness in Paraguay, one needs to re call the 34-year reign of Alfredo Stroessner, the world ' s second longest serving dictator. Businesses routinely kept "parallel" books-
an accurate set for themselves and one or more fictional sets for the state Many transactions went unrecorded and thus untaxed . Paying bribes was ch e aper. The state knew what was going on and set exorbitant tax rates to
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT
compensate.
"It was impossible to be honest under the Stroessner regime," says one longtime observer. "The legal system was a mess . There existed a legal labyrinth where everyone was illegal, where everyone was guilty and had to depend on the grace of those in power."
Corruption and blackmail were woven into the economic fabric Bribes were necessary everywhere because there were a lot of legitimate things you couldn't buy legally. By some estimates, thriving black and grey markets comprised up to 60 percent of the legitimate goods bought and sold in Paraguay What you couldn't buy legally, you couldn't account for legally, hence the need for multiple sets of books.
"Everyone did it," was a common complaint. Many Mennonite businesspeople admitted they were not proud of the compromises they made to keep operating Everyone wanted out of it, but dismantling a system takes time
Then along came Duarte, whose avowed goal is to make Paraguay a "respectable nation." His wife, Maria Gloria, is a baptized member of the Spanish-speaking Iglesia Rakes Mennonite Brethren Church in Asuncion, the capital. The new president, though not a member, attends and relates closely to church leaders . Victor Wall, one of the pastors, says Duarte is a believer who identifies strongly with the congregation and shares his faith with his cabinet "Politically, he pays a price for his com-
mitment to Christ," says Wall.
Duarte represents an unusual blend of the free market and social agendas. No one calls him a neo-liberal, but nor is he way out on the left, despite the presence of Cuban leader Fidel Castro at his presidential installation. This created jitters in Washington D.C., and soon Duarte was invited to the White House for a visit with U.S. President George W. Bush and his family. By all reports they got along well . Bush made a favorable impression by speaking comfortably about spiritual matters.
Not enough of an impression, however, to persuade Paraguay to join the war in Iraq Pressured at various levels to do so, Duarte explained that not only did his country's recent constitution renounce the use ofviolence to establish peace , but also that his MB connection made it impossible for him to support such an initiative. In the subsequent news coverage his country's largest newspaper quoted a portion of the peace text from the MB Confession of Faith
One of those who believes the president has serious intentions is Alfred Neufeld, MB leader and dean of theology at the Evangelical University of Paraguay. He is currently spending his sabbatical year studying and writing in Manitoba.
Three years ago some Mennonite leaders were invited to Duarte's home (that was when he was minister of education but had set his sights on higher things). Over dinner the future president outlined his plans to attack corruption . "Someone has to do the job," he said.
Duarte's own Colorado Party shares blame for the state of Paraguay's affairs. It is also the party of former strongman president Stroessner and has been in power since 1947. Since the opposition is ineffectual, Duarte reportedly recognizes that renewal must come from within.
When he came to power in August 2003, he showed his colors quickly. He named four Mennonites to senior government posts, including two to his cabinet, even though they had not been elected and were not party members. Appointing them, as well as two other outsiders to sensitive pOSitions, flew in the face of the common practice of bestowing plum jobs on party cronies, but it gained him credibility among the opposition as well as with foreign leaders
• Carlos Walde, who holds a ministerial rank as economic advisor to the preSident, runs Chacomer, a large distribution company, and has other holdings in construction, car accessories and motorcycles. His father, Kornelius Walde , was for many years the central business manager for the five Mennonite colonies. Over the past decade Carlos Walde has pioneered efforts to
Appointees tackle taxes, corruption
WHEN THE
ECONOMIST
reported on Paraguay ' s new president early this ye ar it used the headline , "Winning respect. " The authoritative magazine commended the efforts of Nicanor Duarte Frutos to bring his country to moral and fiscal respectability. It said his government wasted no time cracking down on tax evasion and corruption and imposing fiscal restraint "He was quick to sack several tainted officials , including some personal friends ," the magazine reported The succe ss of Duarte 's reforms has hung heavily on several of his appointees , including three men who are members of Mennonite Economic Development Associates Paraguay.
Carlos Walde ' s first task as economic advisor was to renegotiate Paraguay 's debt with the International Mone-
promote ethical vigor in business.
tary Fund and the World Bank. There was some urgency to this , as the government was ready to collapse. A $200 million standby credit had been arranged with the IMF, but it was contingent on visible progress in economic reforms , which Walde managed to produce . Hi s other big assignment was to work up a new tax law, which is close to being passed by Paraguay ' s Congress That has been a monumental task , as it includes the introduction of personal taxes. Brazil and Argentina have personal income tax , but it ' s not widespread in South America
AppOintee Ernst Bergen , minister of industry and commerce , set to the job of rooting corruption out his new department and improving the transparency of government business dealings He is trying to
• Ernst Bergen, minister of industry and commerce, is an agro-mechanical expert by background who has taken courses in leadership and management in Brazil, the U.S. and France. He started out as a caretaker for Record Electric and worked his way up to president. He also owns several other companies involved in air conditioning, computers and auto parts
• Andreas Neufeld, deputy minister of taxation, is a civil engineer who operated his own construction company for a time, then headed the Menno Colony's milk distribution in Asuncion-a big job, given that the Mennonite colonies supply most of the country's dairy products.
• Carlos Wiens was appointed director of the public health program, a deputy minister position . He was formerly medical director of Kilometer 81 , a leprosy facility, and very active in Paraguay 's national program for tuberculosis and leprosy.
Other members of Raices MB Church also serve in the current regime . Several members are high officials in several government ministries, and Jose Maria Argana is secretary of women's issues.
If Paraguay manages to make lasting changes, the Mennonite churches-along with leaders like Alfred Neufeld and Victor Wall-can take some of the credit for
clean up two industries run by the state- petrol and cementwhich have been hotbeds of corruption . He ;$0 raised the ethical bar for business generally, earning some critical approval of the local chapter of Transparency International He has sought to coax foreign investors to consider Paraguay and is given credit for improving the investment climate conSiderably This has included curbing software piracy and finding ways for underground sectors to come clean and join the formal economy.
Bergen 's efforts were recently praised by U.S ambassador John F. Keane , who was quoted in Asuncion 's leading newspaper as saying the department of industry and commerce had "made very important achievements " on the corruption front.
The third appointee ,
Andreas Neufeld , is the man responsible for collecting sales tax. "That makes him hated by almost everyone ," says Paraguayan Alfred Neufeld "It 's dangerous. He has to go after the big shots , including some party bosses who have big businesses ; they don ' t enjoy paying taxes ."
Tax avoidance goes deep in Paraguay Many stores won ' t bother charging the tax , unless you ask for a receipt.
Under Andreas Neufeld 's leadership , the government sent a signal by closing some businesses that sold goods without issuing receipts . It investigated supermarkets and found that some were charging tax but not submitting it to the government. Gradually the consciousness is growing that taxes have a good side-to provide revenue to support public programs.-WK
being a trim-tab on the rudder of change. They may emerge as a shining example of Mennonite theology making a difference in the public square.
Getting there, however, was a long process, says Neufeld, who cautions that the final chapter has not yet been written, and that things can change very quickly. He sees three related components.
(1) Pastors raised ethical issues
As Neufeld tells it, the overthrow of Stroessner in 1989 opened the door to new beginnings, and a lot began to change A new constitution in 1992 moved the country along the road to a meaningful brand of democracy. The legal system began to improve .
Mennonite leaders in the capital thought it was critical to rethink the church's image in mission and economic presence The two larger Mennonite churches (General Conference and Mennonite Brethren) worked together to create a new climate for ethical discernment. They began to hold monthly heart-to-hearts with businesspeople and pastors
Businesspeople rushed the opening doors and resolved to become a more visible Christian counter-culture . Some used their influence to lobby for better, more transparent laws .
Some turnarounds were dramatic . When a young Mennonite confronted a veteran businessman for having done "aU kinds of dirty business, " the older man replied, "Yes we did, but we got converted "
(2) Desire for renewal
At the same time, a number
of younger businessmen were longing for spiritual renewal. The Stroessner regime had not been conducive to the kind of behavior they desired. Relatedly, there had been some crises in the business community with alcohol and marital infidelity. There was a growing feeling among some younger people that historic Mennonite and German identity wasn't enough . They yearned for spiritual integrity and vitality.
(3) Hands-on service
As the Mennonite church worked to reinvent itself, more emphasis was put on various
of education, an advisory board to the public school system.
Many of these developments- ranging from prison ministry and political soul-searching to friendship evangelism and a new search for Anabaptist identity- became
Many of these develop-
ments- ranging from prison ministry and political soulsearching to friendship evan -
gelism and a new search for Anabaptist identity- become interwoven and helped fan the
breezes of reform.
interwoven and helped fan the breezes of reform
For a number of years Mennonites have pondered their role in Paraguayan society. Economically they have long held influence far beyond their numbers in the country of 5.5 million people. Their per capita income is 10 times the national average. They produce 80 percent of the country's dairy products. But was the political realm appropriate for them?
After Stroessner left power, Mennonites spent several years reviewing their public role, finally deciding, after much study of the writings of John Howard Yoder, that politicS should be seen as kinds of outreach. Businesspeo-
pie found new ways to express 1\ their faith. Carlos and Gisela Walde, for instance, opened their home to evangelistic Bible studies that attracted business and political contacts.
Ernst Bergen and Walde were among those who took economic risks to promote ethical behavior. Even before they got into government they were able to influence a lot of commercial laws to improve the legal system
Bergen also got involved in prison ministry and opened a halfway house . This exposure highlighted the role of meaningful employment in restoring offenders, and Mennonite employers were encouraged to provide jobs. Bergen still heads his congregation's mission at the Tacumbu prison.
Businessfolk saw new ways to mix social and economic efforts . Carlos Walde started giving preference to hearing-impaired people in his bicycle factory Today he has 10 such employees Some Mennonite employers began a chaplaincy program for staff
These thrusts symbolized revival in the business community. Fresh vigor came from efforts to stretch beyond traditional ethnic boundaries and start Spanishspeaking Mennonite churches, the kind attended by the president and his wife. Victor Wall , MB conference leader and pastor, was asked to join the national council
"service for the well-being of all." While they are ever conscious of the downside (having their own earlier examples of failure and embarrassment) they want to help curb corruption and promote education, health and economic wellbeing.
Neufeld tells the story of Ernst Bergen inviting the discernment of the church when he was asked to join the government. The question was raised: "Which is the greater sin- saying yes to serving in government or saying no?"
When Bergen gave his testimony to the congregation after he had accepted the government assignment, he said: "I don't know if 1 will stay three weeks, three months or five years in office. But what 1 am praying is, that when 1 step out, people might be able to say: 'He was faithful to Jesus.'"
To which many Mennonites in Paraguay are saying, ''Amen ''
Wally Kroeker is editor of Marketplace, the bimonthly publication of Mennonite Economic Development Associates Kroeker, a former Leader editor, lives in Winnipeg, Man , with his wife and is a member of River East MB Church This article first appeared in the September/October issue of Marketplace and is reprinted with permission.
The BiBle contains numerous statements about how Christians should relate to governmental authorities , and Jesus and other biblical teachers strongly affi gove ment institutions But relatively littleJs..said· Scripture about the place of political matters in a believer 's prayer life. How then should we pray for governments? What specific items , relating to government , should be on our prayer lists?
Although we do not have a model prayer concerning intercession for governments and although the Lord ' s Prayer (Matt 6) makes no reference to political authorities , we have sufficient instruction in this area to develop some guidelines and suggestions
We have a general biblical mandate to pray for othe rs according to their needs. We are also in stru cte d to proclaim the Good News to all and to invite all people to accept salvation and the Lordship of Christ. In 1 Tim 2 :1-3 we have a clear command to pray for governments The apostle Paul's words provide important guidelines "I urge , then , first of all , that requests , prayers , intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all holiness This is good , and pleases God our Savior "
As you pray for the government , some specifics will vary from one country or situation to another, and we may differ concerning some details Nevertheless the following list is a starting point. We should pray that rulers practice personal integrity. The peaceful functioning of government requires public trust and confidence . If rulers are seen to be dishonest and lacking in personal morality, then the fragile fabric of a stable and peaceful society may be threatened or even unravel. By setting a bad example, dishonest rulers send a message that it is acceptable to lie, steal , cheat , etc . Rulers should not be surprised if their citizens then do likewise . Honest tax collection , law enforcement and the general maintenance of law and
order become very difficult if rulers live by the axiom, "Do as I say, not as I do ."
The importance of personal integrity on the part of our rulers also extends to areas such as sexual behavior, treatment of spouse and children and a commitment to what has
been promised. Many a ruler has fallen from grace, or even lost his office, because of lack of integrity in these matters.
We should pray that rulers make wise decisions and rule justly. Our rulers are
extremely busy people The demands on their time are almost unbelievable They have little time to sit back and reflect. We oUght to pray that they will take time to assess what they are dOing, be committed to rule justly and have the courage to do what is just.
We should pray that governments do good to their citizens. Romans 13:4 is very emphatic: a ruler "is God's servant to do you good ." Depending on the most urgent needs of the population , doing good can take many forms It may involve listening to grievances and trying to address them appropriately It may involve helping the needy It may involve providing essential services It may involve providing protection The list of possibilities is long. The thrust of our prayers should be that governments correctly identify the good that they should do and then do it.
We should pray that governments restrain evil and be moral in punishing evildoers. We are reminded in Romans 13 that the punishment of evil is a basic
Reflections on Congolese politics and faith
John H. Redekop on his recent trip to DR Congo
SHOULD FULL FREEDOM BE GIVEN to all minorities , including Muslims , who , if they were the majority, likely would not give full freedom to others? Should Christians accept government positions when some of the policies are not acceptable to a Christian? Should a member of a MB church accept any leadership role in the national military establishment? How shall we pray for those in authOrity if our goal is to remove from office tho se who are in authority?
These are some of the many questions posed during sessions with Christian leaders and politicians June 9-12 while I was in the Democratic Republic of Congo . The trip got off to an interesting start given that when our plane landed a coup was underway. My associate and I took cover in the walled yard of a friendly Presbyterian taxi driver.
Although I have served as advisor and consultant to individual politicians and to government agencies in North America , I
have never before addressed such a large number of national policymakers and religious leaders , including a good number of Mennonite Brethren. It was my privilege to interact with cabinet members and Vice President Zahidi Ngoma. The press conference following the session with the vice president was a special time to underscore some key ideas. Of special Significance was the fact that a senior cabinet minister assisted me in various ways and set up some of the most important meetings with national political leaders. During most of this time , Nzash Lumeya served as translator and facilitator With his Congolese roots and expertise , not to mention language skills , his contribution was invaluable In some sessions other translators ably assisted me
In consultation with my hosts , I prepared 12 position papers that were translated and served as the basis for the seminars and workshops Some of the topiCS
my Congolese friends seemed to find most interesting were biblical guidelines for church-state relations , governing according to Christian ethics and God's requirements of Christian citizens These papers and my responses were the basis for some critical discussions in the weeks follOwing my visit.
I tried to emphasize several themes Political leaders should set aside corruption. Political leaders are God ' s agents and are accountable to him . Christians should pray diligently for governments as the Bible teaches Christians should see political activity, to the extent that Christian discipleship permits , as an arena of Christian service
The political leaders of DR Congo face truly daunting questions Revenues are scarce and needs are gigantic. Expatriate corporations send much of their profit out of the country. There is no national income tax system and unofficial "arrange-
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT
function of government. We are instructed in 1 Peter 2 :13-14 that the rightful punishment for evil deeds is a responsibility for government officials at all levels of government. In carrying out this function governments, unfortunately, often make huge mistakes. Punishment is sometimes arbitrary. It is sometimes out of line with the action being punished. Sometimes torture is used and sometimes there is carelessness concerning who is to be punished and so the innocent suffer. When this situation involves the use of the death penalty the outcome is truly tragic
While we should pray that our rulers-including judges and magistrates as the courts playa crucial role here-will restrain evil and punish wrongdoers. We should also pray that the rulers will try to address the causes of crime and that they will seek to employ redemptive policies whenever possible. In an increasing number of countries wrongdoers, especially youth, are being steered away from a life of crime by victim-offender initiatives, sentences involving restitution, sentences
involving community service and other positive corrective initiatives.
Christians, especially, should be looking for enlightened ways of addreSSing evil and dealing with evildoers Evil cannot be ignored, but often there are better options than harsh imprisonment. We should pray that such options will be pursued and implemented
We should pray that those who goveru have the health and strength to carry out their God-given tasks. While our governmental leaders may be exalted in human terms, they are mere human beings with typical frailties and weaknesses. They have awesome responsibilities and they need good health and strength. It is right that we pray for them in this regard and that we also pray for their protection.
We should pray that our rulers pursue ways of peace. Those who rule can be easily tempted to undertake unwarranted military action. After all, in most cases a war tends to unite the population, produce greater support for that government and at least in the short-run
ments " are negotiated by various government officials. The country has only a tiny middle class , a small elite class and a very large class of poor people. I was told that aside from the employees of expatriate companies , the average income of policemen, soldiers and employees generally is about $20 a month.
For most Congolese , it wouldn ' t make any difference if there were an income tax system in operation-they have no income to be taxed. I was amazed at how most of the people manage to get by. I asked how they manage given that a supply of manioc , the staple food , costs about $45 a month for a family of four and that the common average monthly salary is less than half that amount. The standard answer had two parts : the extended family shares and the women make things to sell. Evidence of the latter abounded along many streets
The difficulty is further exacerbated by the fact that the unemployment rate exceeds 70 percent. Concerning one church , I was told that of all the men I saw sitting in the benches , 90 percent were unemployed. I marveled that they could be
so dynamic , happy and spiritually committed while experiencing such severe economic hardships . I thought first that it was a good thing that they are not Sitting in the back pews of our churches or in our denominational conventions when we hear again and again that we have no money for missions. On the other hand , maybe it would be a good thing for them to be present. Maybe their presence and especially their reports would help us refocus our Christian vision and rearrange our personal and collective priorities .
During this trip , I observed how significant MB pioneer and later missionaries were . I observed that material well-being is not a requirement for spiritual well-being or happiness. I saw again that it is easier to hold possessions loosely if you do not have much to hold. Once again I noted that this world is not a fair place . Some Christians and some countries have much while some Christians and some countries struggle to keep body and soul united Especially sobering is the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing .
Let us continue to pray for our Congolese sisters and brothers , listen to them , learn from them , support them and stand with them. -
JHR
generate an economic upsurge. A ruler may embark on war to right a presumed earlier wrong, because of a border dispute, to enlarge the border of a country or empire, to seek economic advantage or simply, at times, to indulge in revenge The long-term consequence is almost always disastrous
Christians should pray that wars will be avoided and if war has happened, that war will cease. This applies also to civil war. All Christians should pray that the sometimes deepseated ethnic, religious, tribal or regional tensions be resolved peacefully We should pray that our governments seek ways of dealing peacefully with such tensions.
We should pray that our governments manage the economy carefully and wise-
attentkNl " ly. We should pray that God grant rulers wisdom as they develop policies in economic matters ranging from taxation to currency management, from trade negotiations to planning and from budgeting to debt reduction This, too, is part of the divine mandate to "do good " Unwise planning, reckless spending, irresponsible deficit financing and runaway inflation have brought untold grief to millions of people It is in the interest of all people, and certainly Christians, that rulers not undermine economic stability and development.
We should pray that God guide our rulers as they decide which problems are most important. One of the toughest duties of governments is to establish priorities Health care, education, food supply, road construction, housing, helping the destitute and many other urgent matters all clamor for attention Governments never have sufficient resources to do what needs to be done. They need our prayers .
We should pray that our rulers create a climate of freedom, including freedom of religion. Governments are constantly tempted to restrict freedoms-of speech, assembly, press, religion, etc.-in order to promote their own personal preferences . We should pray that they not yield to such temptations
We should pray that our governments defend and uphold human dignity. Good government places much emphasis on human dignity This emphasis
should impact people who are in prison, the elderly, the infirm, the destitute, refugees and any others who find themselves in dire straits. Because
we stress that all people are made in the image of God and have a spark of the divine within them, Christian citizens are particularly committed to upholding human dignity. We should pray that governments follow enlightened policies in this area.
We should pray that governments govern for the common good, not for their own advantage and not for the advantage of a small group of elites who would benefit at the expense of the masses.
We should pray that governments be open to good counsel and advice, including counsel from Christians. No government has a corner on understanding and insight and all governments should be willing to listen to the constructive criticism and policy suggestions of others.
We should pray that our rulers understand and acknowledge their accountability to God and God's role in human affairs. Even the great Nebuchadnezzar, an ungodly king, understood this. After he had sentenced the three Jewish men to be burned in the fiery furnace and observed their divine rescue he praised God (Dan. 13 :28) Later, after living like an animal for seven years, he said, "I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble ."
The once proud king had learned his lesson. He had come to acknowledge the King of kings. Let us pray that our own kings and rulers do likewise. Our rulers need to understand that God is Lord of all, that God sometimes uses government as an instrument of his power and that all rulers will some day have to give account to him.
We should pray prayers of gratitude for the institution of government. God has established the institution of government for the benefit of his human creatures He has arranged for us to enjoy order instead of suffering in anarchy. Even in those situations when we
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT
cannot thank God for the political officeholders of the day, we can still thank him for the institution of human government Perhaps that is what the apostle Paul had in mind when, in 1 Tim 2, he urged believers to be thankful for political benefits The incompetent or evil officeholders will eventually be replaced ; the institution of government will continue . For that fact we should pray prayers of gratitude
Finally, if our rulers are not Christians we should pray for their salvation. The highest political, social or economic status here on earth does not benefit us in the life to come . All people are in need of salvation and eternallife through Jesus Christ our Lord . The apostle Paul's own action serves as a good example Although he was under arrest, Paul still challenged King Agrippa to become a Christian While the last word we have is that the king was "almost persuaded, " Paul has left us a good example of witnessing to rulers We should do likewise
At this point the question may be asked , "How can I pray for the well-being of a government which I oppose, which I despise and which I am trying to defeat?" This is an important question Many Christians find themselves in such situations Even in such situations, however, most of the 14 principles spelled out above still apply. In fact,
some have even greater relevance than if the rulers are good or even godly! The important point to keep in mind is that it is ethically consistent to pray that rulers would do what is right while we also pray that they will be replaced
If we are committed to be faithful to the biblical call to pray for those in authOrity, and if we ask God for insight and guidance in such prayers, he will surely help us .
This article is one of 12 papers John H. Redekop presented to church leaders on a recent trip to DR Congo Redekop reports that it "evoked great interest and discussion " among believers there Redekop is a semiretired professor ofpolitical science and professor emeritus at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo , OntoIn 1994 he was awarded a Commemorative Medal by the Government of Canada for contributions made in the search for constitutional alternatives He is a former president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada He has served the MB church as a member of the MB Biblical Seminary board and MBMS International board, is a former moderator of the Canadian MB Conference and for 38 years has been a columnist for the MB Herald
Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith: Article 12 Society and State
The state as instituted by God
We believe that God instituted the state to promote the well-being of all people . Christians cooperate with others in society to defend the weak, care for the poor and promote justice , righteousness and truth . Believers witness against corruption , discrimination and injustice , exercise social responsibility, pay taxes and obey all laws that do not conflict with the Word of God God has given govern-
ments authority to maintain law and order and to punish wrongdoers Followers of Christ respect and pray for those in authority so that peaceful order may prevail. We deplore the loss of life in the exercise of state-sanctioned violence.
Christian allegiance in society
The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ ' s kingdom , not the state or society. Because their citizenship is in
heaven, Christians are called to resist the idolatrous temptation to give to the state the devotion that is owed to God As ambassadors for Christ , Christians act as agents of reconciliation and seek the well-being of all peoples
Because Christ forbids the swearing of oaths , we Simply affirm the truth in legal transactions. Believers do not participate in secret societies which demand the swearing of oaths or which otherwise conflict with a Christian ' s allegiance to
Christ and the church. At all times believers are called to live as faithful witnesses in the world , rejecting pressures which threaten to compromise Christian integrity.
What would happen ifpolitical candidates were realistic
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, presidential elections in our country have been subject to heavy rhetoric and hyperbole so I don't expect anything to change now. Still, when the exaggera· tions start flowing, it always tenses me up. I wouldn't be so blunt as to say that the candidates are lying, but certainly there is a lot of fudging going on . Much of it is the fault, of course, of us voters. Because if candidates were really going to tell it like it is, there's no way we'd vote for them
"What you're saying you want, peo· pie, are high levels of government servic· es while paying no taxes . Do the math. It's not possible. Maybe if you appreciat· ed the fact that our country enjoys the highest standard of living in the history of the world, it would seem more like a privilege than a burden to help pay for it."
"The war on terrorism will never be over, nor do I have any plan that will completely ensure our country's safety in this area. The best we can do is to keep it reasonably in check. As long as there are those who feel people different than them should be wiped out-and there are many who think this way, even within our own borders-terrorist attacks will keep happening despite our best efforts."
"If I am elected president, I will not create any new jobs Because I can't. Peo· pie like Bill Gates can create jobs, but all I can do is help maintain a climate where jobs are creatable. The economy isn ' t like science; there is no formula . Free enter· prise is subject to fads and competition and global happenings. So I'm not going to assure you I will improve the econo· my, because I don ' t have a lot of power in that area ."
See what I mean. If candidates said stuff like that, owning up to simple reali· ty, they would sink like rocks in the polls and ballot boxes.
Not only do presidential candidates tend to exaggerate, but there are also other areas during an election season where hype and myth crop up For instance, I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Jesus is a Liberal."
Now, I'm not the type who shoots steam out of my ears every time the word "liberal" is uttered , like some peo· pie I know. Jesus was quite liberal in many ways-especially in contrast to the prevailing religious fundamentalism of his time He expressed boundless com· passion and grace, condemned the judg· ing of others and showed that caring for the poor and hurting should be a top priority
That's probably the type of behavior the bumper sticker was referring to . What bothers me, though, is when peo· pie take Jesus and plunk him right down in 21st century America, claiming he'd be a Democrat or Republican or whatever Personally, I think Jesus would have seri o ous problems with aspects of both politi. cal parties and would likely express a preference for politicians to simply keep his good name out of it.
I have my doubts about Jesus being a Liberal in the modern sense of the word. While he demonstrated utmost kindness and compassion, he also said things that were very un·liberalish Take the story of the adulterous woman , whose accusers Jesus chased off with the famous words, "If anyone of you is with· out sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her " Oohn. 8 :7) This is often cited as one of the all·time great exam· pies of nonjudgment.
True enough, but there is a post· script to the story that is hardly ever mentioned. The last thing Jesus said to the woman was, "Go now and leave your life ofsin " (v 11). Just imagine how that would go over at a modern Democratic convention
Now that I've poked fun at liberal exaggerations, I don't want to leave out conservatives I read a news report about a Republican official who claimed that liberals were making plans to ban all Bible reading. My guess is that would come in at number two on the liberal agenda, right after their number one priority to turn everyone into commu· nists.
OK, too much sarcasm But I have a hard time with the alarmist generaliza· tions that often come out of conserva· tives' mouths. I agree that the overzeal· ous banishing of Bibles and praying from schools and workplaces has been mis· guided (Nothing spells "menace" like people reading the Bible and praying, eh) But since a large number of regis· tered Democrats are-amazingly enough-churchgoing Christians, and more Bibles are being published and sold in America than at any other time in history and freedom of speech and press are high on any self.respecting liberal ' s list, I don't think Bibles are going away soon Now, if only more people who like to wave Bibles around would actually take time to read one
Anyway, during this election season it would be nice if everyone would just stop the hyping, exaggerating, fudging, the mudslinging , and everything else untrue and inflammatory. But since it has never been that way, and will likely never be that way, I won ' t be holding my breath •
BY MARVIN HEIN
Questions about faith Be life
Is Amish practice of
QDo the Amish really have a rumspringa as has been depided recently in a television documentary? (calif.)
AThe question arises from a reality show called in the City" shown this summer by one of the networks _ It was shown over the objections not only of Amish but others as well. in the City" supposedly took two young women and three young men from the Amish community and placed them in a house in Los Angeles with a vegan who thinks that cows come from outer space, a teenager from the ghetto, a college graduate from Las Vegas, the sin capital, a gay young man and a "party girl." At the end of the show the Amish are to choose whether or not to go back to their old Amish ways or stay in the "world."
Some wise television producer conceived this plot from a practice in the Amish Church called rumspringa, meaning "running around" in Pennsylvania Dutch Rumspringa is a practice where at age 16 or 17 Amish young people can sample the world's sins "for a season" before choosing if they will be baptized and become full-fledged Amish.
The 1V producers saw the story more as a battle of two cultures, not necessarily a spiritual struggle. Religion isn't out of the picture, however. The Amish say grace before they indulge in their sushi. Mose, the young Amish man, nearly drowns in the ocean, has nightmares after his close call and reads his Bible because he is afraid of going to hell .
One Amish leader wrote to the CBS
"Our religion is very sacred and precious to us. We are very concerned and very much opposed to having the Amish used as subject material for any movie or television production. The Amish wish to live a quiet and peaceful life and do not appreciate the added attention and unwanted publicity this TV series will bring the Amish communities. "
president, "Our religion is very sacred and precious to us. We are very concerned and very much opposed to having the Amish used as subject material for any movie or television production The Amish wish to live a quiet and peaceful life and do not appreciate the added attention and unwanted publicity this 1V series will bring the Amish communities " He went on to say, moreover, that this story portrays rumspringa as a part of a religious rite of passage, when in fact it is a very small minority of young people that ever participate in these questionable activities
In May 2002 fLlmmaker Lucy Walker produced the documentary "Devil's Playground" with the same scheme . She told how shocked she was to find hundreds of teens from Amish settlements in 10 states congregating in "barn hops" and
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? E-mail Marvin at mheinl @fresno .edu or send your question to "Inquiring Minds," c/o Marvin Hein, 3036 East Magill Avenue, Fresno, CA 93 710
"hoedowns. "
We have close Amish friends in whose home we have visited and who have reciprocated by visiting us I'm confident they would be greatly offended by such portrayals. I read a letter in which an Amish man from Sugar Creek, Ohio, said the five youth in in the City" chose to leave their conservative communities long before the 1V people found them. Another Amish writer tells how, among several dozen families he knows, none of their youth practiced rumspringa
An Amish young man who spent four years away from Amish culture against his parents' wishes states that the popular conception of rumspringa couldn't be further from reality. The amazing thing is that everyone agrees that 85 to 90 percent of all Amish youth remain with the church. If they rebel and want to return , the church receives them with open arms. I don't know of any evangelical denomination that can boast of having that large a percentage of their children remain with the church
Some of us may have thought that the Amish religion is strange, legalistic and sometimes misguided. Listen to the words of one Amish person as he describes those ''who have been feeding on the 'husks' that the world offers . ... Like the Prodigal Son, if they see their need of repentance and a Savior, we would kill the fatted calf upon their confession "
Perhaps we could learn from the Amish. They do, indeed, practice adult baptism, which is more than some of us in Mennonite churches can claim We often baptize the very young and sometimes they exercise their rumspringa after becoming church members .•
BY ROSE BUSCHMAN
I just saw JESUS
JESUS film still building the family of God around the world
MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO THE JESUS film came in 2001 when I was in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea. This is a big WYcliffe Bible Translation Center which focuses on translating the Bible into the over 800 languages which exist in that country. Approximately 1,000 people work out of this center, sometimes scattered all over the country, in an effort to complete this enormous task While Bible translation and accompanying literacy programs are the main focuses, they are not the only ones. Almost every Friday night a group of missionaries and volunteers from this center makes a trip to a village within driving range to show the JESUS film They take all their equipment, including a generator, and travel over very rough roads to bring the message of Jesus to another group of people
The JESUS film, produced in 1978 by Campus Crusade for Christ International, is based on the gospel of Luke. Every effort was made to keep it as close to the biblical account as possible and as simple as possible so that it could be translated into other languages around the world It was filmed on location and cost approximately $6,000,000 to produce.
The story of how this film was made is chronicled in the book, /just Saw JESUS, by Paul Eshleman (Campus Crusade, 1985) It is fascinating reading I was impressed by the dedication of one couple to provide the first $3,000,000 needed to fund the project. Furthermore, even while the fUm was being made , some of those working on the project came to know Christ as their personal Savior. That's how powerful the message is
What has happened to the fUm since its beginning is mind-boggling As of July 1, 2004, it has been seen by over 5 billion people around the world, translated
into over 800 languages (with ove r 200 more in progress), shown in over 200 countries and seen on 1V in 176 countries Over 1,500 denominations and mission agencies now use the film in their evangelistic efforts The results speak for themselves: almost 200 million people have indicated decisions for Christ as a result of the film . These people, in turn, are reaching others
Eshleman writes, "The results of the JESUS ministry are remarkable It is not just another collecting of 'spiritual scalps ' Follow-up counselors are found and trained long before the film is shown, and home Bible studies and study groups that are organized afterward help those who meet Jesus through the fUm to grow in their new faith. "
He tells the story of one Buddhist priest who came to know Christ through the movie This man was overjoyed at the change in his life, in his relationship to his wife and in his community. "We have started a home church in my area now and 80 people attend. I will give the rest of my life to tell the children about Jesus ."
At times showing the film has come with a heavy price Team members have been thrown to the ground, had rocks hurled at them, been beaten, burned in the face with cigarettes, fed poisoned tea, had their electrical supply disrupted and been threatened with death In one community, team members who had drunk some poisoned tea were able to get help before it was too late. The next day they returned to the same house where they were given this tea and told the astonished group there, "We came to tell you we have forgiven you in the name of Jesus " The discipling group in that area doubled!
This film has also changed how some organizations do Bible translation . Now
when beginning a translation in a new language, Wycliffe Bible translators usually begin with the book of Luke When that has been completed, native speakers are found to record the words of the JE SUS fUm in their own language. Skillful technicians then dub the se words into the original fUm This allows missionaries to use this film immediately as an evangelistic tool while they work on further translation The impact is powerful , since the viewers hear Jesus speak in their own language In many instances people are eager to hear "the rest of the story" when they see the film This provides additional support and interest to get more portions of the Bible translated and is a powerful incentive to learn to read
Campus Crusade has also made a kids' version of this film, The Story of jesus for Children This hour long film tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of children who might have lived during Jesus'time
This Christmas a group of us are going down to a colonia in the border city of Reynosa, Mexico, on a mission trip . One of our planned activities is to have a hot dog feed for all who are interested and then show them the childre n 's version of the JESUS film in Spanish We also plan to hand out companion booklets which are designed to follow up on the film's message . The Spanish-speaking pastor who recently started to minister in this colonia will be on hand to provide further council and spiritual guidance And so the message of the J ESUS film continues, even in my small comer of the world . If you want to know more about how God has used this fUm I re commend you read the book/just SawjESUS and visit the following We bsites : www je susfilm org or www jesusforchildren org •
BY CHUCK BULLER
"Come on now, don't hold back"
North Carolina churches don't hold back on vision for growth
I WANT TO GO ON RECORD. I LOVE to preach in the Mennonite Brethren churches of North Carolina. Why? The best word I can use to describe the experience is "interactive ."
In North Carolina a preacher never needs to bait the congregation with, "and all God's people said " Amens flow freely before, during and after sermons The more common experience is to be encouraged to "just preach it" or to "Come on now, don't hold back." And generally when thus encouraged, we preachers give it our best shot. Needless to say, I have yet to turn down a preaching opportunity in the NC district. For those of you who don't know about this small, 100-year-old conference, allow me to enlighten you.
A Krimmer Mennonite Brethren missionary couple, the Heinrich Wiebes, moved to the northwest region of North Carolina in 1900 and began to evangelize among some African-American communities God blessed this missionary effort. Over the next 100 years , the only AfricanAmerican group of MB churches in America grew to 11 churches at its zenith It has been led faithfully by bivocational pastors and lay deacons and with large doses of good 01' Southern food at just about every event. It is a family of faith that has preached Jesus to their children and adults, baptized converts and discipled believers . Today the North Carolina Conference stands at a crossroads. The AfricanAmerican population of this region constitutes only 6 percent of the total population. Many of the conference leaders are getting older and the emerging leadership group has to make some hard decisions about where to go next . Terry Hunt, a long-time indigenous
In North Carolina a preacher never needs to bait the congregation with, "and all God's people said. ... " Amens flow freely befor!!.;- during and after sermons.
leader and pastor of Bushtown Church in Lenoir, reports that last year he interviewed every African-American he met and asked whether or not they attended church He says all but three reported having a church home. Now understand, Terry Hunt has been part of the business community in that region his entire adult life and there probably aren't three African -Americans he doesn't know. His reflections are more accurate than a Gallop poll
There is good news. This past September the North Carolina Conference had their convention and decided to face the future with faith and optimism rather than focus on the past This small conference of six churches, with numbers in the hundreds rather than the thousands, had at least 50 delegates gather at the new Youth Center in Lenoir that they have purchased for community outreach There they sang, preached and prayed with great fervency and introduced their new conference youth minister, Chris Eides
Chris is white and a Canadian from
Winnipeg, Man. (Frankly, everything turns white in Winnipeg between October and May.) Through Chris, North Carolina is stating that the future is in their youth and their youth live in a biracial world. Furthermore, Hunt and moderator James Fox have proposed to their conference that it is time to plant in Lenoir a biracial church in partnership with the U S Conference
The NC Conference has never lost its sense of gratitude for the missionary efforts of our denomination Nor have they lost their sense of wanting to work as part of a larger team. And so we will begin working with North Carolina in this effort, coming alongside these brothers and together inviting the Spirit to breathe new life into an old partnership Wouldn ' t it be exciting if someday we held a U S Conference convention in North Carolina hosted by a new congregation planted through this Mission USNNorth Carolina partnership? It's good to dream dreams in God's kingdom!
I am excited about this opportunity and invite your prayers . Pray especially for NCMBC moderator, James Fox who is recovering from cancer And should you get the chance to visit this beautiful part of our country, certainly do so. Eat the ribs, chicken, biscuits and grits gravy! Take in the splendor of the Appalachian Mountains And by all means, visit one of our MB churches Then to really become part of the experience, wait for that perfect time in the sermon when the preacher looks like he needs encouragement and from where you sit shout, "Come on now, don't hold back! " Better yet, why don't you try that in your local MB church this Sunday? I'm sure your pastor could use the encouragement!
WHAT READERS SAY
Why I am a Mennonite
The article "More Than a Name" (September 2004) had a statement that resonated with me and focused many of the frustrations I've experienced in our present Mennonite Brethren church. Naomi Penner wrote, "Why, regardless of what church I attend, do I adamantly claim to be a Mennonite?" For me, the reasons are two important theological distinctives.
The kingpin distinctive is the preeminence of Christ's teachings All of Scripture is to be interpreted by him
who is called the Word Jesus is the highest authority. He said, "You have heard it said but I say " He teaches about loving our enemies, resisting retaliation and embracing our Lord as king while living as pilgrims on this earth rather than patriots We are not to divide our allegiance between the world and the kingdom of God I struggle to see how the church can effectively witness to the world about our treasures being in heaven when our members are willing to kill and be killed for earthly things. For many Christians, a loving and nonviolent resistance to evil is an attractive alternative to a "God and country" faith.
The second reason was important enough at one time to have found its place as part of the name of the church, "Brethren." Matthew 23 and teachings about the body of Christ warn us against the natural abuses of having a clergy class We used to emphasize the covenant community and call one another brother and sister. We didn't ordain pastors, run our churches like businesses and have articles of incorporation or even constitutions. We functioned as families of faith. We moved by building consensus and accepted dis-
The Christian Leader welcomes brief letters on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church. Letters to the editor should be brief - 300 words or less - and on one subject. Letters must be signed and include the writer's city and state. Letters will be edited for clarity, appropriateness and length. Letters will be published, as space allows, unless marked "Not for publication " Send letters to Christian Leader, Po. Box 220, Hillsboro, KS 67063 (e -mail: editor@usmb.org)
agreement as God's way of saying that we should wait. Yes, this was before our time but it is still a way of doing church that is biblical.
The tenets of Anabaptist theology are not merely traditions. They are taught in Scripture and have historically been seen as legitimate expressions of faith by the larger communities of Christendom . I do not believe they should be pushed aside
__ by majority votes or popular trends. I hope that those who believe these distinctives will always be respected and given a place among the Mennonite Brethren
FOF is that in this war "we are forced to settle for a trade-off: the lives of the few in exchange for the lives of the many" (quote from their reply to my letter).
Parachurch ministries and the election
In early June I heard a radio broadcast by James Dobson of Focus on the Family where he spoke at length in support of the u.S. military and deplored the bad press the u.S. military was receiving as a result of the prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq. It was a very patriotic and unbalanced commentary that generally lavished praise upon the American military and lacked an appropriate assessment of the terror inflicted upon Iraqi prisoners by u.S. troops. Because I could not comprehend how a Christian leader of the stature of James Dobson could minimize the significance of these crimes simply because they involved such a small number of military personnel, I wrote him a letter and received a cordial but firm rebuff that underscored FOF's uneqUivocal support for Mr. Bush ' s war on terror.
Focus on the Family is a highly respected parachurch ministry that has wide acceptance and influence in our church constituency. I dare say that many in our churches would be surprised to know that some prominent FOF policy positions run counter to our Anabaptist understanding. Our confession of faith says "the primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ's kingdom, not the state or society" and that "we deplore the loss of life in the exercise of state-sanctioned violence" (Article 12) The viewpoint of
Given Mr. Dobson's excellent family teaching it is possible to blindly extrapolate and accept it when he says the u.S. war on terror is a just war. That would be truly unfortunate. This is an opportunity to evaluate and monitor what voices are speaking to our hearts when our guard is down. Questionable input can come at any time from a wide array of sources, some expected, some not. In this endeavor we can all share in the role of being "watchmen on the wall" (Ezek. 33) And here lies one of the strengths of belonging to a local church fellowship and a larger family of churches . The parachurch movement, for all its many strengths, lacks this kind of grassroots accountability.
AlbertJanzen Abbotsford, B. C.
COMING IN NOVEMBER
'J'1! e events of the I March 7 Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren church fire are chronicled in this new book.
The pub'isher wi" donate S10 of each book so'd to the rebuilding fund.
X11
Clint Bergen Orland, Calif.
Taking the yawn out of reading Scripture
BY ELMER A . MARTENS
WHEN JESUS READ THE SCRIPTURE in a synagogue, people were stunned (Luke 4:17-22). When Ezra read the Word of God in a public gathering, people wept (Neh. 8 :9) When Scripture is read in Mennonite Brethren churches, most often worshipers yawn.
Is it not troubling when little or no preparation is given to the public reading of the Bible? When the reader stumbles and the reading is garbled? Is it not disturbing when listeners endure, rather than anticipate, the reading aloud of God's Word?
To infuse the public reading of Scripture with both dignity and vigor, to heed Paul's counsel to "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture"(1 Tim 4 :13), pastors and worship leaders would do well to set up a plan to enhance public reading of Scripture
• Alert readers of Scripture (preferably someone from the congregation) early and suggest that they practice by reading aloud in private. The worship leader can then coach the reader. One church is scheduling Saturday sessions in which drama teachers coach anyone interested in learning to read Scripture in public.
• One lay person to whom I spoke writes out the Scripture, careful to group phrases and to mark certain words so that connections and emphases will be clear. In McComiskey's words, readers should recognize the "sense structure ." It is important to understand the text well so as to read it well.
• Readers should make frequent, even extended eye contact with the audience . They should look up from the page, using the forefinger of one hand
Forum is a column of opinion and comment on contemporary issues facing the Mennonite Brethren Church Manuscripts expressing an opinion for Forum should aim for a length of 800 words . Authors must sign articles and identify their church home and vocation
on the page so as not to lose the place.
• Books on the subject stress posture, pitch of voice and tone, pace and pauses, projection and emotion and much more . While attention to these matters has importance, a familiarity with the Bible passage and an eagerness to share that with which one's own heart has been gripped goes a long way to effective oral reading.
• Give poignancy to the reading, at times by calling on persons to read who have been healed from illness or who because of age and experience lend a particular authenticity.
• Introduce variety Consider not only responsive reading with reader and congregation, but with choirs and groups . Also invite teams of husband and wife, father and daughter, college students or a children's group to do the reading Two or more readers might alternate the reading of verses using various Bible versions. Arrange for a reading chOir, also known as "reader's theater." Be creative without being theatrical or performance-oriented.
• Reinforce the experience by printing the biblical text in the bulletin or placing it on the screen for all to follow, especially if the reading is a collage of verses around a topic. Listening to a taped reading over the speaker system is an option Worship teams could intersperse Scripture (not only on themes of praise) as part of the medley. A choir can sing the text or hum as a background sound
• Enlist someone to recite the text from memory. In one church the pastor's series on Mark's gospel was prefaced by a dramatized rendition of the text by a person that had memorized the entire gospel. In another church, Scripture is given prominence by having the congregation memorize a longer portion incrementally and reciting it together as an offering of worship
• Dignify the reading of Scripture by inviting the audience to stand. In the
Russian Orthodox church a processional in mid-service has officiants bringing a large elevated Bible to the platform for the reading of the gospel.
• Pair Old Testament and New Testament readings on the same general theme. In liturgical churches it is customary to have a reading from the Old Testament, one from the epistles, and a final reading from the gospel.
• Recognize the gift of Scripture by having the reader end with, "The Word of the Lord," to which the congregation responds with "Thanks be to God!"
What if an Olympic medal were given for the most effective reading of Scripture? Would readers in your congregation qualify for the event? In worship one strives not for medals but for engagement. The woman in her 30's had it right: "When I got the call to read Scripture I decided I wanted the Lord to speak through the text " Well-prepared public reading of Scripture enables worshipers to connect with and be touched by the God of the Word
Sources on the subject include Public Reading of Scripture: A Handbook by Clayton). Schmit (Abingdon, 2002), Reading SCripture in Public: A Guide for Preachers and Lay Readers by Thomas Edward McComiskey (Baker Books, 1991) and Oral Reading of the Scriptures by Charlotte I. Lee (Houghton Mifflin, 1974).
Elmer A. Martens lives in Fresno, Calif, and is a member of North Fresno MB Church. He is past president of MB Biblical Seminary and has taught Old Testament at numerous seminaries around the world. He was a member of the translation teams for the New American Standard Bible, the New KingJames Version, the New Living Bible and a translation consultant for the International Children's Bible. He was the author of Jeremiah in the Believer 's Church Bible Commentary Series.
Leadership Board holds inaugural meeting begins
to address governance detai!;-
With the encouragement to "wade in and see how it goes," the newly established U.S . Conference Leadership Board, at its inaugural meeting Sept. 24-25 in Visalia, Calif , took its first steps in determining how the new conference governance structure will best function .
Delegates to the 2004 USC convention held this past July in Draper, Utah, proviSionally accepted a new staff-driven governance model in which a single nine-member board will take the place of the Board of Church Ministries and five ministry boards. For the next two years, the Leadership Board is charge d with overseeing the ministries of the conference and developing bylaws detailing the new conference structure
Steve Prieb of Topeka, Kan ., chairs the Leadership Board. Other members include tre asurer Dale Boese of Salem, Ore , Kathy Isaac of Garden City, Kan , Joe Johns of Weatherford, Okla ., Lynn Jost of Hillsboro, Kan ., Greg Quiring of Fresno, Calif. , John Quiring of Hampton , Ne b , and Valerie
Rempel and Henry Schmidt, both of Fresno USC staff members attending the meeting were Chuck Buller, executive director, Don Morris, Mission USA and Integrated Ministries director, Connie Faber, Christian Leader editor, and Donna Sullivan, administrative secretary. Marilyn Janzen, Buller ' s part-time secretary, hosted the event and together with Sullivan served as the recording secretary.
Opening comments by Prieb and Buller emphasized relationships Prieb spoke of the board 's relationship as servant leaders to U S MB churches, saying it was appropriate that "the first act (of) this board was serving communion to the church" at the close of the US C convention Buller emphasized relationships among board members While the business of running the denomination is ongoing, Buller said that what the board was initiating at its first meeting was "a new set of relationships to manage this ministry " Governance rooted in quality relationships, Buller told the board , has emerged as a core value in the 21st century Given
this priority, the first agenda item both mornings was personal sharing followed by a prayer time At the conclusion of the meeting, board members affirmed the time spent becoming better acquainted
While building relationships was an important component of the two -day meeting, the 28 -item agenda kept the board on task. More than half of the agenda items related to developing a new governance model. "We will be discovering together what it's like to be all (previous USC boards) at the same time," said Buller at the start of the weekend "We purposefully said let's experience this and then write the bylaws ."
To help manage the four USC ministry areas-administration, communication, faith and life and church health and growth- Leadership Board memb e rs formed ministry commissions of two board members and the appropriate staff member The commissions reviewed issues raised in Friday staff reports and discussed what matters should be referred to th e entire board, what matters could be han -
died by ministry commissions or project teams and what issues staff members should address
The board agreed to hold monthly conference calls, agreed that the Leader· ship Board would be their "primary board of service" and reviewed a preliminary set of basic bylaws . It approved five project teams- Inter· national Committee of Mennonite Brethren representation, National MB Youth Convention planning team, Histori· cal CommiSSion, Peace Commission and a pastors' convention planning team- and noted areas that will require future project teams The board discussed parameters of the first Institutional Summit to be held in the spring or summer of 2005. Under the new governance model project teams will give interested and qualified individuals the opportunity to assist with specific min · istry projects . The Institutional Summit is an annual meeting of the Leadership Board and all U S. Mennonite Brethren agency and district conference senior lead· ers and board chairs
As the Leadership Board moved through its agenda, the importance of addreSSing theological questions emerged as a key issue In his report to the board , Buller identified theological matters as the "central issue" the board will address over the next five years "Jesus is at the center," said Buller, "but we can't duck what it means to be Mennonite Brethren ." Theo· logical matters that had been on the Board of Faith and Life agenda were identified
While board members did not agree on the strategy the Leadership Board should employ in addressing theological questions, they did agree on the impor· tance of organizing Leadership Board meetings so that time can be given to "get· ting past the business to who we are," as one member put it . Board members also affinned the opportunities they had during their first meeting to do just that.
In addition to theological matters, agenda items that generated the most enthusiasm and discussion were those related to church planting and church health Buller reported on his recent con· versations with North Carolina District Conference leaders concerning opportuni· ties under consideration in that district to expand their ministry beyond the black
community. (See Bulle r 's column in this issue, page 19 .)
The board heard from Joshua Kim and Eun Ji Park about their work with second· generation Korean believers at Shalom Korean Church in Glendale , Calif. The cou · pie reported that in southern California there are currently 1, 300 first·generation Korean congregations but less than five successfully planted, self sufficient second· generation Korean churches. This has prompted a "silent exodus " among young adult Korean Christians "We don't have a place where we belong ," said EunJi. Given the number of young adults from other ethnic groups that have been atte nding Shalom·sponsored services aimed at sec· ond·generation Christians , the couple believes this is a common scenario amo ng non Angio Christians
Morris agreed and spoke of his interest in working with young adults from other ethnic groups affIliated with the US C. Noting that the Mennonite Brethren church was at one time an immigrant group that wrestled with similar issues, Leadership Board members responded positively to partnering in second·genera·
tion church plants "This is our opportuni· ty to help others move to second-genera· tion churches like we did," said Rempel.
The board had a lengthy discussion concerning funding issues , including the practice ofrequesting "nonns" from member congregations . The Leadership Board approved a recommendation to continue with a unified approach to the budget and to solicit donations, not to excee d the amount budgeted for a given ministry, to specific projects within the unified budget. Encouraged by Henry Schmidt ' s comment that "leadership leads by example," board members committed themselve s to financially supporting the USC "according to our ability "
In other business, the Leadership Board discussed potential changes to the procedures followed by USC staff when working with churches coming into the denomination . The board also reviewed evaluations from the 2004 USC convention and pastors' conference and discussed upcoming shifts in the national pastors ' health insurance coverage, reactivating the USC Web site and plans for a new pastor's orientation .--Connie Faber
Out on a limb
"Ion and -sa;ifice!or himself, MBMS1 ___
would be open to serving God in any location in any way that he wanted me to," says Randy Friesen, who began his appointment Sept. 1 as general director for MBMS International. "There's nothing that attracts me to this position over another position other than that this was where God invited us to serve "
When Friesen says "us," he means his family, whom he calls a "missions team " He and Marjorie have been married 17 years. They have two children , Joshua, age 12, and Olivia, age 9. His family prays for him and for the miSSion, and he makes it a point to travel with the children regularly. "Without their investment and support, I certainly wouldn't be able to serve God in the way that he's invited us to," he
"We're definitely a family on a mission."
So it's not surprising that when the call came to become general director, Friesen and his " mis-
together. The position would mean a cross-continental move, from Waterloo, Ont., to Abbotsford, B.C., the new location of the international office.
Dennis Fast, chair of the MBMSI board, says that while the management center for MBMSI had been in Fresno, Calif. for some time, "The new general director felt it was an advantage to him to have the management center in Canada and in Abbotsford because of the large MB population in the area and because of central access to training opportunities "
Together, Friesen and his family missions team agreed to the move Friesen says, "We've realized again that risk and sacrifice are costly, but tremendously rewarding. We've been living that out ."
Those who have had contact with Friesen during his past service as director of short-term ministries for MBMSI would not be surprised that the themes of risk and sacrifice are still very much on his mind "The themes that I've been communicating over the last 20 years have been those of risk and sacrifice and calling a generation to invest in God's mission," he says. He wants to continue to communicate those themes to MBs throughout North America and to embody them in the MBMSI organization.
Until age four, Friesen was exposed to missions as the son of Mennonite Central Committee missionaries in Kenya. At 19, Friesen "surrendered to the purposes of God," which he considers the beginning of his personal missions journey. He quickly acted on
what Fast describes as Friesen's "passion to see lost people saved, to help those blinded by sin have their eyes opened to the power of God's love," as he began a Bible study for his peers and saw many of his friends give their lives to God
From that beginning, Friesen says he's "tried to be faithful with the opportunities [God] has put in front of me." Friesen ' s journey led him to work with youth groups and international students, to serve as a youth pastor, to found and direct Youth Mission International, a MB-based short-term missions program, to help found the Global Discipleship Training Alliance, a global alliance of short-term mission training programs, and most recently to lead short-term ministries for MBMSI as director of short-term missions
Friesen's education includes a bachelor's degree in politics and a master's degree in theological studies. He is currently a candidate for a doctorate in theology from the University of South Africa When asked if completion of the degree will mean constituents should call him "doctor," he laughs, "Please don ' t." For him, it's clearly about being better equipped for service, not about a title.
Friesen says that outgoing general director Harold Ens, who led the agency for 12 years, was key in helping to build the MB global organization known as International Conference of Mennonite Brethren and worked hard on the financial health of MBMSI. "I really appreciate the work that Harold Ens has given us as a mission," he says, and adds that Ens has "left all of us with a mission that is fiscally healthy and is positioned for potential growth "
The challenge now, Friesen says, is "to more fully mobilize our MB constituency to enter God's mission, to support the work of our MB conference globally in missions and also to participate in that mission personally." Friesen says he'd like to see "a more engaged constituency," and wants MBMSI to have a greater impact with unreached people groups throughout the world.
It's a big challenge And meeting that challenge will likely touch U. S MBs in the
same areas Friesen has been touched personally-risk and sacrifice. "It takes some unique work of God's grace to dislodge us from the spectator position in the stands and get us out on the field playing with him , engaging in his mission with him I think it takes a risk. It takes sacrifice for that step to happen in anyone 's life ," Friesen says "I want to keep those themes in front of us as a denomination because the challenges of mission today are significant, and business as usual will not turn the tide in many of the parts of the world where cultures and people groups have been resistant to the gospel. It's going to take lives of risk and sacrifice to make a difference in some of these challenging mission frontiers. "
By way of example, Friesen tells about a recent vacation in which he and his wife took the opportunity to, as he jokes, "get over mid-life crisis in three days so we can get on with our lives." They did a 330foot bungee jump, followed by a grade 4 and 5 rafting trip "Sometimes we can just take risks in our recreational life and we don't take risks in our spiritual journey," Friesen says "I think God is wanting us to not just have interesting, challenging vacations but to live lives of risk and sacrifice " Taking a risk or making a sacrifice for MB missions might take any of a number of forms, Friesen points out. Of course, it could mean a financial sacrifice . MBMSI's new relational funding model provides opportunities to support missionaries and missions projects But the funding model is also a means to build relationships. To that end, MBMSI encourages individuals and church groups to interact with missions through short-term missions Friesen says that such short-term opportunities are "a great opportunity that I think every one of us should experience at some point in our spiritual journey."
It's not surprising that Friesen feels passionate about short-term missions , given his background , but it's important to note that his vision is not limited to shortterm missions . "There's nothing short-term about God's mission," he says. "God's mission is a life , but there are short-term as signments in God's mission " He says
he'd like to see a more intentional link between short and long-term missions. As Fast says, "(Friesen) has a desire to see short-term mission be the ground in which long-term mission is nurtured " Friesen views short-term assignments as Simply one of many things that can become a "catalytic moment " to motivate believers to engage in God's mission.
Friesen sees communication-in a relational way-as another catalyst. "In the end, paper's not going to mobilize people, " he says. "It's going to be people whose lives are committed to God ' s mission and creative about their communication who mobilize others to join them, to follow them in entering God 's mission." Fast calls Friesen a "good communicator," and says his broad international experience gives him a good basis to be such a catalytic communicator. "We are looking forward to seeing Randy communicate the opportunities and possibilities of global mission to our North American churches "
When asked what God is doing in his personal life , Friesen returns to the themes of risk and sacrifice "We've been challenged at that level again in discerning this call and in moving our family across the continent." In addition, he says, "we've also been learning that the body of Christ is a wonderful thing " As they've relocated, he says , the church has welcomed them and loved them in practical ways "We've been overwhelmed," he says
True to his relational bent, Friesen adds a personal thank you to the many who have already demonstrated their commitment to the mission through giving and prayer He says that he is personally dependent upon the prayers of the constituency. "I want to personally say thank you for the many ways in which those prayers have impacted my life " And he invites the counsel and input of those he serves . "I see my role in this mission as a servant to our constituency and also serving our Lord together."
Fast says, "We believe Randy is God's man to inspire the next generation of missionaries from across North America " -by Myra Holmes
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Church celebrates history of outreach
Zoar congregation initiated six church-related ministries
Warm greetings, handshakes, hugs, family updates and cousins waiting for cousins marked the beginning of the gathering that commemorated 125 years of God's faithfulness as the loar MB Church of Inman, Kan., celebrated the church 's anniversary Sunday, Sept. 26 . Those who came to reminisce and worship included present and former members, pastors and others from the community.
In opening comments, Pastor Rob Morrow called people to "renew present commitments to God as we review God's faithfulness over the past 125 years."
Using the richness of the past to gUide ministry into the future has been a trait of the loar congregation over the years As stated by Wilmer Harms in the church ' s history book, From the Prairie to the Town, "Given the fact that a congregation, in less than a century of time, built three separate houses for worship in three different locations, signifies a people who understood that their mission would speak clearly to succeeding generations "
Harms writes, pioneer church that started out on the prairie and moved to the town- a congregation of faith and outreach-de fines the loar MB Church "
When asked about the character of the loar congregation, Morrow says, "In reflecting on th e words of Elder John Esau
in 1889 , I can see the same zeal to obey the commands of Christ throughout the life of loar. Esau said, 'Many of the Mennonites from our old mother church also chose to go to America with us and they; too, looked for a loar in America.' I believe he referred not only to a place of refuge and safety, but the opportunity to reach people other than Mennonites for the gospel. The evidence of that zeal is seen in loar's contribution to Christian education, church planting, and the commitment to local and international mission."
Evidence of that outreach is seen in the number of churches and schools whose beginnings involved members of the loar congregation These churches include one in Hooker, Okla and four in Kansas-Minneola, Greensburg, McPherson and Hays . Several of these church ministries lasted for about 20 years. The Hays MB Church, now known as North Oak Community Church , continues as an active congregation . The Busy Bee Bible Club was another loar outreach begun during World War II when families moved to Hutchinson, Kan , as men were stationed at a nearby naval air base Several women from loar initiated a children's ministry with the military famili e s that lasted until 1973 Orchard Park Chape l was another I outreach ministry that grew out of the Busy Bee Club in which many loar mem-
bers were involved.
Schools that owe the impetus for their beginnings to loar, include loar Academy and Central Christian Schools in Kansas. Arnold Prieb, who grew up in the loar church and later became one of its pastors and a MB miSSionary to Congo, preached the morning message He told of the ways God used loar to plant mustard seeds of faith in him as a child . Later in life, he said, "loar was represented in Congo in the rain forest," as Prieb served there "Today there are 91,000 MBs in Congo, in part because ofloar's concern and support," said Prieb. Prieb went on to encourage liste ners to continue planting mustard seeds of faith in lives of people in the church today "so that in 125 years we can do this again "
Former pastor Gary Janzen describes loar as "a very mission oriented and committed church ." One of the key concerns of the congregation as far back as the merger of the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren and MB conferences was the adequate funding of missionaries.
The warmth of the congregation and the ways people worked together are qualities of loar noted by Janzen and another former pastor, Wilfred Fadenrecht. "People came to the office for numerous re ason scounseling, advice , to work on church business, to visit, share concerns , prayer, etc It was encouraging to have p e ople
share in the ministry and concerns," says Fadenrecht.
Janzen says , "The good , strong leadership in the church was one of the real positives during my ministry which I appreciated ." He refers to ways in which the congregation moved forward in ministry expansion during the years he served by adding summer ministry interns, hiring the church's first full-time youth pastor, building an addition to the church and growing in attendance .
The anniversary celebration included music by men's, women's and volun-
teer choirs and a media presentation that highlighted Zoar's history, church buildings and pastoral leadership Sharing and reminiscing followed the noon meal and included memories from former pastors The story of Jacob Klaassen, a charter member who was instrumental in the founding of the I church when immigrants arrived in 1874-75, was told in dialogue Old-fashioned games and activities were organI ized in the afternoon for children.
Zoar was the second Krimmer MB Church to be organized in North America
The first newly baptized members began meeting in homes in 1879 under the leadership of Jacob Klaassen. They chose the name Zoar because it signified a haven, a refuge in Christ through whom people are redeemed, and that is what the new members felt they had found lWenty-four individuals were baptized and recognized as the original charter members Jacob Klaassen was elected elder and Abraham B. Kroeker as minister. Twenty-five men have served as senior ministers and pastors since Klaassen and KroekerNadine Friesen
Relief aid storms hard·hit communities
RECORDS WILL SHOW
that the 2004 hurricane season was remarkable Four of the season's five major storms-Charley, Frances , Ivan and Jeanne-made U.S. landfall in populated areas Only Karl spun out his fury safely at sea The freakish four-storm chain claimed 73 lives in Florida and triggered the largest cleanup effort in the federal Emergency Management Agency history
So it stands to reason that Mennonite relief agencies have been and continue to be among those diligently working to aid communities reeling from this season 's unprecedented hurricanes Both Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service have responded to the storm damage in Florida and Alabama. MCC is providing 25,000 cans of meat to communities in Florida and Alabama . Much of the meat was distributed through Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations ; the Red Cross and Salvation Army also distributed
canned meat
MDS has established work sites in two Florida locations : Arcadia and Wauchula , where 75 percent of the homes reportedly are damaged. MDS also organized a regional clean-up project in Century, Fla ., to help clear fallen trees Century was particularly hard hit when Hurricane Ivan came ashore near Pensacola, Fla in September. The town has many uninsured and underinsured people and a very high unemployment rate.
Aside from the physical damage they left , the storms have taken an economic toll In South Florida, farm laborers , including many Caribbean and Latino immigrants , cannot find work because of crop damage in the area. "When there is no work, there is no food ," says MCC South Florida program coordinator Andrew Bodden , based in Miami.
The massive clean-up effort in the U.S. included 5,000 relief workers spread over 15 states. As of early October, President Bush had asked
Congress for at least $12 2 billion in financial aid to southern states . Meanwhile , reports I from Haiti indicate relief workers have been hampered by violence and chaos.
More than 1,500 people are confirmed dead in the Haitian city of Gonalves , one of the areas hardest hit by Tropical Storm Jeanne MCC worker Kristie van de Wetering participated in a partner organization ' s Sept. 23 assessment trip The assessment , conducted by , the National Coalition of Haitian Rights , found that four days after peak flooding, water still covered most of Gonalves's streets The floodwaters had swept away buildings and vehicles and littered the town with dead animals The muddy, contaminated water posed health risks , but the town 's hospitals were badly damaged and not operational. Residents were visibly hungry and in some I cases hostile to passing vehicles. Armed gangs had been looting and attacking police.
IMCC is accepting donations to its Caribbean Emer-
gency Assistance Fund and as of mid-October had sent aid to Haiti and Jamaica and was monitoring needs in Grenada In early October, MCC shipped food and relief supplies valued at $138,000 to Haiti to be distributed later that month . Jamaica has received an additional $20,000. The majority of Jamaica Mennonite Church congregations are located in St. Elizabeth and Mandeville . The church sponsors two schools : Maranatha School for the Deaf and Jamaica Bible College Significant damage was reported at Maranatha while much of the storm damage at the Bible college and local churches was repaired in a matter of several days
"This funding gives us the ability to respond qUickly to immediate emergency needs while we are planning for a long-term response ," says Willie Reimer, MCC director of food , disaster and material resources.-MCC and MDS news service
Conjoined sisters separated, one dies congregation supports
Less than a week before surgeons tried to separate conjoined twins Lea and Tabea Block, their parents stood in front of the congregation at North Baltimore (Md.) Mennonite Church. Peter and Nelly Block, Russian-born Mennonites who migrated to Germany as children, had been in Baltimore with their identical year-old daughters since late spring. Most of their days centered on The Johns Hopkins Children'S Center, where the separation surgery would take place.
But Sept. 5, the Sunday before the marathon procedure was to begin, members of the Mennonite Church USA congregation listened to the young couple's story, which took them from Russian childhoods to married life in the Westphalian city of Lemgo. Afterward, the congregation gathered around the Blocks and prayed.
By the early hours of Sept. 16, some of those prayers for the Blocks and their children would be answered. The separation of the girls would be completed. But Tabea-afilicted by heart problems that arose during surgery-would die after a team of doctors raced to save her life. Though Lea's recovery was not certain at first, either, doctors now believe she will grow to lead a normal life.
North Baltimore pastor James Wenger first heard about the Blocks when a German pastor contacted him earlier this year. He told Wenger that a German Mennonite family would be coming to Johns Hopkins and asked if the congregation could help . After the Blocks arrived, Wenger met them and asked church member Lucy Yoder, who formerly had lived in Germany, to contact the couple
family of German twins
Yoder says the Blocks needed considerable help when they first arrived in the United States "They do speak some English, but not much," Yoder said.
Initially, they lived in an apartment prOvided by Johns Hopkins and Yoder provided transportation Later, however, they rented a temporary home about 12 miles from the hospital and leased a vehicle to drive to appointments.
Yoder also stayed with Nelly and the twins when Peter was away; and took the whole family to her sister's rural home for the July 4th holiday; mostly to let them relax
Before the surgery; Yoder called and visited the Blocks a few times each week, but often found they could take care of most needs themselves. "They are very; very independent people," Yoder says . Nelly, 26, is a schoolteacher in Germany. Peter, 27, works with his father, who owns a plumbing and heating business.
Online photographs of the Block family; published by the German magazine Stern, show Nelly and Peter on an outing with the children, who needed special carts and car seats to accommodate their
connected skulls. Others show the children in a special double-length bathtub, getting bundled up for a stroll back in Germany or-in most of the photos-smiling and laughing as their parents cuddled them or hoisted the pair overhead.
This cheerful interaction with the twins was authentic, Yoder says, and not staged for Stern's cameras. "They were really delightful little girls, " Yoder says. "I really enjoyed seeing how [Peter and Nelly] related to their children."
Thanks in part to Stern, the Blocks' stay in the United States has not placed them in financial jeopardy, despite the astronomical medical costs and the expense of living abroad. Stern reportedly paid as much as 1 million euros-just under $1 million-for exclusive rights to photograph and interview the Blocks.
The German government also is said to be footing the medical bills. And the German airline Lufthansa has been picking up the family's travel tab-flying them to the United States on a jet equipped with medical facilities. Donations have come from private citizens as well.
The surgery that separated the Block
twins was the culmination of months of preparation and years of medical advances that made such a procedure possible .
According to Johns Hopkins , craniopagus twins like the Blocks-joined at the tops of their skulls-occur once in every 2 million live births
Teams of 17 neurosurgeons , five plastic surgeons, 14 anesthesiologists, 42 nurses and 22 medical and surgical technicians worked in shifts during the procedure . The team was led by Benjamin Carson , the hospital ' s director of pediatric neurosurgery, who succes sfully has completed similar surgeries and is a well-known Christian author
The first separation attempt Sept. 11 I was halted after Tabea suffered two heart attacks . The surgery resumed Sept. 15 .
Late that night, as the separation neared completion, doctors realized Tabea was
in trouble again and knew they had only limited time to complete the procedure
The separation was achieved a little after midnight Sept . 16, with the surgery completed at 1:45 a .m . Tabea, however, died shortly after, following extensive efforts I to keep her alive In the German press the next day, people following the case
I expressed profound grief mixed with joy at Lea's survival.
I If the story of the Block twins has been part medical miracle, it also has been a story of their parents' Christian devotion I "I think they just have a really deep faith," Wenger says, noting that the Blocks have attended North Baltimore's se rvices on a few Sundays. "I sensed that in being around them "
That faith was being tested long before the twins were born Lea and Tabea were found to be craniopagus in the 10th week of Nelly's pregnancy, and the Blocks
emphatically refused to get a doctor-recommended abortion because of their religious convictions
"For me, it would simply have been the murder of my children," Nelly told the German evangelical magazine Idea-Spektrum "I could not have lived with that ."
The twins were born in Munster, Germany, in 2003
Meanwhile, the Blocks' Mennonite congregation in Lemgo has come to figure prominently in the family's story Several hundred people attended a memorial service for Tabea Sept. 19 at the church . Then, on Sept. 30, Peter and Nelly returned there briefly for Tabea 's funeral, while relatives stayed with Lea in Baltimore
The family'S refusal to get an abortion has earned them praise as well as derision in Germany, where abortion is widely accepted . The Blocks , however, harbor no doubts that what they did was right
"I talked to Peter about that," Yoder said. "And he said: 'Our hope and prayer is that [Lea 'sllife will bring God glory.'" by Robert Rhodes for Mennonite Weekly Review. Reprinted with permission.
Fire raises urban ministry questions
WHEN THE NEIGHBORING
favela , notorious for being a center of crime and the drug trade , caught fire in early September it raised questions for the local Mennonite Brethren church in Sao Paulo , Brazil. The favela , known as Buraco Quente or Hot Hole , is located about two blocks from the MB church building where Ray and Judy Harms-Wiebe and their family are MBMS International missionaries.
In a letter to MBMSI , Harms-Wiebe says , "Should we be thankful that this menace to middle-class life may finally be extinguished? Should we be content to see the glaring evidence of political and econom-
ic injustice eradicated from our doorstep? "
1\vo hundred shacks , constructed haphazardly over the last 50 years , disappeared in a matter of minutes in the fire. "Now it looks like the photos of Hiroshima Nothing is left ," says Harms-Wiebe.
Members of the church have provided meals , clothing, disposable diapers , and counseling. Churches from a number of different denominations were mobilized to help In the midst of the chaos , attempts were made to organize the favela leaders before they were exploited by governing politicians. Many families would like to rebuild their home s.
As the church responded, some ghetto dwellers came to MBMSI mis sionaries with disconcerting news: the drug traffickers were placing death threats on the life of one team member Harms-Wiebe says , "It seems that as long as the churches do charity and provide childcare-our church cares for 60 children from the favela every Saturday-we are a welcome presence , but when we begin to influence the power structures within the favela , we become a menace. "
The church needed to make decisions about their response-should the team stop?
According to Harms-
Wiebe , just as God gave a word to the apostle Paul when he faced danger in Corinth (Acts 18:9b-1O) , he called the Sao Paulo MB congregation to live immersed in the realities of the urban world. "In the fires of the favela, there are many different winds blowing ," says Harms-Wiebe. "There are currents of ghetto dwellers , politicians , drug traffickers and policemen , all with their own interests. Life can be complex. "
The Sao Paulo MBMSI team requests prayer for the interdenominational team serving in the area and for churches that are emerging in four of the favelas.-MBMSI news service
Bangladesh receives MCC relief
flooding forces families to rebuild their lives
In response to severe monsoon flooding, Mennonite Central Committee recently provided some 8,600 families in Bangladesh with supplies including rice, lentils, oil, candles and matches A similar flood relief effort by the Brethren in Christ church in India aided 1,526 families, and MCC provided funds for relief aid for at least 100 families in Nepal.
the items in a packet, the rice inspired the most interest," MCC worker Philip Geiser reports "I noticed that dozens of women, in their haste to collect the rice, whizzed by the matches, candles,and salt. As they were called back to receive those items, their minds were still fixed on the rice "
Geiser says the relief supplies will allow a family of five to eat for about 10 days. This will give "people valuable time to pursue other pressing needs such as rebuilding houses, restoring cropland, cleaning tubewells and even (providing) a short time to express their agonies and gratitude alike to God," says Geiser
Monsoon flooding this summer claimed more than 2,000 lives and affected millions of people in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. While the waters have receded, families, many with few resources to begin with , lost crops , food stores and homes and struggled to rebuild their lives . MCC's total aid package for the region , worth some $463,000, will also include agricultural rehabilitation in Bangladesh and a food-far-work program in India. -MGG
Garden honors first Tabor president
IN HONOR OF H.W. LOHRENZ, A
founder and first preSident of Tabor College , a garden and two granite markers were dedicated Oct. 9 during homecoming festivities. The garden is located in front of the administration building, also named after Lohrenz , on the Hillsboro , Kan , campus .
Henry D. Remple made the presentation to current TC President Larry Nikkel
The garden was a project Re mple and his wife , Mariana Lohrenz Remple , initiated in 2000. Remple 's daughter, Lucy McAlliste r, said the garden , like Tabor College students , is full of growth and the promise of something beautiful.
"It is our hope that for generations to come members of the Tabor community and campus visitors will stand at the foot of these monuments , to sit in this garden , to reflect upon and to give thanks for the work and service of our founders to the glory of God , " said Nikkel. - TG
MORE NEWS
MB center under construction
Construction of a new MB Ministry Center In Winnipeg, Man., began in August. The project Involves two bulldlngs-a 20,000 square foot office building that will house Canadian Conference staff, the Center for MB Studies, as well as Manitoba MB Conference staff-and a 6,000 square foot building for Christian Press Conference treasurer John Wiebe says the building is planned for summer 2005 occupancy.-MB Herald
Interim director appointed
Vern Preheim, a long-time Mennonite Central Committee administrator, has been appointed Interim director of MCC Central States. Preheim has served with MCC In Algeria, Congo and at MCC offices In Akron, Penn. From 1996 until he retired In 2002, Preheim was resource development coordInator for MCC Central States In North Newton, Kan. MCC Central States is one of the four regional offices that make up MCC U.S -MCC
Keim leaves Tabor
Tabor College Vice President of Academics and Student Development Howard Keim has been named as the next president of Hesston College, a 2-year a Mennonite USA college In Hesston, Kan. ''We will miss Howard's leadership at Tabor," says President Larry Nikkei. "He has served with distinction both as a faculty member and as an administrator." Kelm will begin at Hesston Jan. 1, 2005, and after a preparation time of approximately six months assume the presidency in early May.-fC
Augsburger addresses
students
Myron S. Augsburger, author and nationally known evangelist, was the guest speaker for the 2004 Tabor College Bible Conference Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Augsburger addressed the student body three times from Romans 12 and spoke with area pastors Monday mornIng. Augsburger served as the president of Eastern Mennonite Universlty of Harrisonburg, Va., from 1965 to 1980 and Is known locally and Internationally as a church planter and pastor. - fC
CPT reports improved treatment of Iraqi prisoners, cites concerns
A NEW CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER
Team report released Oct. 1 on the state of Iraqis detained by coalition forces includes both good and bad news. A CPT report released in January was among the first to document abuse of prisoners. CPT, formed in 1986 by Mennonites to offer an organized, nonviolent alternative to war and other forms of lethal conflict, currently has programs in nine countries including Iraq
While the new 23-page report says substantial abuse of detainees was more widespread than reported earlier and occurred in prisons other than Abu Ghraib, it also notes that information about the people being held by the coalition is now more accessible to their families. "Families can now obtain visits more easily and with higher frequency than in the past," the report says. "Released detainees reported improvements to living conditions Information regarding detainees' whereabouts has been more widely available to families." CPT reports that the review process for detainees also has improved, although Iraqis still have concerns about how the review board
operates
"There's still a very long way to go," says CPT co-director Doug Pritchard who oversees CPT's presence in Iraq. "The fundamental concern is that many innocent people are being detained with excessive violence . That's a . . .violation of internationallaw. "
CPT's report does raise concerns about coalition accountability. "Iraqis have also expressed .a deep concern regarding detainees who seem to have disappeared within the detention system," the report says. Iraqis are also concerned about I detainees who are being held outside Iraq and who seem to have "disappeared within the detention system."
Since the end of the U S.-led invasion of Iraq, CPT has focused almost exclusivelyon documenting detainee cases. However as social conditions have gradually improved in the country, CPT has been assisting Iraqi advocacy groups in their I efforts.
CPT is supported by Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, I Mennonite Church USA and Friends United Meeting.-MWR
FPU to start baseball, tennis
I AFTER 30 YEARS, MEN'S AND recreational and academic opportunities women ' s tennis and men ' s baseball for students, faculty and staff. returns to Fresno Pacific University for the The baseball team will practice and 2005-2006 season. "We have been work- play at local area fields until a campus ing on this for quite some time ," says ath- baseball diamond is built. FPU plans to letic director Dennis Janzen in making the move women 's and men 's soccer from announcement. "It is the right move ." its current venue, Steinert Field, to The Harold and Betty Haak Tennis Ramirez Field , located within Cockerham Complex, comprising seven lighted Track. Steinert Field will then be convertcourts, is currently under construction ed into a baseball facility. The transition and scheduled to be dedicated the first will not occur until the stadium that weekend in April. It will serve as home houses both Cockerham Track and for FPU tennis teams and also provide Ramirez Field is completed.-FPU
BaptismlMe mbership
Bakersf ield. Calif. (Laurelglen Bible}--Kathleen Dooley and Katie Johnson were baptized the weekend of Sept. 18-19.
Orange Cove. Ca lif. (Iglesia EI Bu en Pastor}--Delilah Quintanilla, Anita Hernandez, Belen Contreras, Rogelio Garcilazo and Daniel Cabrera were baptized at the home of Pastor Jose Elizondo. About 50 people witnessed the baptism that was followed by singing, praying and a fellowship meal.
Harvey. N.D.-Myron Thompson and Melinda Thompson were baptized at the river and welcomed to membership Sept 19.
Blaine. Wash. (Bi r ch Bay Bible Commun i ty}--Nancy Fasler, Matt Eshbaugh and Tanya Eshbaugh were welcomed to membership Oct. 10.
Celebrations
Tulsa. Okl a. (Th e Hea rt)--The congregation celebrated their third anniversary Sept. 12 with a recognition of recent baptisms and new members, a video highlighting the past year and a potluck Mexican meal.
Olathe. Kan (Ethiop ian Christia n Fellowshi p}--The church facility was dedicated at a Sept. 26 grand opening celebration and worship service.
Ki ngsburg. Calif. (Ig l esia Agua Viva }--The official founding ofthe church was celebrated Oct. 3 Baptism of new believers and a fellowship time followed the afternoon service during which the charter membership was formed.
Workers
Ya l e. S.D. (Bethel}--Vic and Leora Walter began serving as interim pastoral couple Oct 3.
Wichita. Kan. (First MB)-- John Warkentin has resigned as senior pastor, effective Jan. 1. His future plans are indefinite.
Weath erford. Okla. (Pine Acres)Brian and Stephanie Harris have been called as senior pastoral couple
Hays. Kan (North Oak Community)-Tim Baarts ha s resigned as associ -
CHURCH NEWS
ate pastor and has accepted a position with Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Deaths
ADAMS. JERRY CLEMENT Kingsburg, Calif., member of Kingsburg MB Church. was born April 15, 1910, to George and Louisa Adams in Geyserville, Calif , and died June 25, 2004, at the age of 94 He is survived by wife Marian of Kingsburg; one daughter, Beverly and husband Dan Butler of Grass Valley, Calif.; two sons, Ron and wife Leah of Deerfield, III., and Don and wife Manya of Selma, Calif.; one sister, Isabel Raven of Selma, Calif., seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren
BELTZ. CLIFFORD (WOODY) A•• Hillsboro, Kan , member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Nov 8, 1916, to Jacob and Anna Beltz in Lehigh, Kan., and died Aug. 26, 2004, at the age of 87. In August 1941 , he married JoHanna Richert, who survives. He is also survived by one son, John of Hillsboro; one daughter, Rita and husband Ken Johnson of Bakersfield, Calif ; one sister, Dorothy Beltz of Hutchinson, Kan ; one brother Bob and wife Verla of Oklahoma City, Okla , and three grandchildren.
BOESE LINDA, Fort Collins, Colo., member of Corn (Okla.) MB Church, was born Oct. 1, 1916, to Henry and Marie Wiens Stobbe in Henderson, Neb., and died Sept.ll, 2004, at the age of 88 On March 21, 1937, she was married to Henry J Boese, who predeceased her She is survived by two sons, Gary and wife Julie and Ron and wife Terri ; two daughters, Rosemary and husband Earl Mehl and Ruby and husband Thomas Rorabaugh, 10 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren
FUNK, AGNES SIEBERT Hillsboro, Kan., member of Hillsboro MB Church. was born May 22, 1917, to John J. and Helena Groening Siebert near Hillsboro and died April 17,2004, at the age of 86 On May 27. 1938, she married Orison V. Funk. who predeceased her She is survived by one son, Stanley; one daughter, Patricia and husband Phil Esau, and two grandchildren
GROENI NG. FRANCIS J.• Hillsboro,
NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Kan., a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born July 10, 1915, to Frank U. and Anna Flaming Groening in Lehigh, Kan , and died Aug 8, 2004, at the age of 89. On Nov 25, 1943. he married Martha Wiens, who predeceased him. He is survived by three daughters, Connie and husband Don Hendrickson, Sheryl and husband Don McDaniel and Gala Liebelt, seven grandchildren and three great grandsons
HANNEMAN. MILDRED (MILLIE) D., Hillsboro, Kan, a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born May 21, 1922, to Elmer and Pearl Frick near Durham, Kan., and d i ed Sept. 20, 2004, at the age of 82. She married Wilbur Hanneman, who survives. She is also surv ived by two sons, Delbert and Keith; two daughters, Elaine and Gloria, five grandchildren and one great granddaughter
HOFER, BERNADINE, Bridgewater, S D., member of Salem MB Church, Bridgewater, was born June 11, 1931, to John A. and Marie Pullman Hofer near Freeman, S D , and died Sept. 27, 2004. at the age of 73 On Aug 21, 1949, she marr i ed John W. Hofer, who survives She is also survived by one daughter, Marla and husband Doug Gilbert of Corsica, S.D ; four brothers, Robert and wife Karol, Harold and wife Phyllis and Calvin, all of Marion, S.D , and John and wife Carolyn of Tyrone, Ga ; one sister, Jeanette Tschetter of Doland, S.D., and one grandson.
JUHNKE ROLAND Hillsboro, Kan. , a member of Hillsboro MB Church, was born Feb. 19, 1919, to Wesley and Amelia Graber Juhnke in McPherson County, Kan., and died Aug. 10,2004, at the age of 85. On May 26, 1942, he married Marguerite Wall, who predeceased him. He is survived by two sons, Ralph of Overland Park, Kan , and Ron of Kansas City, Mo.; three sisters, Ethel Krehbiel and Grace Hanson of McPherson, Kan., and Helen Fries of Minneapol is, Minn , and two grandsons
NACHTIGALL, ANNA MARIE. Reedley, Calif., member of Reedley MB Church, was born June 28, 1912, to Jacob F. and Anna R Ens Dick in Reedley, Calif , and died Sept 18, 2004, at the age of 92. On May 9, 1936, she married Ben W. Nachtigall, who predeceased her
She is survived by one son, Gary and wife Arlene of Fresno, Calif.; two daughters, Gloria and husband Richard Olson of Kingsburg, Calif., and Rosemary and husband Tim Friesen of Squaw Valley, Calif., five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
PETERS, ARLENE, Shafter, Calif., member of Shafter MB Church, was born March 23, 1929, to Fred and Nettie Strauss in Hepburn, Sask , and died Sept 18,2004, at the age of 75. On Sept. 15, 1956, she married Robert Peters, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Clark and wife Jana of Bakersfield, Calif ; one daughter, Kendra and husband Skip Penner of Shafter, Calif.; two brothers, Gilbert Strauss and wife Olga and Dennis Strauss and wife Judy, all of Canada; one sister, Evelyn Schmidt of Fresno, Calif., and two grandchildren.
REIMER. SUSAN, Reedley, Calif , was born Sept. 11 , 1921, to Abe and Tina Suderman in Reedley and died Oct 4, 2004, at the age of 83. In 1957, she married Ferd Reimer, who predeceased her She is survived by two daughters, Karen and husband Sean Lovelady of Modesto, Calif., and Joyce and husband Everett Thiesen of Reedley; four sons, Ron and wife Danelle of San Juan Capistrano, Calif , Don of Reedley, Jerry and wife Brenda of Fresno, Calif. and Jeff and wife Sheryl of Reedley; two sisters, Regina Suderman of Reedley and Kathryn and husband Lawrence Harder of Minnesota; two brothers, Henry and wife Irene Suderman of Reedley and Dan and wife Violet Suderman of Mar i posa, Calif , and 15 grandchildren.
SEIBEL, CLARENCE. Hillsboro, Kan., was born Sept 12, 1923, to Jacob and Anna Wall Seibel near Aulne, Kan , and died Oct. 9, 2004, at the age of 81 On Dec 15, 1949, he married Mary Koslowsky, who survives. He i s also survived by one son, Gene and wife Sue of Edwardsville, III., one daughter Eleanor and husband Lowell Jost of Hillsboro; three brothers, Elmer and wife Dorothy of Newton, Kan , Homer and wife Goldie of Arkansas City, Kan , and Wallace and wife Dolly of Wichita, Kan .; two sisters, Lucena and husband Alfred of Fredonia, Kan. , and Frances Quintana of Emporia, Kan , three grandchildren and two great grandchildren
SI EMEN S, FRIE DA SCHROEDER
GOERTZEN, Buhler, Kan , member of Buhler MB Church, was born Feb 15, 1914, to Henry H and Margaretha Neufeldt Schroeder on a farm west of Moundridge, Kan , and died Sept. 9, 2004, at the age of 90 On Dec. 2, 1934, she married Henry l. Goertzen, who predeceased her On Sept 4, 1981, she married Chester Siemens, who predeceased her She is survived by two daughters, Janice and husband George Hussey of Arvada , Colo , and Lois Goertzen o f Grand Junction, Colo ; two sons, Harvey and wife Mary Lou of Inman, Kan , and Wesley and wife Shirley of Hutchinson Kan ; a daughter-inlaw Velma Goertzen of Inman, Kan.; three brothers, Arthur, Alvin and Irvin of Buhler, nine grandchildren and 10 great grand children
STAHL. DARWIN EDWARD, Yale , S D , member of Bethel MB Church, was born Sept. B, 1942, to George and Bertha Tschetter Stahl at Huron, S D., and died Aug 29, 2004, at the age of 61 He is survived by his mother, Bertha Stahl ; two brothers, Douglas and wife Betty of Huron and Donald of Yale; three sisters, Sharon Stahl of Sioux Falls, S.D , Ela i ne and husband Wil Kleinsasser of Huron,
CLEARINGHOUSE
Employment-Local Ch urch
North Oak Community Church of Hays, Kan , seeks a qualified, experienced full -time Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Involvement
Position includes working w ith the NOCC staff and lay leaders in tea ching and equipping members toward Christian maturity and ministry through small groups and personal discipleship Requires team player, relational , disciplemaker Graduate degree and/or experien ce desirable Send or email resume to Associate Pastor Sear ch, NOCC 3000 Oak Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 kediger@northoak net
and Georgiane and husband Ken Kleinsasser of Hitchcock, S D
TE SS MAN , EVA E. JANZEN, Hillsboro, Kan , a member o f Hillsboro MB Church, was born Feb 6, 1911, to Peter G and Eva Huebert Janzen near Henderson, Neb , and died Oct 5, 2004, at the age of 93 On April 2, 1937, she married Dan Tessman, who predeceased her She is survived by one son, Larry and wife Faye of Huntsville, Ala , and two daughters, Karen and husband Gary Wiens of Hillsboro, and Ga i l and husband Harold Loewen of Goshen, Ind ; one sister- in -law, Eileen Janzen of Newton, Kan , seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren
UNRUH, ALICE GRACE, Fresno, Ca l if , member of Reedley MB Church, was born June 19, 1916, and died Sept. 16, 2004, at the age of 88 She is survived by three sons, Jerry of Los 0505, Calif , Stan of Fresno and Ron of Houston, Texas
WARKENTIN, H. IR WIN, Corn, Okla , member of Corn MB Church , was born Aug 24,1911 , to Henry J and Anna Leppke Warkentin on a farm north of Corn and died Aug. 13, 2004, at the age of 92 On Aug 8, 1937, he married Edna Janzen, who predeceased him He
is surv ived by two daughters, Frances and husband Jack Gathright of Oklahoma City, Okla , and Rowena and husband Carl Rhodes of Corn; two sons, Richard of Columbia, S.c., and Michael and wife Georgia of
Norman, Okla ; three sisters, Martha Pass of Stillwater, Okla., Ruth Fourier of Corn and Viola and husband Allen Huebert of Reedley, Calif , three grandchildren and three g r eat grandchildren
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Buhl Mennonite B..eth..en C hu ,h Saturday, November 13: 5:00 p.m. "Faspa," 6:00 Service -
l S79 - 2004
SlUlday, November 14, 10:00 a m
Worship service, followed by a delicious meal. The church is located at 415 N. West St., Bubier, KS (Ph 620-543- 2 78 4) _ I
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
Tabor College is located in Hillsboro, Kansas with adult programs in Wichita The Vice President reports to the President of the College Duties include providing management of all academic programs (including adult learning in Wichita , KS), student development and athletics
Qualified candidates will hold a doctorate or other terminal degree appropriate to the position and have administrative and teaching experience in higher education Must be a C hristian committed to the mission of Tabor College which is "preparing people for a life of learning, work and service for Christ and his kingdom :'
Tabor is a four -year Christian liberal arts college in the Anabaptist and Evangelical traditions Tabor is affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren churches and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Tabor was ranked as a top tier school in the 2004 rankings of U .S News and World Report.
Send inquiries, letters and resumes to Larry W. Nikkel, President, Tabor College, 400 South Jefferson , Hillsboro, KS More information is available upon request. Applications will be received until the vacancy is filled The position will be open January 1, 2005, but could be deferred until July 1, 2005
Tabor College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer As an educational institution operating under the auspices of the United States Co nferen ce of Mennonite Brethren Churches , Tabor Co llege is permitted and reserves the right , to prefer employees on the basis of re ligion (Title VII , Section s 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended)
Getting ready
For the months during which our country was focused on the presidential election held earlier in November, I was thinking that I should pay careful attention to the flood of related information that came my way. While I have registered a party affiliation, my aim in the 2004 presidential election was to base my vote not on party loyalty but rather on an informed understanding of each candidate's stand on a variety of issues.
Educating one's self was an achievable goal given all the news reports about the personal and political history, leadership style and campaign promises and speeches of John Kerry and George Bush plus the televised coverage and published transcripts of the presidential and vice presidential debates. Unfortunately the analysis by news anchors, various experts and special interest groups can sometimes make it a challenge to really think through for oneself what the candidates' comments mean.
As I write this editorial, we have another week to go before the election Yet I know that the reason I will walk into the election booth Noy. 2 having done only last minute preparation can be attributed to primarily one thing. I had good intentions to be an educated voter-I really did-but life interfered.
I planned to begin my election education this summer in connection with the Democrat and Republican national conventions But as it turned out, summer was filled with kids' activities, family vacations, home projects, summer church events and work. Then school started and the whirlwind of activity did not diminish; it just changed. And even when free time presented itself the laundry, meal preparation and housework claimed my attention. Who had time to adequately research each issue raised during the campaign? And so I will walk into the election booth disappointed in myself Something as important as the presidential election warranted more attention than I gave it.
In just a few weeks something more important than a national election will deserve our attention The last Sunday of this month we will begin preparing for the annual celebration of the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This time I am praying that my commitment to preparation will infiltrate every aspect of my daily life rather than be a goal that is easily put aside when other priorities surface.
This preparation time is called Advent and it begins four Sundays before Christmas Day. For Mennonite Brethren congregations that observe Advent it typically involves the use of an Advent wreath decorated with five candles that symbolize the coming of Christ, the light of the world. The four weeks are marked by the lighting and burning of an increasing number of candles during the worship service. The fifth candle is lit on Christmas Day along with the other four. While there are a variety of traditional meanings and Scripture readings attached to each candle, congregations
also develop their own interpretations and scriptural readings.
This season in the church year when we anticipate our Savior's coming is much more important than the campaign that precedes a presidential election . Unfortunately, the message of Christ's birth can be lost in the commercialism of Christmas just like our glimpses of the real issues during an election year are often overshadowed by the circus of a national campaign. During Advent the ruler we prepare to receive is much greater than an earthly president. Yet our attention is too often focused on the coming family, congregational and community celebrations and obligations rather than on the coming ofJesus as God's gift to the world.
"The celebration of Christmas is an act of worship carried out by the Christian community," writes James L Evans in his book Family Devotions for the Advent Season. "When the celebration becomes something other than worship, it is also something other than Christmas."
That's why Advent is so important. Celebrating Advent in our homes and churches can help us remember the truth of Christmas-that God sent his only son to save us from our sins and that this act of sacrificial love deserves our praise and worship. This is a message of such great joy it shouldn't be highlighted for just one day. Observing Advent gives us the opportunity to extend our celebration Our response to God's great gift is an act of worship that should characterize our Christmas celebrations from beginning to end . In Isaiah 40:3-5, the prophet calls us to prepare for our king and for the subsequent revelation of God's glory. Our prayer should echo the words of the magi, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We have come to worship him" (Matt. 2:2).
Just as well-intentioned efforts to educate oneself as a voter can be lost in the busyness of everyday life so can our intentions to worship be lost in the flurry of activities leading up to Christmas Day. Observing Advent can help us choose the peace and solitude of the manger over the noise, glitz and crowds of malls and parties.
Our family has been blessed over the years by Advent observances. My parents passed on to me the tradition of observing Advent at home as well as at church Many times when in spite of a busy day we have gone ahead with our simple Sunday night family Advent devotions, I have been refreshed and refocused. God has been with us as we worshiped him sitting on the floor in a darkened and quiet family room, child leaning against parent, Advent candles flickering on the coffee table, listening to his Word and singing a familiar carol. "0, come let us adore him," we sing. "Christ the Lord." May worship in our homes and churches keep Christ central to Christmas.-CF
