Arm wrestling matches are most exciting when the two opponents are deadlocked, neither overcoming the other and neither willing to yield even an inch. Much like an outstanding arm-wrestling match, the church is called to maintain a tension between two objectives: biblical faithfulness and cultural relevance. Thinking like a missionary is one way the 2ISt century church is responding to the call to minister faithfully in our contemporary culture.
13 BEING TODAY'S CHURCH IN TODAY'S CULTURE by Jules
Glanzer
The church today can learn a lot from the healthy ecosystem of a forest, where small saplings grow in the open spaces between existing trees. As these saplings grow, each years ring enhances the growth of the tree. The emerging church is attempting to speak to the issues facing the church today. At their best, they are working to make the church relevant, faithful and effective Here are eight characteristics of the emerging church offered by someone who is personally familiar with the movement
16
IS THIS A BETTER WAY?
A conversation with James Bergen and Del Gray
The missional church and the emerging church are two ways in which the contemporary church hopes to disciple believers and minister to the world. The CL asked two Mennonite Brethren - one a pastor and the other an educator- to talk about these two movements, with a focus on helping us understand the emerging church, the attraction it has for some and the concerns it raises for others
> FiRST WORDS
[from the ed itor!
WE REGULARLY ASK READERS TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS about subjects we should address in the CL feature department. The emerging church is one topic proposed repeatedly via the 2007 Readership Survey and the 2008 U S. Conference convention. So this month's focus on the emerging church and the missional church is our response to your requests.
The idea that our congregations should be missional is a philosophy with which many Mennonite Brethren resonate. Taking God's message of salvation and new life to people living in distant lands was a priority for our spiritual ancestors and is one of our denomination's main concerns today. So we are comfortable with the idea that being a missional church means considering the communities in which we live to be just as important a missionary serting as faraway places .
The emerging church is another matter. This movement is diverse, deliberately provocative and concerned with how faith is lived out. It is postmodem and has been described by some as post-evangelical. Our response as Mennonite Brethren to the emerging church varies . Some of us are sttongly committed to the emerging church conversation while others are equally firm in their concern about the movement. And some of us are not quite sure what to think.
I have two goals for this feature section: that we offer a balanced view, particularly of the emerging church, and that we evaluate the missional church and emerging church from a Mennonite Brethren perspective-that we ask how these two new expressions of Christ's church fit into our evangelical Anabaptist understanding of the church and its purpose. So if you are a reader who wants to learn more about the emerging church conversation and the call to be missiona\, I hope these articles are a helpful primer If you are a reader who has come to some conclusions about being missional and/or emerging, I trust these essays will provide you with some new information and will encourage your continued thinking -CF
> C L QUESTION
I would describe my view of the emerging church as ...
a Enthusiastic
a Positive but with reservation
a Interested but concerned a Cautious
a Concerned but interested a Apprehensive a Strongly opposed
Answer this question online at www.usmb.orgIchristian-leader Survey results will be posted online.
> UP & COMING
• Oct. 9- 10- U.S. Board of Faith and Life meeting, Denver, Colo.
• Oct.10-12 - U S Conference Leadership Board meeting, Denver, Colo
Connie Faber EDITOR
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of Mennon ite B r et hren Churche s.
MANDATE The Ch ristian Leader seek s to inform Mennonite Bre th ren members and churche s of the event s, ac tivities deci sion s and is sue s of their denom ination and to in struct in spire and initiate dialogue so m embers will aspire to be fa ithfu l di sciple s of Ch ri st as understood in the evangelicaVAnabapt ist theolog ical tradition
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Measuring church health
Three questions to ask about your church
Every pastor would love to selVe in a healthy church, and every attendee and member of any local church would love to be able to say his or her church is healthy. As with any other organism, it is important to consider how health is measured in the church. Over the last several decades several methods of evaluation have been offered.
It has been suggested that if a church is growing it is healthy. Some have sought to fine-tune the growth factor by differentiating between transfer and conver-
church we now call home, how would you or I feel and what would we think? If visitors do not return, it may be a signal that their assessment of the health of our congregation was not positive. If there is a way to connect with that visitor for their candid feedback without any defensiveness on our part and without fear of reprisal on theirs, we could get a great health read on some aspects of our church family.
If you or I were looking for a new home church and we visited th e church we now caU home, how would you or I feel and wh at would we think?
sion growth. In an earlier Conference Call I suggested that regular baptisms could be viewed as an indicator of health. It has also been suggested that churches that are not growing are healthy because they must be standing true against the temptation to satisfy itching ears.
Other obselVers aim to evaluate by trying to measure faith, hope and love. After all, these are the three things that remain, and surely they must then be the true indicators of spiritual health.
There has developed in the last couple of decades an entire genre of books that address this important matter. And in addition, there are inventories that can be filled out by representative members of any congregation that will give insightful and helpful indications of both disease and health in usual categories such as worship, teaching, music, fellowship, discipleship, outreach, stewardship, leadership, etc.
Don Morris, our Mission USA director, is available to connect and work with local churches to evaluate and improve their health and effectiveness in relationship to both shepherding and equipping the found and pursuing the lost. Don does this in partnership with and with the blessing of disrrict leaders. Be encouraged to check on that ministry if it could help you.
Let me offer a couple of additional "out of the box" health indicators that make some sense tome.
• Do visitors come back? If you or I were looking for a new home church and we visited the
• Do we invest in our neighbors? Because one significant reason for the church's existence is to <10ve our neighbors," it must be assumed that a healthy church is proactive in this. Based on our congregation's annual budget, it can be very helpful to measure whether our community figures in. If we are not corporately budgeting for and planning to invest in the building of relationships with our neighbors who are not yet part of God's family, we can be pretty sure that we will not corporately take steps in that direction. If our ministry support dollars are invested for those who are already in the fold (ourselves) and global missions (read "not in my back yard") initiatives, how will we demonstrate to our neighbors that we care about them? Or could it be that the disease is that we really don't love them?
• Do we talk to strangers? The normal thing to do before and after our gatherings-even during the "meet and greet" moments within our selVices-is to greet the folks that we know and love, or at least like. Have you ever noticed a newbie during these times? No? Maybe that is the problem. Perhaps no one else has either. Truth be told, my wife, Carol, and I have walked right by assigned greeters who were so engaged with each other that we were completely ignored, which in my view is worse than no greeters at all. Part of being healthy is being genuinely welcoming to people you don't yet know, both corporately and individually.
Maybe you can pick one of these questions for thought and prayer and perhaps even discussion and action Being healthier can't hurt and being more effective matters.
'1J Comment on Conference Can by going online to usmb.orglchristian-leader.
> READERS FORUM
Enough room at the table
Discussions about the emerging church should not divide us
There has been a lot of discussion about the emergent church lately. Like most denominations, Mennonite Brethren have not been isolated from the conversation There are MB churches that have statted alternate worship services, pastors and congregants that attend emergent cohorts and church activities that include historic Christian practices such as prayer stations and lemo divina . All of this has had the positive effect of bringing some people into deeper and renewed journeys with Christ.
The emergent discussion, however, has not been without controversy. Some have misinterpreted the activity and cry, "Heresy!" Equating the emergent move-
Emergent and Anabaptist theologies actually share many common tenets. In An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches. Ray Anderson identifies several key aspects: I) emerging churches are incarnational, 2) emerging churches are missional, 3) emerging churches stress kingdom living and 4) emerging churches preach Christ's return. Anderson says. 'i\n emergent theology has the mind of the risen and coming Christ as well as the heatt and soul of the historical Jesus." Many emergents are hungry for an Anabaptist theology that emphasizes discipleship and evangelism. mission and service. community. biblical theology and a global witness of peace and reconciliation.
Though the theology is sound. feelings of distrust and suspicion remain. In The Sky Is Falling. Alan Roxburgh identifies two types of ment with the teaching of universalism (all religions lead to heaven) and the denial of the atonement (the substitutionary death of
Jrc hungry for AnJbapti "t theology that emph;)si:es discipl es hip Jnd eVJngelism, mis·;;jon community. hihlic ..ll theology and J glob;)J \vimes" 01 peace and reconciJiation .
Christ) is common but not accurate. Many people are reading the critics rather than the authors of the movement. While the emphasis on interreligious dialogue might feel uncomfottable. there is a consistent commitment to the primacy of Jesus and his saving work on the cross. As in all movements there will be extremists, but the vast majority of emergent leaders would not affirm heretical teachings.
Missionary and theologian Lesslie Newbigin inspired much of the conversation in the emergent and missional movements. When Newbigin returned to Britain after decades of mission work in India he discovered a dwindling church and a post-Christian society. Newbigin approached the situation as a missionary. not suggesting a battle with or an adoption of culture but taking on a learning posture and engaging the culture
He asked how Jesus could be reintroduced and how the Christian community might engage the new culture while being faithful to the whole gospel. In The Gospel in a Pluralist Society he reiterates the primacy of Christ and the mission of the church: "'To be elect in Christ Jesus. and there is no other election. means to be incorporated into his mission to the world. to be the bearer of God's saving purpose for his whole world. to be the sign and the agent and the firstfruit of his blessed kingdom which is for all " His emphasis on Christ and the Christian community provided the impetus for other popular authors like Brian McLaren and Dan Kimball. as well as academics like Darrel Guder and Alan Roxburgh.
congregants most affected by the cultural shifts at hand: liminals and emergents. Liminals are those who witness the cultural changes and are deeply concerned that something wrong is taking place. Feelings of anxiety. confusion and even anger are common in this stage of liminality. There is resistance to change and a call to regain what once was. Emergents are those who thrive in the new culture. Change invigorates them; it brings new life and new opponunities for living out the gospel in a post-Christian world
Unfonunately. a common outcome is for liminals and emergents to stand defiantly against one another. eventually paning ways. Liminals are glad to be rid of the emergents. and emergents are happy to statt new churches. The best way forward. says Roxburgh. is to build communities in which we share life. live the gospel and learn from one another
The early church struggled to reconcile two divergent worldviews as well: Jew and Gentile. 'To the churches in Rome. Corinth. Galatia and Colossae. the Apostle Paul declared there was no longer a distinction between Jews and Greeks. 'To the Ephesians he announced that God "made both groups into one" and broke down the "dividing wall" of hostility by reconciling "both groups to God in one body through the cross " If the table of the first-century church was big enough for Jews and Greeks. it ought to be big enough for liminals and emergents. Being "one" does not mean we always agree. but it does mean we will listen to and learn from each other.
The authors of this essay are Tim Neufeld and Rick Bartlett. who live in Fresno. Calif. and Wendell Loewen. of Hillsboro. Kan. Each is a member and active participant in a Mennonite Brethren congregation
JEJ Comment on this essay at usmb orglchristian -leader
MBBS announces Holm's resignation
Jost appointed acting president
MB Biblical Seminary regrets to announce the resignation of Jim Holm as president, effective Aug. 29. The Board of Directors asked for and received Holm's resignation, due to personal reasons, and has appointed academic dean Lynn Jost as acting president for an interim period, effective Aug. 29, 2008.
In a news release announcing the change in leadership, the seminary expresses its gratitude for the partnership of both the Mennonite Brethren denomination and the worshipping communities located near its campuses in Fresno, Calif., Langley, BC, and Winnipeg. Man. 'J\s MB Biblical Seminary moves forward, your prayers and support are valued," says the release.
Holm was inaugurated as president in 2004 and appointed to a second term in 2006. He began working at the seminary in 1997 as a professor, student dean and constituency directed. Holm graduated from MBBS in 1975 and earned a doctorate of ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., in 2003.
Jost is a MBBS graduate and earned a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University in 1996. He served on the Tabor College faculty for 13 years prior to joing the seminary staff in 2006.
MBBS, with campuses in Fresno, Langley (Associated Canadian Theological Schools) and Winnipeg (Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies), seeks to inspire and equip men and women to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to serve and lead in the church and in the world. The seminary offers masters degrees, diplomas and certificates with an Anabaptist and evangelical focus. - MBBS press re1eare/CL
MDS readies hurricane response
Just days afrer Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast, representatives from Mennonite Disaster Service worked to assess damage and begin response, even as they braced for more incoming storms Gustav hit New Orleans and surrounding areas Sept I Although the storm weakened before landfall and damage was far less than feared, Gustav is blamed for some flooding. at least 10 deaths and loss of power to more than a million homes
According to a Sept. 3 press release, MDS has been in contact with several Anabaptist leaders in the Gulf Coast area as it begins coordinating service opportunities
"Everyone was ready with a plan, " said Nelson Roth, pastor of Gulfhaven Mennonite Church , Gulfport, Miss., in an interview as the storm edged out of the Gulf. Roth repeated the word "preparedness" several times
Jerry Klassen , MDS disaster response coordinator, says, 'We have access to volunteer labor. As far as getting needs connected with resources, we think we can get this rolling rather quickly Next we begin identifying needs as quickly and efficiendy as we can, sharing resources that are available to us and empowering local Anabaptist leaders with resources ."
MDS executive director Kevin King says, 'We're positioned well with contacts in the Gulf Coast." However, in early September the agency expected it to be several weeks before they would begin sending volunteers to the affected areas.
Meanwhile, MDS was standing "at the ready" in anticipation of responding to the potential impacts of Hanna, Ike and Josephine MDS is the Anabaptist disaster relief agency supported by Mennonite Brethren Check the MDS Web site, www mds mennonite net for the latest on response to these storms.-MDS
Celebrate Mission Nights scheduled
MBMS International is again hosting their annual series of Celebrate Mission Nights in cities across North America. CMN events "seek to glorify God and encourage people to respond to his call to mission," according to MBMSI. 'There is no shortage of places to go, people to love and ways to get involved," says an MBMSI news release about the events.
Each CMN event will include a testimony from MBMSI general director Randy
MCC
Friesen and a video highlighting the adventures of the Nomad Team, a summer project in the remote valleys of Central Asia.
U.S CMN events are scheduled for Nov. 8 in Topeka, Kan.; Nov. 9 in Hi11sboro, Kan., and Edmond, Okla.; Nov. 15 in Huron, SO and Nov. 16 in Gertysburg , SO. For more information, visit www.mbmsLorg/cmn. MBMSI is the global mission agency of North American Mennonite Brethren. - MBMSI
seeks funds for international food aid
Mennonite Central Commirtee is appealing fOr $1.5 million in financial contributions to provide emergency food assistance to people who are facing hunger in Ethiopia and other countries because of drought and high global food prices.
MCC is working with a partner organization, the Meserete Kristos Church Relief and Development Association (MKCRDA), to distribute more than 3,000 metric tons of com, wheat and cooking oil to about 81,000 people in the Boricha and Awassa Zuria districts of southwestern Ethiopia. The Meserete Kristos Church is a Mennonite World Conference member denomination.
Boricha and Awassa Zuria are densely populated districts where many families tend small farms . Local harvests failed in June and July because of inadequate rains, while food prices have risen sharply, making it more difficult for families who lost their crops to purchase what they need. Com is more than three times as expensive in Ethiopia as it was a year ago, mirroring a steep rise in the prices of basic foods worldwide .
MCC received funding for these projects from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank However, because of rising prices,
MCC needs an additional $1 million to continue distributing food until the end of October, when families wi11 be able to harvest crops, says Bruce Guenther, an MCC relief coordinator . Because of the global rise in food prices, many countries where MCC works are experiencing food shortages MCC is planning to provide an additional $500,000 in emergency food aid in locations that will soon be determined, says Ron Flaming, MCC's director of international programs.
Flaming expects food shortages to be a continuing, worldwide problem because of climate change, high fuel prices and the use of crops to produce biofuels such as ethanol. MCC is planning a long-term response to this global food crisis that will increase MCC's agricultural development work with low-income farmers, says Flaming. 'We're going to have to focus more on production in the years ahead," he says.
MCC is the peace, relief and service agency of North American Anabaptists and is supported by Mennonite Brethren. Contributions should be designated "Food for All" and may be made online at www.m cc.org/donate or to any MCC office - Tim Shenk for M CC
MQ HIRES
Ministry Quest, a leadership development program of MB Biblical Seminary, has named Mike Rea to the position of program director. The new position, based on the seminary's Fresno, Calif., campus, will give direction to MQ's high school program while Cam Priebe, director of Ministry Quest, turns his attention to opportunities for MQ to further resource and equip Mennonite Brethren conferences and colleges. These opportunities include providing "call retreats," resources for internships/supervisors, and further training in leadership development.-MB8S
BOOK PUBLISHED
A new book by Timothy J. Geddert, professor of New Testament at MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno, Calif. , campus, reflects his work in the areas of biblical interpretation, the nature of the church and ethics. All Right Now: Finding Consensus on Ethical Questions, published by Herald Press (www.heraldpress.com). deals with the most commonly requested themes during Geddert's two decades of teaching and conducting seminars.-MB8S
MISSIONS VIA VIDEO
MBMS International launched a redesigned Web site Sept. 1, with portals to help churches and individuals "discover," "go" and "connect" with the agency's mission opportunities. Also launched Sept. 1 is a new site, www.mbmsMdeo.com. intended to "give glory to God as we tell his story in mission through video." Included are interviews with missionaries, videos from baptisms, short-term mission videos, information about projects in different countries and stories of transformation. New videos will be posted monthly. - MBMSI
To TIllS DAY, MY FRIEND NEIL REFLECfS upon his decision as an unwise one. Neil is a bodybuilder, a big, muscular guy. As it turns out, he is not nearly as big or strong as the lineman from a Big Ten football team who he agreed to arm-wrestle several years ago. Neil lost. Badly! In fact, Neil didn't just lose He sustained a severely tom bicep injury that took several months to heal.
Neil clearly believed that he was up to the challenge or he surely would never have agreed to take on this linebacker. When all was said and done, though, he proved to be woefully outmatched by his oversized competitor. As he thinks back on this experience, he wonders if maybe he let his confidence get the best of him Was it merely a moment of foolishness that led him to believe that he could do this? Needless to say, this is not a mistake that Neil intends to make twice.
I think that Neil's experience bears striking similarity to the source of anxiety that sometimes plagues the church as we strive to minister faithfully within a changing culture. A memory from my childhood might help me to explain this connection more clearly.
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend an arm -wrestling tournament. I still have vivid memories of that experience. Dozens of onlookers gathered around to watch as pairs of competitors with bulging biceps planted their elbows on the table and clasped one another's hands. The whole point was for one contestant to exett enough force to cause the other's hand to touch the tabletop.
The air was filled with energy and excitement as these muscular men and women , grimacing, grunting and clenching their teeth, strained against one another to determine who was strongest. The most exciting matches were those in which two opponents were deadlocked for some time, neither managing to overcome the other, neither willing to yield even an inch. In the really great matches, the wrestlers' hands remained gripped together at the table's center and at a perfect 90-degree angle from its surface.
Two crucial objectives
I'm convinced that as the church strives to carry out its mission faithfully within contemporary society, it is faced with a challenge that is much like one of these outstanding arm -wrestling matches. In every era and in every location, the church is called to maintain a tension between two distinct but equally crucial objectives : biblical faithfulness and cultural relevance.
The message of Scripture remains true and unchanging throughout the ages. Yet the church is called
by God to ttanslate this message into the particularities of every culture. As a result, biblical faithfulness and cultural relevance function in relation to one another much like the hands of two great armwrestlers. They press in upon one another. They must be held in tension . Neither can exert a greater amount of force upon the other without a loss taking place.
What happens if the objective of cultural relevance is permitted to strong-arm our concern for biblical faithfulness? The result would be precisely the thing that many Christians fear so much : compromise of biblical truth. On the other hand, what is likely to happen if our concern to preserve biblical faithfulness is permitted to overpower the need for cultural relevance? We are likely to cling to an expression of biblical faithfulness that makes sense to us because it is relevant to our native time or place, the one that is most native or that seems most natural to us.
However, if we are striving to minister in a cultural setting other than the one with which we are most familiar, this expression of the gospel may very well be unintelligible to the people we're trying to reach. This is the difficult lesson that past generations of missionaries had to learn as they sought to bring the gospel to distant lands. The church must be willing to maintain this tension of expressing scriptural faithfulness in a way that is relevant to the time and place in which it finds itself.
Feeling uneasy
For many of us, this is a difficult prospect to consider within our current time and place. Our culture seems to present an imposing challenge. In recent decades, our world has changed rapidly and dramatically. Our society has become increasingly complex and confusing. Understandably, this can cause us at times to feel uneasy, anxious, wlnerable and even angry. Returning to the familiarity of simpler times can sound rather appealing. We may even be tempted to look for ready-made answers or quick fixes to help us restore a sense of normalcy or equilibrium.
In a world like this, a term like «cultural relevance" may sound questionable. We may suspect that the inevitable outcome of our efforts to be «relevant" will be much like what Neil experienced. We are destined to be overwhelmed by the big burly bicep of contemporary culture. All the more, the integrity of our witness is sure to be severely wounded. It will be ugly and tragic.
For a number of years, I have been part of a network of Christian leaders who are committed to a vision of the missional church. For me, this commitment has grown out of the conviction that the mission of God must be at the center of everything we're about In my early 20S, I took a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. This course helped me see in a very compelling way that God's mission lies at the heart of the storyline of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. This had a powerful effect on my life as a follower of Christ It captured my heart and imagination .
A traditional notion has been that missionaries overseas do one kind of thing while we "at home" do another kind of thing. Perhaps this dichotomy made sense within past eras. Now, however, the vast changes that have occurred within our society challenge this notion. The church is not altogether "at home" anywhere anymore. In fact, the mission field now lies right outside the doorsteps of our church buildings.
Serving as missionaries
Essentially, we find ourselves in a missionary setting. I'm convinced thatthis situation pro-
found in both large cities and rural communities. Many of them aren't all that much different from the Mennonite Brethren churches that you and I attend In fact, some of them actually are Mennonite Brethren churches.
Living for the mission
What these congregations share in common is a commitment to grapple with what it will mean for them to live and proclaim the good news within their own contexts. They are endeavoring to be relevant to their communities in the best sense ofthe term, while also striving to remain faithful to God's Word.
This is a great need of our time: churches that are willing to live, not for themselves or the past, but out of a pas-
I'm co nvin ced that as the church strives to carry out its mission faithfully within conte mporary society. it is faced with a challenge that is mu ch like one of the se outstanding arm-wrestling matches.
vides us the opportunity to come to terms with the reality that God never actually intended for "mission" to be left up to specialists laboring in distant lands in the first place. He has called and empowered his church everywhere to live and serve as his missionary people. This is an integral patt ofthe church's true identity and calling.
The missional church is an effott to rethink the life of the church from God's mission outward. How will the way that we think and live be transformed if we truly take seriously our identity as a missionary community? A growing number of congregations are grappling honestly and eamestly with this question.
Some "emerging" faith communities are striving to embody the good news within a postmodem culture. Many of these churches identify a missional commitment as a key part of what is driving them. This is why the terms "missional" church and "emerging" church are sometimes assumed to mean the same thing. However, this is not exactly a one-toone correlation.
Many established congregations also have been exploring the significance of the concept of the missional church for themselves. These churches have been awakened to a sense that God is inviting them to join in his mission within their communities. Such churches can be
sionate commitment to express God's mission within a changing culture. Is it overconfidence that causes us to see this as possible? Is it mere foolishness? Shouldn't we be afraid that we will be overwhelmed by an oversized foe? The fact of the matter is that God's Spirit has empowered us for this task. The One who has sent forth missionaries throughout the ages to form biblically faithful churches in all sorts of cultural contexts is able to do this through us as well.
Furthermore, the gospel of Christ is plenty resilient. In fact, the gospel is actually meant by God to be "transculturated" into every culture. Certainly the gospel will challenge the members of the emerging culture to be changed. However, as we seek to bring the gospel to new generations, we might be surprised to discover how much it challenges us to change as well. Indeed, throughout history this process of communicating the gospel into new cultural forms actually has contributed powerfully to the church's renewal.
This is not easy. Nonetheless, it is life-giving. God invites us to join in his mission in a changing culture. May we truly reach out and take hold of the opportunity that this moment presents.
Cory Seibel began seroing this semester as assistant professor of pastoral ministry at MB Biblical Seminary and is based on the Fresno, Calif, campus. He came to MBBS from Sioux Falls (SD) Seminary. In addition to teaching, Seibel is directing pastoral ministry education, including supervised ministry experience.
-1J Post your comments on this article at www.usmb.orgIchristian-leader
How the emerging movement attempts to minister in a culture that embraces Jesus -but not his church
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO
1 was asked to speak at a gathering of young European leaders in the Netherlands on the topic of leadership. At the end of the weekend the senior leader had an evaluation session with me regarding my presentations.
"Your presentations were very postmodem and connected well with the group," he said. Not sure what he meant, 1 asked him to explain the term postmodem. He said, ''You used images well, had participatory exercises, connected with the group and gave us a meaningful experience. Plus, your understanding of leadership fit well with what is important to these postmodem leaders."
Somewhat taken back by his explanation, 1 responded, "I do not know much aboutpostmodemism. 1 am just trying to figure out how to communicate to the current generation what it means to be a follower of Jesus and to be the people of God."
With a chuckle he shot back. "Jules, you are postmodem and you don't know it." This was my introduction to postmodemism and what has been called the emerging church.
Forestry people tell me that an "emergent" is a small sapling that breaks through the soil and begins to grow, taking up space between existing trees. The spacing of the mature trees allows for light to penetrate the forest floor making it possible for the young sapling to grow into a mature tree. As the mature trees die, the saplings grow, emerging into adulthood.
And so the saplings continue to grow in an emerging fashion, each year adding a ring to the already existing rings. The new growth does not replace the previous year's growth but rather enhances it, bringing the needed nutrients to the foliage of the tree. In this way the forest continues to thrive, growing and reproducing itself in a healthy ecosystem
The church today can learn from the forest. According to 2007 statistics, 70 percent of Protestants ages 18-30- both evangelical and mainline - who went to church in high school quit attending church by age 23. By age 30, 34 percent had not returned, even sporadically.
Therefore, 25 percent of Protestant youth have left the church. What is most interesting is when these people are interviewed, they will tell you that they like Jesus but have no respect or love for the church or Christians in general.
Depending on the source, roughly 40 percent of Americans say they go to church. However, on any given Sunday, only about 20 percent are actually in church on a Sunday morning. When you factor in that most of those in church are age 55 or older, the handwriting is on the wall. We in the West are one generation away from empty church buildings.
DWhyuring the past two years, the emerging church has been featured on the front page of the New York Times , the Washington Post, m,l/ Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. ABC has produced an hour-long religious special on the emerging church, and publishers are creating lines of products for these churches to purchase.
To my knowledge there is no one event that launched the emerging church movement. In the early 1990S, Brad Smith, president of Leadership Network, called together a group of young leaders that were frustrated with what they saw happening in the church in the West The Terranova Project, as it was called, was to be a conversation that would explore what needed to be done to increase the effectiveness of the church in reaching the current generation
What the group discovered was that this was more than simply a generational issue There were some fundamental fatal flaws that needed to be addressed for the church to be effective in serving this present age . From this project grew what is known today as the Emergent Village (www.emergentvillage.com)
At the same time, church leaders across America began to question the church growth movement and the fruit of the seeker movement. People under the age of 30 were not connecting with the church Sociologists were calling this the "emerging generation." The shift that was taking place in culture from modernity to postrnodernity was labeled the emerging culture. Those in the church that were attempting to serve the emerging generation were called the emerging church .-JG
In 2008, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life interviewed 35,000 adults regarding their faith practices They discovered that 28 percent have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion or no religion at all. Forty-four percent have switched religious affiliation, and the group that grew the most was "none." Yet these same people think that Jesus is pretty cool.
Add to this the discovery that David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, authors of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters, made when interviewing people ages 16-29, asking them what they thought of Christians. They discovered that the perceptions of Christians by non-Christians is that Christians are: antihomosexual (91 percent), judgmental (87 percent), hypocritical (85 percent), teach the same basic ideas as other religions (82 percent), old-fashioned (78 percent), people with good values and principles (76 percent), too involved in politics (75 percent), out of touch with reality (72 percent), friendly (71 percent), insensitive to others (70 percent) caring (68 percent), and boring (68 percent). This is not a pretty picture of Christians. Something needs to change.
The emerging church is attempting to speak to the issues facing the church today. At their best, they are working to make the church relevant, faithful and effective. Leonard Sweet calls it the MRI church-missional, relational, incarnational.
What is frustrating to many is that those who consider themselves emergent are hesitant to even accept the label of being a movement. They prefer to call what they are doing a "conversation." Theologian Scot McKnight defines it best: "It is a conversation about the future direction of the evangelical church in a postrnodern world; it's a reaction and a protest against traditional evangelical churches; and it's a conversation focused less on theological niceties and more on perfonning the gospel in a local setting."
To define the emerging church with a list is considered an anathema by those in the movement. But being considerably older than these folks and with no need to impress them, I think I can get away with it. So let me present what I see as characteristics of those who are in the conversation. This list comes from my conversations with many of the leaders in the movement, observations of their activities, participation in some of their events and gleanings from the many Web sites that are popular in the movement.
Strive to be positive. People in the emergent conversation are extremely positive and optimistic about the
future. They believe that we are living in the greatest time of opportunity in the history of the church. Where my generation's tendency is to critique the church, emergent people talk about what could be and work to bring about constructive change
Focus on who Jesus is. Emergent people love Jesus and think that he is at work in the world today. Their focus is more on who Jesus is than on what Jesus taught. It is not a stretch to call them Christo-centric.
and influence is generated through relationships. The church is one big happy family, dysfunctional at times but still a family. Embrace multiple forms of church. There is no one form of church that is preferred over another. Ancient forms, contemporary forms, medieval forms-all are valuable and acceptable ways of doing church. The only form that is rejected is anything that smells of consumerism. Denominational structures are not important. What is important is the local church incarnating kingdom values.
To define the emerging church with a list is conside r ed an anathema by those in th e movement. But being considerably older than these folks and with no need to impress them, I think I can get away with it.
Jesus is central. When questioned about truth , they say that Jesus is truth and quickly quote John 14:6 Truth is embodied in the person of Jesus.
Concerned for the kingdom of God. Emergent people understand themselves as kingdom people making the world more the way God intends it to be. There is a focus on what N:r. Wright calls "putting the world to rights." The gospel is about the kingdom of God and people joining and participating in the kingdom. The church is the catalyst for the kingdom and is to be a blessing to the entire world. Reconciliation, mercy, peace and caring for the poor and disenfranchised are embodied in the gospel.
Value theology. I have learned to never ask an emerging leader what they believe but rather to ask what they think. Emergent people love talking, reading and discussing theology. Sunday school has been replaced with schools of theology. They understand their communities as theological groups that attempt to articulate an understanding of God, faith and life.
Commited to faith as a way of life. Orthopraxy is of high importance; right living trumps right believing. Emergent people will be quick to say they need both, but that praxis is most important. In Brian McLaren's recent book, Finding Our Way Again, he asks the readers to describe their understanding of faith along two continuums: faith as a belief system and faith as a way of life. Living the gospel carries the day
Relationships carry weight. Community, hospitality and friendships are the glue of the movement. Authority comes from relationship. Structures and organization are built around relationships. Change happens through relationships Emergent events that I have attended are relational marathons. Relationships are everything, and all are welcome. Conversations matter,
Engaging culture. Emerging people are concerned with making the gospel relevant to th e postmodem generation. Current ideas and methods from pop culture are quickly embraced. Involvement in political causes is normative. Being incamational to the postmodem generation is important to emerging people.
So what do we make of all that is emerging? I do not know if this is a movement or a major shift in our understanding of God, faith and the church. Martin Luther was not aware that what would follow when he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door would go down in history as the Reformation. Could it be that the church is in need of another major course direction shift similar to what was needed in the 16th century? Is it possible that what we are seeing in the emerging church is the beginnings of such a shift or is this simply the current generation seeking to make the church effective and relevant to today's culture? I do not know which it is.
I do know that emergent people are seeking to be followers of Jesus just like the rest of us who claim the name of Christ. And when I look at what is important to them and the attitudes they have, I see striking resemblance to Anabaptists. As I consider all that we call emergent, the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:18 ring in my ears : 'The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice." Let's rejoice in what God is doing in the world.
Jules Glanzer, a 1978 graduate of MB Biblical Seminary, served as a pastor and church planter for the Mennonite Brethren and Evangelical Covenant denominations before moving into higher education, first at George Fox Evangelical Seminary and now as president of Tabor College
Post your comments on this article at www.usmb.orglchristian -leader
Is this abetter way?
Two Mennonite Brethren explore the emerging church movement
THE EMERGING CHURCH IS A GRASSROOTS conversation that, like many reform movements in the church's history, reflects changes in our culture as well as frustration and disillusionment with elements in the church and the way in which the church does-and does notengage culture. Given the current discussion of the movement in evangelical circles. the Christian Leader asked two Mennonite Brethren-one an educator and the other a pastor-to help us understand the emerging church, the attraction it has for some and the concerns it raises for others. CL editor Connie Faber hosted a discussion via e-mail with Del Gray, a Tabor College faculty member, and James Bergen, a Mennonite Brethren pastor.
Gray, who received his doctorate in New Testament studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2005, has been a missionary and pastor and is assistant professor of biblical and religious studies at Tabor College. Gray's initial contact with the emerging church came through students at Fuller who were pastors or church planters working with an emerging model. Gray continues to learn about the movement from his home in Hillsboro, Kan., by daily joining the online emerging community at www.jesuscreed.org.
Bergen, a 2000 graduate of MB Biblical Seminary, is one of the pastors at North Fresno MB Church in Fresno Calif. While Bergen disagrees with certain conversation points, he considers himself part of the emerging church conversation. is part of the emergent cohort in California's Central Valley and has attended several Emergent Theological Conversations over the past few years.
CL: You've both noted that defining the emerging church movement is not easy. Nevertheless, how would you describe this movement?
JB: After you hangout with friends for the evening, how would you define your conversation? It can be difficult to do. The emerging movement is primarily a conversation and although the emergent conversation may lack a clear definition, it does have some recurring themes. It is centered on the church and reexamining a biblical ecclesiology. It is about community and doing life together. It is a Christian movement and conversation seeking to anchor itself in the person of Jesus. And it acknowledges postmodernism and is trying to engage this culture
DG: I would also say the emerging church movement includes humility about our ability to fully comprehend God and Scripture. an openness to diversity of thought and traditions within Christianity and a deemphasis of the importance of systematic theology, especially as it has traditionally functioned to make distinctions and divide.
There is an emphasis on orthopraxy (living as a follower of Jesus) as just as important-for some even more important-than orthodoxy (believing all the right doctrines). The emerging church often has a renewed appreciation for experiential forms of worship that involve all of the senses and a renewed interest in old. liturgical and non-Protestant forms of worship. There is often a strong prophetic call for the traditional church-especially fundamentalist and evangelical churches-to change in order to reach out to our contemporary world and a strong emphasis on being missional. Often this comes out as social action for peace and justice.
JB: Another useful distinction that Scot McKnight, a helpful writer and voice to understanding things emergent, points out is that the emergent movement is a protest. "I don't think it is the next 'Protestantism' as some have claimed," McKnight says, "but it is clearly an anti- and protest movement." In the U.S. there is a distinct protest of what the church has been offering in worship and witness over the past decades.
CL: Reading about this movement, one encounters the words "emerging" and "Emergent." Help us understand how these two are different.
some of the direction that the evangelical church has gone. Much of this is disillusionment with how quickly evangelicals have allied themselves with a polirical movement in the U.S.
Some of it is a reaction to a perception of theological narrowness that excludes conversation and fresh thinking about God. On the other hand, many people are atttacted to the sense of belonging and family that is often found in emerging churches where a high value is placed on community and relationships.
JB: I think Del's final point is key for some people. The emerging church is a safe place to have conversation. Many people don't find traditional evangelical circles conducive to honest conversation and question-asking.
One definition : Em er ging churches ar e co m m uniti es th at practice th e way of J es u s within po stmod ern cultures.- Edd ie Gibbs and Ryan K Bolger in Em erging Churches: Creating Chris t ia n Community in Pos tmodern Cultures .
DG: This is a hot discussion within the movement right now. Some see it as important to "map" the emerging landscape in order to better understand and analyze, while others think it falls back into drawing lines of distinction that separate the body. "Emergent" is usually short for the smaller subgroup "Emergent Village," and it is an identifiable organization with official membership.
JB: In 2001, a group of friends that had been part of the emergent conversation officially organized as "Emergent." They can be found at www.emergentvillage.com. They host emergent cohorts all across the U.S. and internationally. Tony Jones is the national coordinator. Its most identifiable "unofficial" spokesperson has been pastor and author Brian McLaren. Some latch on to him as the definable voice of the conversation, but that would not be fair. It is a broad conversation and McLaren is one voice among many.
DG: David Dunbar, president of Biblical Seminary. has said about Emergent: "Disillusionment with existing church models is probably greater in this group than in the missional or emerging categories. For this reason the emergent critique of the past tends to be edgier and angrier. Many emergents have an almost knee-jerk reaction to anything that suggests fundamentalism or conservative evangelicalism." When you hear "emerging" church (usually not capitalized like Emergent is) it is the wider movement with no clear central organization or identity.
CL: What attracts people to the emerging church?
DG: The growth of emerging churches is really quite astounding. At its heart I think it is a reactionary movement that appeals to people who are frustrated with
There is an emergent cohort in Fresno. They get together once a month, and it seems at every meeting a few people end up sharing their personal stories and journeys with faith and the church, their frustrations and some of the things they are wrestling with. They just want a place to process all this stuff going on in their head and in their world. For some reason, their current church or denomination does not seem like a safe p13ce to talk. The emerging movement is a good conversation for some of these folks.
I also think emerging church resonates with many people. It uses language and expresses a perspective on the Gospel and the world that many find refreshing. It also seems to be unleashing the vision and creativity of a group of Christians that ate hungry to follow Jesus and be the church in a way that makes sense in their world.
CL: What makes evangelical Christians uncomfortable with the emerging church?
DG: This is a terribly important question . Because there is often a strong call within the emerging movement for the church to change to effectively engage our society today, there is a justifiable feeling within evangelicalism that it is being criticized loudly. Naturally some of us get defensive when fingers are pointed at us.
Many of the criticisms are quite harsh, even sometimes unfair and exaggerated with very polemic language. But if we honestly take a hard look at the church we will recognize that much of what is being said is true, and the same points are often made within our own ranks.
While these questions of how the church should telate to society are important, it is really the theological issues that are the most threatening to evangelicals. The emerging movement is much more comfortable with theological diversity and ambiguity than evangelicals
At this point it is again important to remember the wide range of thought within the emerging movement. A few authors and bloggers are at one extreme where they confrontationally challenge doctrines like the sufficiency of Christ's death for salvation. Others, however, want to pro-
Resource lists
Resource list from James Bergen
• Four books about the emerging church movement:
Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger (Baker Academic, 2005)
An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches by Ray Anderson (IVP. 2006)
The Church in Emerging Culture : Five Perspectives by Leonard Sweet, Andy Crouch, Brian D McLaren, E rwin Rapheal McManus and Michael Horton (Zondervan, 2003)
What Would Jesus Deconstruct?: The Good News of Postmodernism for the Church by John D Caputo, (Baker Academic, 2007 )
• Authors to read within the emerging church movement: Andrew Jones, Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Dan Kimball, Tony Jones and John D. Caputo (to understand philosophy and postmodem thought )
• Web sites
- theooze com
- emergentvillage com
- churchandpomo.typepad.com
There are a myriad of blogs of people joining and hosting this conversation- emergents, critics and everyone in between To understand the conversation it is helpful to be a part of it- even as a newbie or a skeptic
Resource list from Del Gray
The best way to read about the emerging movement is to read what they say themselves instead of what their opponents say about them.
• To experience a vital emerging community on the Web, read Scot McKnight's blog and the community of readers at www jesuscreed org
• Brian McLaren's books are very popular and represent an Emergent thinker who is intentionally provocative to make some important points. His newest book is Everything Must Change : Jesus, Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope (Thomas Nelson, 2007)
• Dan Kimball's book They Like Jesus But Not the Church : Insights from Emerging Generations (Zondervan, 2007 ) will be more centrist in the movement and more comfortable for evangelicals on some levels . He has a Web site at http ://www .dankimball comlvintageJaith/
• http://www emergentvillage comlis the official Web site of Emergent Village
mote honest conversation and fresh thinking, even about sacred core theological positions.
Dialogue like this can be very healthy and bring new insights and vitality to our faith. These conversations often result in the realization that much of what we believe is the product of tradition and a renewed dialogue with other traditions and ideas can bring in scriptural truths that we have often overlooked.
JB: Its "anti-" or deconstructionist posture toward the church puts some on the defensive or at odds with the emerging movement. Emerging church also welcomes broad and diverse conversation partners and wouldn't define or clarify itself as an evangelical movement. There are certainly evangelicals within it, but it is larger and more ecumenical. Mainline and Catholic churches are part of this conversation. This makes some uncomfortable.
And as Del says, some are reacting to the movement because of the types of questions and re-envisioning that is going on within the movement. It is a place to ask tough and at times "unsafe" questions about what have been identified as orthodox issues in the past. Perspectives on truth, the Scriptures and the nature of Jesus seem to be the biggest flash points and uncomfortable issues for some that are arising in the emergent conversation.
CL: Articles in this issue talk about being "missional" and "emerging." Is there a difference between these movements and how is it helpful to distinguish between the two?
JB: While the emerging conversation has been sparked by some of the same cultural shifts as the missional, I find it helpful to view them as two different conversations. "Emerging" seems to be using the term "missional" more and more in their conversation, but many in the "missional" conversation would not be as quick to identify with "emerging."
DG: It certainly is possible to be missional without being emerging. The language and ideas that are used in the current understanding about living missionally should be very familiar to Mennonites and Anabaptists in general because the same ideas have stood at the center of our tradition. Missional usually refers to active participation in God's project of redeeming the world.
For most evangelicals this immediately brings to mind evangelism, and while that is certainly a part of it, "missional" is used in a broader sense that is more holistic. Many emerging groups would fold in the ideas of ministry to the poor and oppressed, justice, peace, social action and even redemption of the natural world in ecology.
JB: Both movements are trying to take the Bible and Jesus seriously in what are perceived as cultural shifts over the past 50 to 100 years and the church's position within that culture. The church, Jesus, the Bible, culture and mission are emphasized in both movements. They are both contemporary conversation partners and movements within the church, but they are different
'1J An unabridged version of this discussion is posted online at www.usmb.orgIchristian-leader, where you can post comments to this article
Your Mennonite Brethren
hen
Church: The next generation
Newborn MB church already looking to reproduce
Gary Mejia takes time out of his busy schedule as pastor and church planter to write personal thank you notes to certain young children in his congregation who are tithing out of their small allowance. He reminds them that their obedience to God's plan makes a difference, and he praises their parents for teaching them godly values. He firmly believes that as this generation practices godly values, they will in tum raise up future generations of spiritual leaders.
It's a small example of Mejia's vision for Eagles Harbor Community Church, the Mennonite Brethren church plant that he pastors in Clovis, Calif. Whether he's talking about changing the community or growing the church, he looks ahead to the next generation
Eagles Harbor is just a baby, as churches go. The church officially launched with services Sept. 21, "birthed" by Mountain View Community Church, an MB congregation in Fresno, Calif., the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA, the church planting arm of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
The "grand opening" service, as it was dubbed in the community, was planned to be big. Mejia and the core team planned for a crowd of several hundred to give a strong start to the church. They spread the word through a media blitz that included "power strips" in
Eagles Harbor celebrated six baptisms even before their September launch Sunday.
the local newspaper and mass mailings before the launch as well as a plethora of signs and balloons on launch day. Bounce houses for the kids encouraged families to come check it out. Bethany MB Church, just down the road in Fresno, provided a noon meal of tri-tip and hot dogs Mejia preached the first of a sermon series designed to peak interest and draw attendees back.
"Our vision is to launch strong. launch large and to try to retain that," Mejia says.
Even as a newborn, this church has set its sights on making a difference for the next generation in their community. Eagles Harbor is located in an affluent, planned community known as Harlan Ranch. When he and his wife, Cindy, began to seek God's direction for their ministry, they clearly felt led to this northeast part of Clovis. Harlan Ranch, it tums out, is not only a new and affluent area, but also "the most unchurched part of the city," as Mejia says, and the most geographically open, with undeveloped land available and already earmarked for new
Mejia describes a community dominated by single-family, two-income homes full of "overachievers" who '10ve their stuff." They're family-oriented and tech-savvygenerally educated folks who have all the toys and seem to have it all together.
But Mejia knows otherwise. During a 25-year career in law enforcement, he saw enough domestic violence, drugs and other problems in a similar community to understand that "there are spiritually broken pe0ple in the rich part of Clovis, too."
'We have been called to reach those people in northeast Clovis who think life is a bowl of cherries and they can solve all their problems," Mejia says, "because they can't."
To bring about transformation in these families, Mejia believes in starting early, right in the nursery, as the very youngest are taught that Jesus loves them. He believes that as the next generation experiences a relationship with Jesus and learns respect in the home, the community will be transformed 'We need to bring (those values) back into
people" in new and
the mix," he says. "When we do that with young families, it's going to work out well."
To introduce themselves to their community, EHCC has been working closely with the elementary school in which they meet, EVerett Bud Rank Elementary School, and helping with family-oriented movie nights.
Although the school is new, tight budgets mean the school can't afford "extras," such as a projector for their multipurpose room. So EHCC provided one. The church has also shared sound equipment and offered technicians for the school's drama. They've donated backpacks of school supplies and given time as reading buddies and tutors.
When the Harlan Ranch homeowner's association needed help to put on movie nights in the park last summer, EHCC stepped up. Since the HOA chose the movies, Mejia admits that "most of the movies didn't really excite us," but says the movie nights "allowed for us to be in the community, to rub shoulders with people and for them to see who we were."
So far, the church's efforts to connect with this community seem to be working. Mejia says the community response has been "phenomenal." When EHCC hosted a "Family Fun Festival," with a family-oriented movie and kid-friendly activities, response was huge. Some 250 people turned out for a Narnia-themed evening July 25. A similar event, based on 'The Swiss Family Robinson," is planned for Oct. 3.
The EHCC calendar offers ways for families to build on that connection, like "shared interest groups" for those with similar interests to build relationships. Children, youth and college students can get plugged in through weekly programs held in partnership with Mountain View Community Church, EHCC's "parent" church. In time, Mejia hopes to have a full staff in order to serve families, including a lead pastor, associate pastor, youth pastor, children's ministry leader and worship leader.
Ultimately, of course, Mejia hopes community members and family members will connect with Christ, the foundation for those godly values. For those who want to know more about Christianity, the church
Gary and Cindy Mejia know that there are "spiritually broken
affluent communities like Harlan Ranch in Clovis, Calif., where they are planting a new Mennonite Brethren church.
offers an Alpha Bible study-"Christianity 101," Mejia calls it. Even before EHCC was officially a church, they celebrated 10 new commitments to Christ and six baptisms.
Just as Mejia emphasizes instilling godly values into the youngest family members, he believes in instilling the right values in this young church so that it will grow healthy and reproduce quickly
The church is already practicing giving. ' We're sowing into other ministries already," Mejia says. EHCC regularly supports two MB church plants in the works-in Seattle, Wash., and in West Jordan, Utah-and an MBMS International project in Lima, Peru
And EHCC encourages healthy discipleship habits That includes numerous opportunities for folks to connect, study and pray together, such as Cleansing Streams, a Iz-week discipleship course. But Mejia believes discipleship isn't just for Sundays or formal programs; he wants those who attend EHCC to be "self-feeding " So EHCC works to equip and encourage individual spiritual health through daily time in the Bible and joumaling . 'We're teaching our people to listen to God daily," Mejia says.
Church planting is part of the church's mind-set from the beginning ''I'm not after a mega -c hurch," Mejia says 'Tm after a church that's reproducing constantly "
For example, their new worship leader, Angela Vera, has made a one-year commitment to Eagles Harbor, after which theyll send her on to Seattle, Wash ., where Mountain View hopes to plant another church . And when Mejia talks about their community, he notes with interest that the city has planned for growth just east of EHCC's current location; he speculates that the next church generation might spring up there "In the next two to four years , you can look for the next church plant out of Eagles Harbor," Mejia promises. ' We will always be a church of reproduction."
For updates on EHCC, visit www.ehcC777 org. For specific prayer requests, contact Mejia through the Web site and request the " Prayer Shield "Myra Holmes
Preparing God's harvest workers
poc summer internship aims to develop young Leaders
HOW does the church prepare a new generation of leaders? In the Pacific District Conference that process involves 100 young adults over the past five years participating in a summer internship program that encourages them to step forward in their faith and their service .
This summer 23 young adults participated in the summer internship program developed by the PDC Board of Leadership Development. The purpose of the program is to assist young adults in honing ministry skills by providing a supportive atmosphere where growth can occur.
'The internship program is an important part of how we want to work at leadership development with the next generation." says Gary Wall. district minister. 'We want to give young men and women the opportunity to test gifts and experience ministry leadership opportunities in a supportive, healthy church environment."
The program is designed for men and women ages 19 to 25 to serve and learn in a Mennonite Brethren church. According to Wall, the purpose of the age stipulation is to reach students making important life-decisions.
"College-age men and women are making important life decisions with regard to career, marriage and future educa-
tion," Wall says. 'While some young adults have a crystal clear vision of who they are, who God has made them to be and what God wants them to do, many struggle with finding answers to these questions.
'1\s a conference of churches, we want to assist in the development of godly leaders, helping them find their way and discover God's will for their lives," says Wall.
The paid internship spans three months, and the student is expected to work at least 40 hours per week alongside a supervisor.
'The role of the supervisor is key in the intern's experience," Wall says. "Having a seasoned mentor to offer encouragement, guidance and counsel along the way is vital."
Students are mentored in such areas as children's ministry, youth ministry, music ministry, preaching! teaching ministry and administrative ministry.
'The placement process happens in concert with local church leadership and takes into account the intern's area of interest and gifting." Wall says. 'We try to stretch our interns, encouraging them to move beyond their area of comfort and try something new and different. For example, some of our interns have had the opportunity to preach, which always improves the intern's prayer life."
Two-time intern Melanie Seuss of Lodi, Calif., says that the internship program "is a safe environment to try out new ideas and see what works "
A group of wet but cheerful students and adults pose following a staff versus kids water balloon fight organized by Melanie Suess during her summer ministry internship at Vinewood Community Church.
"One of the speakers at our internship training, Fred Leonard, told us to 'fail boldly,'" Seuss says "That became my goal for the summer. You never know what works until you try, and sometimes when you take big risks you fail. It's OK though. God can still create so much out of our failures."
Seuss served in children's ministry at her home church, Vinewood Community Church in Locli
In order to participate in the program, interns must have a recommendation by their local church leadership. Among other expectations, the intern is required to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ, share a love for the church and desire to learn and grow as a spiritualleader.
For Sheri Warkentin, an intern who served in children's, youth and collegeage ministries at Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, serving the church is a natural part of her faith
"I participated in the program because I have a passion for the Lord and wanted to do his work," she says. "I thought that the internship seemed a little intimidating at first, but I knew that it would give me a good idea of what goes on behind the scenes at our church ."
Throughout the summer, Warkentin served in various roles including camp counselor and vacation Bible school leader. At camp, Warkentin said she helped several girls come to Christ.
"While at camp, I was able to bring a few girls to know the Lord, and I know that it was not me who did that," she says. "I know that the Lord was speaking through me . I felt very honored to be able to talk and encourage the girls in our church to be pure women of integrity."
And Wall says the internship program as a whole is successful.
"We believe the local church is the hope of the world," he says . "So we are convinced that giving potential church leaders a taste of God's Kingdom work among His people is an opportunity for the Lord to use these experiences to call forth workers for his harvest. "-Malinda Just , CL reporter
Home improvement plus Builders meet needs in Utah community
On a summer Saturday, sawhorses, tools and sawdust fill the makeshift workshop in the foyer of Shadow Mountain Church in West Jordan, Utah, as people of all ages work together on a church-wide "toolbox build day." This wellattended activity is one of many sponsored by Basement Builders, an outreach conceived by Jay Cooper, a Salt Lake City graphic artist.
Shadow Mountain, the daughter church of South Mountain Community Church, was planted in November 2004 with 30 launch members that included Cooper. Pastor Cory Anderson describes the church as a very young church family in age and spirituality situated in a predominandy Mormon community Soon after the church was planted, the congregation acquired a warehouse and with donations from South Mountain and the Pacific District Conference hired a contractor who began to transform the inside of the building into a church
During this building process, Cooper noticed that men who didn't regularly attend
the church showed up to help work on finishing out the warehouse. Cooper says that he observed that most men related to each other better in conversation when the activity took center stage.
"It seems that if you tell a bunch of guys, 'Let's get together and fellowship' that you've pretty much uninvited most men," Cooper says. 'We know God has given us the mission to reach men in our community, and we wanted to have innovative, effective ways to do that "
Cooper, who comes from a "build it yourself" family, took the concept of men getting to know each other by working on a project together and gathered men to frame in a basement, something that is common in Utah homes. He says that the name "Basement Builders" was a natural.
Cooper says that projects are usually planned to take one day and designed to assist a homeowner in a project that they are beginning or have already underway. He says that Basement Builders require the homeowner to be actively involved in the project, at whatever skill level they have to
offer. The homeowner also provides materials for the job.
However, Cooper goes on to say that workers often purchase material and conveniently "forget to bring a receipt" in many cases where the family is in need or involve single moms or orphans. 'We are truly living out the biblical command to take care of widows and orphans," says Cooper.
According to Cooper, projects are not limited to basements but have included additions to church classrooms, storage shed construction, a bam raising and work on the West Jordan Community Playground Project. The group is currently exploring affiliation with Habitat for Humanity.
Cooper makes it clear that Basement Builders is not a licensed contractor and that they are simply friends assisting friends in work that they are doing. He says that many
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of the people who participate are skilled people in a building-related trade but that an equal number have little or no experience.
When a volunteer joins Basement Builders, the group provides skills assessment to determine what the person already knows and how much they want to learn. Cooper says that people enjoy learning in a nonthreatening environment and that he has been impressed with how enthusiastic people are to learn the needed skills. For example, one father brought his young son who by the end of the day was already demonstrating the ability to anticipate things that the builders would need next.
Though the group averages about 20 men on each project, not every man participates on every project. Cooper reports that on many occasions, people that are not associated with the church appear on-site to
help. In this way, friendships are naturally formed and men may feel more comfortable and welcome if and when they decide to join in worship and other church activities.
"Building something results in a product you can see and touch and in a feeling of accomplishment that you can take home at the end of the project day," says Cooper. "It is a very satisfying feeling knowing you used skills you learned that day or already had to help someone along.
"It is not unusual to hear colorful language from time to time on the job or to have a couple of guys order a beer at a restaurant after a day on the site," says Cooper ''These times bring a smile to my face because it means that we have guys here in the midst of their spiritual journey and we hope that they will soon cross over into a relationship with Christ." -Lori Belden Pope, CL reporter
Passion for Congo drives MCC summer volunteer
FPU student prepares for political service in home country
Doug Kulungu aspires to political leadership in the African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kulungu came to the U.S. to study and prepare for a life of political service in his country. His Summer Service program job through Mennonite Central Committee provided opportunities for him to speak out on his country's behalf. Kulungu is a junior majoring in business at Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren institution headquartered in Fresno, Calif.
MCC has been working in Congo for many years. "I have heard about MCC since before I was born," he jokes. Pascal Kulungu, Doug's father, worked for many years with MCC, most recently as a peace-training consultant
Kulungu praises the work MCC has done in Congo to support the church and care for victims of violence and poverty. He points out that Mennonites should have a particular concern for Congo because it has one of the largest populations of Mennonites in the world.
Kulungu's assignment exposed him to the Canadian and U.S. side of MCC and connected him with people in the West Coast who want to learn more about their Congolese sisters and brothers.
"Doug is passionate about the people of his country," says Jerry Linscheid, West Coast MCC resource generation coordinator, "and that comes through clearly when he speaks about their situation in the Congo."
Kulungu is energized by the opportunities afforded by freedom of speech in the U.S. As a participant in Summer Service, he has spoken to MCC gatherings and church gatherings and was given an audience in a U.S congressional office.
"I want to change the social life, bring jobs and equality and bring hope to the kids," he says. War, rape and the kidnapping of children to serve in the army are some of the afflictions that weigh on Kulungu's mind when he thinks of his homeland.
In Congo, he was involved in student protest movements, but the risk of reprisals by the government were always a threat. "Here I can express myself," says Kulungu.
He also got some practical experience related to his business major as an intern with the financial administrator at Community Youth Ministries, a nonprofit organization in Reedley, Calif. He helped develop accounting systems and improved profits for the organiza-
tion's small restaurant that provides job training for teen parents.
Kulungu values these opportunities but feels that his spiritual grounding is just as important as his academic and practical preparation for leadership. "Most of the leaders in Congo call themselves Christians," he says, "but they don't act as Christians."
As a Summer Service worker, Kulungu had the opportunity to put his faith into action by establishing habits of compassion and service in Reedley. He hopes someday he will be able to do the same in political leadership in Congo. - Kathy Heinrichs Wiest/or MCC
Doug Kulungu helps with bookkeeping at the West Coast MCC office as part of his Summer Service assignment.
Taking aim at AIDS
Nigerian woman leads community effort to address HIV/AIDS
While it might appear that little has changed in Jos North, Nigeria, since 2003, some residents have made great sttides in confronting one of the community's most pressing problems: the scourge of HIV and AIDS A local Muslim woman and her small organization are leading the way, and Mennonite Central Committee is supporting their efforts
When Amina Ahmed, now 32, learned about Africa's AIDS crisis from a Zambian friend, she immediately saw that it had local implications. "I realized in my community this was big because anything to do with sexuality is hard to talk about," Amina says quietly.
Speaking of sexuality is considered private, indecent, even taboo in this West African nation Both the national government and religious organizations were reluctant to face the reality of AIDS when it emerged.
The danger is widespread here: 80 percent of HIV infections are transmitted heterosexually. A burgeoning youth populationnow exposed to Western values as portrayed by the mediastands at particular risk Poverty and the religious authorities' condemnation of condoms contribute to the problem of unprotected sex. In addition, a different sexual standard for men, along
with polygamy, put women and their unborn children at a distinct disadvantage.
Amina was initially reluctant to speak out about the controversial subject of AIDS in her neighborhood. But she was already working on another difficult, important issue-promoting peace between Muslims and Christians in Jos, a city of about 1.5 million people, which includes Jos North Her efforts to promote peace in dealing with ethnic and religious dissension led to the formation of a community organization, Women Initiative for Sustainable Community Development (WISCOD).
But Amina quickly realized AIDS was going to be as devastating as interteligious clashes. She was right; Nigeria, where 60 percent of the population is Muslim, is second only to South Africa in numbers of people living with AIDS. Its 140 million citizens have a 5 to 6 percent infection rate.
Determined to learn more, Amina attended an AIDS workshop. With information in hand, she persuaded WISCOD members to join her in taking AIDS awareness to the streers of Jos North. Soliciting support from Islamic leaders, or imams, was her first task.
"It was a challenge, being women, how do we get to these big imams?" Amina says. Her father-a progressive Muslim who supported her peace efforts and also her spirited drive against AIDS-agreed to talk with authorities on her behalf.
Then a Muslim relief agency agreed to cosponsor an AIDS forum for local Islamic leaders. While some accused her of bringing "these foolish ideas from America," a critical mass listened and lent their verbal support.
WISCOD first coached youth to educare friends and peers in their schools, mosques and neighborhoods. Culturally and religiously appropriate information was distributed, as few participants had accurate facts about AIDS. Open and interactive discussions broke a longheld silence about sexuality
MCC began providing financial support for WISCOD's work in 2005 and currently supports two projects related to peace and AIDS.
Amina Ahmed is raising awareness about AIDS and peace issues in her Nigerian Muslim community with support from MCC.
WISCOD also collaborated with Ittihadu Anwaril Hidayat, the organization of Islamic school teachers, in an effort to reach children. A pilot program recently finished; future plans include training all 621 educators to teach more than 21,000 students about AIDS.
Amina's group then targeted traditional birth attendants who typically receive little formal training as midwives Now, due to their knowledge and new skills, attendants deliver babies using sterile materials and sanitary practices . They know how HIV transmits from mother to child, how it can be prevented, and they refuse prenatal care until a woman screens for HIV.
In late 2006, the Shifa Clinic opened to offer free and confidential testing. Staffed by Muslims, it especially welcomes women reluctant to leave or confined to their neighborhood. The national imam traveled three
and a half hours from Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to bless the modest concrete-block and tin-roofed rooms.
"That gave us (more) support," Amina states. "If the leaders accept (a cause) the people will follow."
However, Amina still faces major obstacles to her work in Jos. Interreligious tensions still exist and many leaders are reluctant to tackle the challenge of AIDS. AIDS remains the leading cause of death in Nigeria and WISCOD's work has only begun
However, on World AIDS Day, Dec I, 2007, hundreds of Muslims marched the Jos North streets, distributing leaflets, countering stigma and begging people to take the threat of AIDS seriously. These streets are still dusty, vibrant and noisy, but they are no longer silent about AIDS.-Brenda Hartman-Souder and Tim Shenk for M CC
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Mec begins long-term cyclone response
Agency sending $1 million to Myanmar over three years
Mennonite Central Committee is planning to provide more than $1.1 million in aid over three years to help people recover from Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the southeast Asian nation also known as Bunna.
Cyclone Nargis, which made landfall on May 2, was the worst natural disaster in Myanmar's history. The stonn drove a tidal surge into the Ayeyarwady delta, a densely populated agricultural region , killing more than 84,000 people and causing widespread destruction to villages and fanns
In May and June , MCC provided $100,000 to four partner organizations in Myanmar to distribute food, water and other aid to cyclone survivors In July, MCC began a longer-tenn response to the cyclone that is focused on helping people in the disaster area to recover their livelihoods and cope with psychological trauma.
MCC is helping to provide financial support to a partner organization, IDEMyanmar, to distribute power tillers, rice seed, fertilizer and cash assistance to fanning families in the Ayeyarwady delta. MCC served as the lead agency in a coalition of nine Canadian church organizations that obtained $300,000 from the Canadian International Development Agency for this project
In late July, three MCC staff persons visited the Ayeyarwady delta village of Taung Gon and met with fanners who described their losses in the cyclone. Htay Myint, 42, told how the tidal surge had swept through his fannland, destroying his rice seed and killing the three oxen he would need to plow his fields. Myint says that the cyclone killed more than 100 people in low-lying areas around his village, including his nephew.
After the cyclone, IDE- Myanmar provided fanners in Taung Gon with power tillers and rice seed to plow and plant their fields. "If it were not for these tillers, we would not be able to reclaim this damaged land," Myint says.
Local people also told harrowing tales of survival. Maung Sein Win, 41, recounts how he and his wife fled for higher ground with children on their shoulders after the tidal surge knocked the walls off their house. When the stonn passed the next day, Win could see the extent of the devastation in the fields around Taung Gon.
"It was a huge expanse of water like the sea, and there were many bodies there," he says.
Psychological trauma is widespread among cyclone survivors, according to staff members of MCC partner organizations who have provided relief in the disaster area. MCC is working with several organizations to develop plans for trauma healing activities in communities in the Ayeyarwady delta.
After devastating the delta, Cyclone Nargis struck Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, and caused considerable property damage. At the Myanmar Institute of Theology, a Christian college in Yangon, the cyclone drove rainwater through roofs and windows, damaging 14 computers and thousands of library books . MCC helped the institute replace its computers and repair its library.
'This is a big, big answer of God to our prayers," says Maung Maung Yin, the institute's vice president. 'Thank you very much for that."- Tim Shenk/or MCC
U Kala plows a neighbor's rice field in Kungyangon Township, Myanmar, with a power tiller provided by IDE-Myanmar, an MCC partner organization.
THE Journey
by Rose Buschman
Feeding the multitude
Ever wonder how security personnel eat at a national convention?
We drove to Denver August 29, the day after the Democratic National Convention ended. On the way there we were met by caravans of busses on Interstate 70 going in the opposite direction, obviously carrying delegates back to their homes.
As we arrived in Denver, I wondered what the local people would say about the week's events. Obviously, such a big convention had to impact the entire city in a significant way. I heard some talk
This is where LoveDenver came in. This group of Christians saw the need to provide food for the security forces in the convention areas. They applied for and received a government grant to help with food costs. Other monies for food came from Christian organizations in the area. They brought in a semitruck outfitted as a kitchen that could produce up to 30,000 meals in a 24 hour period. Approximately 600 volunteers worked round the clock to prepare, deliver and serve food at policedesignated locations. They worked long hours, some shifts lasting up to 12 hours.
Volunteers working in close proximity to the convention sites had about the traffic delays and road closures especially on the last day of the convention.
On that day the major
[-:] /\pproximate1y 600 volunteers worked round the dock to prepare, deliver and serve food at police - designated locations.
north-south route through the city, Interstate 25, was shut down as a security measure since it was adjacent to the football stadium where the final meeting of the convention was held. This meant people had to find alternate routes to work or just stayed out of the area if possible. Maybe I didn't talk to the right people, but I didn't hear any major complaints. By the time we got there residents were glad the event was over but also felt relieved that there had not been any major crises or catastrophes.
One story, however, caught my attention in a big way. I don't know if it got any local or national publicity. At least I don't know of any. However, to me a group of LoveDenver volunteers were very special people with a very special testimony of what it means to be a Christian.
I talked to a couple who had been part of this LoveDenver campaign. They were part of a group of Christians, spearheaded primarily by Baptists, who found a significant way in which they could serve their city during the Democratic convention. As expected, security during the week was very tight. Police and secret service people were on the job 24/7, working long shifts. In addition to the local police forces, some had come many miles ftom other cities in the state. Secret service people ftom all over the counrry were there as well. For them getting food while on duty was a major problem. Given their short meal breaks, they couldn't afford the long waits at restaurants and going home to eat was not an option for most.
to undergo intensive advance security screenings. Vans delivering food were given detailed inspections and had to be accompanied by police. Drivers were ftisked each and every time they passed a security checkpoint. Thirty to 45 minute waits were the norm.
Listening to one volunteer couple describe their experiences I was reminded of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. According to the law of the land, a Roman soldier could force a civilian to carry something for him for one mile. But Jesus took this one step further. He said, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Matt. 5:41). Obviously, the soldier would question the person's sanity if he volunteered for a second mile in the hot Middle Eastern sun. The Christian could then give his testimony to the soldier and thus be a witness for his faith.
Listening to the stories of hassles at security checkpoints and the long hours these volunteers put in, I couldn't help but think of the testimony they left behind with the people they served. Some volunteers may not even have supported the politics of the convention. So why would they volunteer for such hard work and such long hours?
The small crosses embroidered above the LoveDenver logos on their hats and T-shirts were a powerful reminder of who they were and why they were involved. They were "going the second mile." And from the reaction of the people they served, their work was much appreciated, and I was told the food was really good.
Sometimes I think we have the idea that in order to serve the Lord and be a significant testimony to our faith the activity needs to be "religious." Or at least we may think that the more religious the activity is, the more important it is in the kingdom of God. These Denver volunteers gave me a new view of"second-mile" Christian service and the impact it can have. So I wonder, what opportunities do I have to go the second mile for my wimess to my faith?
BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Fairview, Okla.-Gaige Craighead was baptized and received as a member Aug 31 Cliff and Deena Craighead. Steve and Linda Rous and Travis and Lisa Schmidt we re also received as members.
Yale, SD (Bethell-Cain Glanzer was baptized and received as a member Aug 24.
Wichita, Kan. (Firstl-Rock and Mary Hadley. Stephanie Ens. Jessica Wall. Deidre Derksen. Sam Klein. Taylor Funk. Cassie Sims and Lucas Downes were baptized Aug. 17 and received as members.
Brent Unrau. Chad and Shelley Duerksen. Russ and Adela Garton. Dale and Joyce Warkentin and Waneta Yoder were received as members Aug 13
Topeka, Kan. (Cornerstone Communityl-Kayda Faul was received as a member
Centennial, Colo. (Trailheadl-Alison Nikkel. Garrett Nikkel. Kristin Ingebretson and Diana Goldy were baptized Aug 17.
Garden City, Kan. (Garden Valleyl-Jennifer Lindskog was baptized Aug 10.
Orland, Calif. (Country BibLeI-Kelly Monck was received as a member Aug 3 FELLOWSHIP
Wichita, Kan. (Firstl- Three "Family Nights " are planned this fall. A church family dinner was scheduled for Oct. 1 Families plan to make and anonymously deliver "Boo 'ed with Blessings and Thanks " gift bags Oct 29 for friends and neighbors Dec 3 will be a wrapping party and celebration of donations for a holiday Giving Tree To encourage families to attend together. no other children 's activities will be planned for these weeks.
Yale, SD (Bethell-Interim pastoral couple Ray and Jeanmarie Shepard invited all those high school age and above to their home during three fall open houses
Reedley, Calif.- " Becoming a woman of passion , power and purpose " was the theme for the annual women 's retreat Oct. 24-26.
Buhler, Kan.-Gracia Burnham. missionary held hostage in the Philippines. was the speaker for the annual women 's Fall Salad Supper Sept. 23
Blaine, Wash. (Birch Bay BibLeI-Seniors went on a whale -watching tour Sept. 20
Fresno, Calif (North Fresnol-Awomen's retreat. "In the Garden with God. " was scheduled Sept. 19 -21
South Jordan, Utah (SMCCIiJDaybreakl - The church hosted a number of outreach and fellowship events this summer. including men 's golf nights. backyard
concert series. women's lunches, camp ing trips and backyard BBQs.
Kingsburg, Calif.-Author Shelly Volkhardt was the scheduled guest speaker for a women's retreat Sept. 19-21
Sioux Falls, SD (Christ Communityl-A fall outing Sept. 14 included a hayride and s'mores.
Shafter, Calif.- The "young at heart " senior adults had a pizza party Sept. 12
San Jose, Calif. (Blossom ValLeyl-The Sept. 12 women's event. " Planting seeds of Kindness. " included a challenge to be a kinder person
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglenl-A "Guys Time Out" Sept. 8 included BBQ tri-tip, Monday night football and competitions
Papillion, Neb. (Shadow Lakel-Sept. 7 was a game night. held on the land on wh ich the church hopes to build.
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-A fall kickoff weekend Sept. 5-7 included a local football game the beginn ing of a new sermon series, an all-church picnic and a softball challenge. with under-35 and over-35 teams
Bakersfield, Calif. (The Bridgel-Church women held a car rally Sept. 5.
Denver, Colo. (Garden Parkl-Seniors celebrated the harvest at their regular lunch Sept. 2 Attendees brought samples of their handiwork, garden produce or finished or unfinished summer projects
Inman, Kan. (Zoarl- The local high school football team was invited to hear a former college football player at a men's breakfast Aug, 23.
Dinuba, Calif.-A Mexican lunch Aug. 17 raised funds for Hispanic ministries in the Pacific District Conference
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityl-Young families were invited to a back - to-school ice cream sundae party Aug 17. Families were invited to an evening of watermelon, rollkuchen and swimming Aug 13.
Hillsboro, Kan.-Church men participated in a "Golf and Grub" outing July 27
Collinsville, Okla. (Discoveryl - The July 22 women 's event featured free self-defense tra ining MINISTRY
San Jose, Calif, (Lincoln Glenl - The 20th annual International Gift Faire. to be held Oct. 17 - 18 at the church , features handicrafts from around the world and benefits Ten Thousand Villages, the oldest and largest nonprofit fair trade organ ization in the U S
Edmond, Okla. (Memorial Roadl- The church hosted a blood drive Sept. 21.
Fresno, Calif. (Mountain Viewl- The church's third missions car show Sept. 13 included a BBQ. music. plaques. raffles and vendor booths.
South Jordan, Utah (SMCCIiJDaybreakl-Church volunteers participated in Governor Huntsman 's cancer fundraising event this summer, Musical entertainment was provided by members of the worship band. Church volunteers manned a booth and handed out baked goods and fliers
Kingsburg, Calif.-Volunteers distributed fliers about midweek children's programs and about the Alpha class for adults as part of a fall kickoff Sept. 7
Hays, Kan. (North Oakl-A new min istry to college students began Sept. 7 with a meeting followed by a meal. Future meals will be hosted in homes and are open to all college students
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acresl-A new support group for single moms began meeting Sept. 3 during midweel< chi l dren 's activit ies
Bakersfield, Calif. (LaurelgLenl - Church men are volunteering to mentor fatherless boys in the community in cooperation with Belmont Foundation.
Fresno, Calif. (North Fresnol- The congregation celebrated the graduation of the boys from this year's March 2 Manhood program Aug 17 during morning services This outreach to neighborhood boys in sixth-10th grade was highlighted in the April 2008 issue of the Leader
PROCLAMATION
Omaha, Neb. (Iglesia Agua YlVal - Former pastor Walter Preza was the guest speaker for evangelistic services Sept. 11 - 14
Mountain Lake, Minn (Community BibLeI-Jules Glanzer. president of Tabor College. was the speaker Sept. 7.
Fresno, Calif. (North Fresnol-Laura Schmidt Roberts, professor of biblical studies at MB Biblical Seminary. preached Aug 3
Kingsburg, Calif. - Randy Friesen, general director of MBMS Internat ional. was the speaker Sept. 28 Pastor Ron Penner and Tim Bergdahl. of Madera Ave. Bible Church. exchanged pulpits Aug 31 Tim Geddert. professor at MB Biblical Seminary. preached Aug 3
Hillsboro, Kan (Ebenfeldl-Mission USA director Don Morris preached July 27
Buhler, Kan.-District minister Tim Sullivan preached July 13
Dinuba, Calif.-Gary Mejia, pastor of Eagles Harbor Community Church, a church plant in Clovis, Calif., preached July 13.
SUMMER SHORT-TERM MISSIONS
Shafter, Calif - Three couples helped with a Youth for Christ construction project in Germany Aug 29Sept. 9
Lodi, Calif. (Vinewood) - A team focused on construction and ministry at an orphanage in Jamaica Aug 29-Sept. 6 Another team worked in Mexico June 22-28, distributing food and clothes , providing hot meals, working with the elderly and children, vacation Bible school, performing with music and drama, and help ing with child day care and construction
Capitola, Calif. (Shorelife) - A team served Aug 2-9 in Lomitas, Mex ico
Bakersfield, Calif. (Heritage Bible) - A team of 22 went to Trujillo, Peru, July 30-Aug. 15 to work with MBMS International missiona ri es Bo and Erika Sukkau
Wichita, Kan. (First) - A team of 36 went to Baja, Mexico, July 26-Aug. 3 to work at a Christian mission and orphanage. They helped at a medical clinic and evangelized children and adults living in nearby migrant labor camps
Littleton, Colo (Belleview Community)-A team of families that went to Mexico July 25-Aug 1 took soccer balls, donated by children during vacation Bible school, to give to local children.
Yale, SD (Bethell-One adult and four teens traveled to Minneapolis, Minn , the week of July 13 to work with Child Evangelism Fellowship
Weatherford, Okla. (Pine Acres)-Over 30 youth went to Atlanta, Ga. , to serve in the inner city with Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) July 11-20
Buhler, Kan.-A team served alongside a Romanian missionary in July
Hillsboro, Kan.-A team of 23 youth and sponsors went to Anadarko, Okla., July 6- 11. They ran a vacation Bible school each morning and did various work projects each afternoon
Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowship)-A team of 12 high school students and adults traveled to Denver, Colo , July 6-13 to work with local churches and homeless shelters. Ministry included street drama and evangelism, repairing and clean ing city streets, running a vacation Bible school at a safe house, feeding the needy meals and helping with food and clothing distribution.
Papillon, Neb. (Shadow Lake)-A team of 23 went to Jamaica July 5-13 to help their "sister church, " Victory Christ ian Fellowship , with construction of a new church building and playground equipment. Garden City, Kan. (Garden Valley)-A team of women went to Mexico June 28-July 6
Inman, Kan. (Zoarl-A team of students and sponsors served at Post Oak MB Church in Indiahoma, Okla , the week of July 27
Bakersfield, Calif. !The Bridge) - A team traveled to Mexico June 27-29 to bui ld a home with Hands of Mercy Enid, Okla.-A team of 12 traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 22 -July 3 where they worked with Pan American Christian School, taking several items to the school, includi ng computers Six high schoolers and three adults worked on cleanup and children 's ministry with Youthworks! in Houma, La. , in July.
Fresno, Calif. (North Fresno)-A small team served at an orphanage in Mexico.
Ark. (Martin Box)- The church sent a team to Mexico in June.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Laurelglen)- The congregation sent short-term teams this summer to East Asia and Romania. They sent individuals to Germany, Uganda, Hungary, Santa Monica. Mexico, Ireland, Trinidad, India, Los Angeles, Nepal, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Romania
Reedley, Calif.- Teams and individuals served short -term this summer in Guatamala, Costa Rica, Thailand, Fiji, New Orleans and England.
TEACHING/NURTURE
Fresno, Calif (Butler, The Grove)- The two churches are cooperating to host a Celebrate Recovery 12week program that began Sept. 12
Reedley, Calif.-A new ministry for mothers of young children, called "Mom's GIG [Growing in God)" offers fellowship, support and practical ideas on a biweekly basis beginning Sept. 9 Volunteer prayer partners meet in the pastor's office to pray for the pastor before each worship service
Hays, Kan. (North Oak)-A new Sunday school class targets adults with special needs.
Shafter, Calif. - A ministry fair Sept. 7 gave attendees opportunity to learn more about various church ministries.
Fresno, Calif. (Bethany)-Bulletins regularly sent to shut- ins include "a little something extra" such as lyrics to a song, a poem or a meditation.
Fairview, Okla.-The "Acts of Kindness " committee has been entrusted with a sum of money to use in helping others
WO RKERS
Littleton , Colo. (Belleview Community)-Kirstin Sayer was commissioned Sept. 14 as the new children's pastor.
Inman, Kan. (Zoar)-Rob Morrow has resigned as lead pastor.
Indiahoma, Okla. (Post Oak)-Glen Garoutte has accepted the call as interim pastor
Rapid City, SD (Bible Fellowship)- The church commissioned Sandy Fender as missionary to Thailand with MBMS International and Candi Fender as missionarywith MBMSl's TREK program Aug 27 A Tha i meal preceded the service Larry and Di Matthews were commissioned for mini stry in Indonesia July 20 Reedley, Calif. -L ee Waldron is the new junior high director.
Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-The congregation commissioned Megan Weemes Aug. 10 for servi ce in Ethiop ia with Mennonite Ce ntra l Committee
Lincoln, Neb. (First SlavicJ-Vladimir Kischun is the new pastor
Ferndale, Wash. (Good News Fellowship)-Kevin Pentz has resigned as youth pastor; he and his wife, Kara. have moved to Silverdale, Wash. , where Kevin will work as a financial advisor.
Topeka, Kan (Cornerstone Community) - Joe Faul has accepted a call to be the interim youth pastor
Bakersfield, Calif. (Heritage Bible)-Michael Suderman and Rachel Welch served as summer youth interns
Enid, Okla.-The church commissioned Stacy Kuhns as a worker with MBMS International to Guadalajara , Mexico Aug 24.
Freeman, SD (Salem)-David Glader has been called as the church's interim pastor
Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-Larry Martens is serving as English ministries pastor
WORSHIP
Fresno, Calif. (Butler)-A new Saturday evening worship service targets college -age students. Angulus Wilson, campus pastor at Fresno Pacific University, is among the leaders The Aug 24 English service was held jointly with students and leaders from Fresno Pacific University Attendees were encouraged to meet FPU students and invite them to a meal.
Fresno, Calif. (The Grove)- The church plant expanded to two services beginning Sept. 7
Clovis, Calif. (College Community)-Artists, musicians and hobbyists of all ages were invited to share their talents for a "Celebration of the Arts " during the education hour Aug. 31.
Minot, ND (Bible Fellowship)- The church held worship in the park Aug 24
Fairview, Okla.-Wasswa Abdu, Robert Sityo and Paul and Pam Hunter, all workers in Africa, were the guests during the service Aug. 17. The building committee, working on a plan for a youth building, was affirmed during the serv ice as well.
Olathe, Kan. (Community Bible)-One Time Blind, a drama group, was the guest during services Aug 17 The children's musical "Strong Songs for Tough Times" was presented during two services Aug 10. A " Back to School Commissioning " was also part of the service
Henderson, Neb.- The Wheel of Faith, a southern gospel vocal and instrumental group, gave a concert Aug 17
Orland, Calif (Country Bible) - Teenagers participated in the Aug 10 Youth Sunday serv ice that concluded with prayers of blessing for all the children from infant to college students
YO UTH
Blaine, Wash (Birch Bay Bible Community) - A paja -
ma party for teen girls was planned for Oct. 4. This is part of the Beautiful Unique Girls tour from the MBsupported, Canadian-based Family Life Network
Kingsburg, CaUf.-High school students cooperated with youth from several other churches for a "Portaparty" Sept. 19. Youth traveled from church to church for various events from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m
Buhler, Kan.- The elementary Sunday school department had a "Bible Olympics" Aug 31 to celebrate the children moving up in classes. Activities included a Bible verse relay and a prayer marathon. The children also recently collected school kit items for Mennonite Central Committee and made table favors for the local retirement home.
Rapid City, SD (Bible FeUowship)- Teen girls had a sleepover Aug. 8-9.
Orland, Calif. (Country Bible)-The church hosted vacation Bible school July 14- 18, joining with two other churches in the community. The children gave $881 to support AWANA clubs in Bangladesh Fairview, Okla.-The first two high school students to join youth pastor Travis Schmidt at the local Pizza Hut every Thursday for lunch eat free.
DEATHS
BROWN, BENJAMIN, Cordell, Okla., member of Bible MB Church, Cordell, was born April 29, 1928, to EW. and Minnie Penner Brown in Shafter, Calif., and died Aug 15,2008, at the age of 79. In February 1948, he married Elizabeth Pauls. who survives. He is also survived by four sons, Ray and wife M.G. of Bessie, Okla , Robert and wife Cindy of Richardson, Texas, Bennett and wife Gwen of Bethany, Okla., and Edward of Corn, Okla.; two daughters, JoAnn and husband Joe Miller of Owasso, Okla., and Cherie and husband Olen Thiessen of Corn; one brother, Harry and wife Bertha of Tulare, Calif.; two sisters, Lillie, and Lee Esther and husband Jack Hiebert, all of Fresno, Calif., 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
FRANZ, CLARA MARIE, Buhler, Kan., member of Buhler MB Church, was born Feb 27, 1910, to Gerhard and Anna Martens Fehdrau in Buhler and
Stewardship SQ/utions
died Aug. 3, 2008, at the age of 98 On Nov 1, 1931, she married Dave Franz, who predeceased her in 1999. She is survived by two daughters, Evelyn and husband Jim Mciver and Kathryn and husband Jerry Robinson of Buhler; one son, David and wife Pat of Frederick, Md., six grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.
SUDERMAN, JEAN, Newton, Kan., member of Carson MB Church, Delft, Minn , was born Jan 8, 1927, to Leonard and Christine Epp Suderman in Hooker, Okla., and died July 3, 2008, at the age of 81. On Jan. 26, 1952, he married Lois Wiens, who predeceased him. He is survived by one son, Dwight and wife Danielle of McPherson, Kan.; two daughters, Elaine and husband Eric Goedde of Valley Center, Kan , and LaVonne and husband Joe Blowers of Portland, Ore ; two brothers, Leland and wife Marilyn of Dallas, Ore., and Emery and wife Inez of Cordell, Okla., and eight grandchildren.
VOGT, JAKE, Corn, Okla., member of Corn MB Church, was born Aug 22, 1926, to Jacob J. and Lizzie Kliewer Vogt in rural Washita County, Okla., and died Aug. 16, 2008, at the age of 81. On Feb. 7, 1947, he married Norma Jean Hinz, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Charles and wife Charlotte of Weatherford, Okla.; one daughter, Darla of Oklahoma City, Okla.; two brothers, Paul and wife Emma Lou of Clinton, Okla., and Jim and wife Aldene of Kingsburg, Calif.; two sisters, Clara Johnson and Joyce and husband Jim Hinz, all of Corn; one sisterin-law, Yonzell Vogt of Weatherford, two grandchildren and two great-grandchi.Ldren.
WIENS, RICHARD, Fairview, Okla., a member of Fairview MB Church, was born July 28, 1920, to Peter W. and Katherina Bekker Wiens at Isabella, Okla., and died Aug 14,2008, at the age of 88. On Aug 27, 1944, he married Marcella Hamm, who predeceased him in 1981. In 1984, he married Mary Lou Just, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Richard and wife Terre of Bailey, Colo., Reginald and wife Kathy of Talala, Okla., and Douglas and wife Debbie of Fairview; two daughters, Marguerite and husband Greg Schmidt of Newton, Kan , and Dianna Just of Vinita, Okla , 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
MMA, an established, church-related organization, is seeking sales profesSiOnals to provide insurance and financial solutions to one of the industry's most loyal markets.
MMA is a highly trusted organization serving individuals and businesses primarily associated with Mennonite and other Anabaptist-related denominations. Excellent income potential and generous benefits. To learn more, visit www.mma-online.orgtcareers. Fax or e-mail resume to (574) 537-6635 or hr@mma-online.org.
Statement of ownership, management and circulation
Publication title : Christian Leader
Publication number : 0009 -5419. Filing date : 09/16/08 Issue frequency : monthly Number of issues published annually : 12 Annual subscription price : $18 Complete mailing address of known Dffice of publication : 315 S Lincoln , Box 220, Hillsboro, KS 67063
Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher : same Full names and complete mailing address of publisher, editor and managing editor : Publisher : U S Conference of MB Churches , 315 S Lincoln , Box 220, Hillsboro, KS 67063 ; Editor : Connie Faber, 315 S Lin coln , Box 220 , Hillsboro, KS 67063
Managing editor : none Owner : U S Conference of MB Churches, 315 S Lincoln , Box 220, Hillsboro , KS 67063 Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding 1% or more of total amount of bonds , mortgages or other securities : none Tax statu s ha s not changed during preceding 12 months Issue date for circulation data : Sept. 2008 Extent and nature of circulation : the first number represents the average number of copies of each issue during the pro ceeding 12 months , the number in parentheses is the number of copies of a single issue (Sept. 2008) published nearest the filing date (al Total number of copies : 9,993 (9,982) (bl Paid/requested circulation : 1) paid/requested outside county mail subscriptions : 9,019 (8,989) 2) Paid in -county subscriptions : 579 (573) 3)
Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non - USPS paid distribution : 0 101 41 Other classes mailed through the USPS : 260 (257) (cJ Total paid and/or requested circulation : 9,868 (9 ,8521 (dl Free or nominal rate distribution : 11 Free or nominal rate outside county copies 0(012) Free or nominal rate in - county copies (01 0 3) free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS 11 (101 41 free or nominal rate distribution outside the mailO (251 (el Total free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail : 11 (35) (fl Total distribution : 9,868 (9,85211g1 Copies not distributed : 125 (1301 (hI Total: 9,993 (9,9821 iii Percent paid and/or requested circulation : 99 89% (99 66%1. I certify that all information furnished is true and complete I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal san ctions and/or civil sanctions Signed : Connie Faber
Gold or nothing
When a silver or bronze medal isn't good enough
AcouPle of months ago I watched some of the sporting events in the Olympic games. Those were impressive. Everyone knows about Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals for swimming. But a lot of other athletes did well too. They didn't all win gold, but I'd say getting a silver or bronze medal was also pretty good. It isn't too shabby to finish second or third in the world in your event.
But I guess I'm no expert when it comes to judging athletic perfonnances. I found that out on one of the sports Web sites where I read the rants of a columnist who had different feelings than me about coming in second and third. Let's just say he didn't like it. And don't even get him started about finishing fourth. How could athletes go all the way to Beijing and finish one place off the medal stand? Losers.
Anyway, the columnist
focused mainly on a swimmer who won one silver medal and two bronze medals. I had thought that was great, but apparently I was wrong. The
experts everywhere pointing out all of the world's incompetence. A common trait many of these experts had, I noticed, was that they possessed no experience or education in the subject areas they were criticizing People who had never served in public office condemned all politicians. Folks who had never been teachers trashed the education system. Those who couldn't playa note said all the singers and bands were terrible.
People who had never set foot in a church concluded all Christians were hypocrites. Folks who did go to church but never served in any ministries complained that all the programs and worship services were lousy. And so on.
Olympic athletes ju"t couldn't around lik e that. you know, that would make them or some th ing.
writer not only criticized the swimmer for not winning, but also had suggestions about how she could have improved her training to avoid such pitiful perfonnances.
Well, it was a good thing the columnist pointed out that second and third place were so lousy, because I would have just gone on thinking that silver and bronze medals were cool. Shows you how little I know. I assumed this writer must have once been a great swimmer to offer such incisive opinions about the pitiful Olympian who couldn't win. But when I looked at the writer's bio line, I didn't see anything about swimming at all. I guess he was just being modest.
Then I saw that other sportswriters were also taking shots at Olympic athletes and their dubious achievements. One of our U.S. teams only got a silver medal in its event and was condemned for making unacceptable mistakes. Olympic athletes just couldn't stumble around like that. you know. because that would make them human or something.
And then there was our basketball team. We were expected to win gold, but several writers groused that the team would fail because it was winning its preliminary games by a measly 30 or 40 points. Plus the team's past Olympic perfonnances were checkered. Oh sure, the U.S. had won just about every basketball gold medal there was through the year 2000. But then in 2004 they only got a bronze! What a joke! Fortunately we did finally capture the gold medal in Beijing. Anything less might have set off a catastrophic famine or tidal wave.
After those sportswriters enlightened me about the Olympics, I began to realize there were
Though I appreciate experts who don't know anything giving me advice I didn't ask for, the general spirit of criticism taking over our culture worries me a little. Sometimes I wonder if it might be better to, you know, think a little bit before we speak or write or opinionate. I know thinking isn't a popular pastime these days. It can be kind of a pain in the head.
But it's really not so bad. We all have a lot of unused brain cells that could probably stand a workout.
There are certain advantages to thinking. For one thing, I can ask myself questions before I let any actual words escape from my mouth. First, do I really have any idea what I'm talking about? If not, maybe I should keep quiet. In my case that may mean keeping quiet for weeks at a time. but those are the breaks.
Second, should I tell people to live or act a certain way when I don't understand their situation and really don't live that way myself? Probably not. If I was out there busting my butt to win an Olympic medal, for instance, and some couch potato was blogging condemnations from his comfy annchair. I can't say I'd take it very well.
Finally, should I stop listening to the critics and start looking for ways to encourage people and develop a positive outlook? Absolutely. There are many good things in the world. To see that I may need to stop staring so much at these computer windows and try looking out a few more real windows .
Fighting fear
Snakes, questions and the emerging church
What are you afraid of? Snakes are among the top of my list. Even though I knew that a recent trip down a stairway covered with coiled, hissing snakes was only a dream, I had to fight my fears in order to fully extend my legs back down the length of the bed. I really don't like snakes.
Fear, it seems to me, is one reason we evangelicals are illat-ease with the emerging church. Emerging folks are asking questions about things that many of us hold close to our hearts as unchanging. Scot McNight, in a Christianity Today article on the emerging church, writes "...no language is capable of capturing the Absolute Truth who alone is God. Frankly, the emerging movement loves ideas and theology. It just doesn't have an airtight system or statement of faith."
As someone who likes certainty, this approach to theology makes me uneasy. Yet, a fear of questions should not prevent us from extending our spiritual limbs into the emerging conversation. When ·I am part of a conversation that challenges something I believe to be true, my first reaction is to end the discussion because of that niggle of fear swirling in my stomach.
One of the reasons I'm working to change this initial response is that my own children are among the people who are asking questions that make me uncomfortable. And years ago I promised myself that I would not parent out of fear but in hope. I had been home from the hospital less than an hour with our first child when I realized that fear would be my biggest challenge as a parent. It was overwhelming to realize that this baby was for now totally dependent on my husband and me As our daughter grew, I found that the potential to fear grew along with her. So each time I bumped into a new set of fears, I reminded myself that hope rather than fear would be my guide.
If hope is our guide than we will view the surfacing discussions for how to do church in the 21st century as a strong signal that Christ's church will be relevant to the next generation We will admit that the young people in our congregations, including those who were raised in Christian homes, have grown up in a postrnodern world and that this has impacted their understanding of faith and the church, just as previous generations were impacted by the Depression, two world wars, the civil rights movement, the hippie era and the war in Vietnam. Yes, the emerging chu rch is asking questions that often make us uncomfortable We may not agree with their conclusions, but refusing to think with them is not the answer.-Connie Faber
> READERS SAY
Amen to August issue
Thank you! I saw the August Christian Leader and said, 'Wow! Really?! A whole Christian Leader addressing singlehood! Amen!" As I read the articles in-depth, I found myself reading affirming sentences like these: 'We often overlook the fact that Jesus chose to follow this path as a single man," and, 'f\ssuming (single adults ) all think and feel alike or that they all have the same concerns or challenges fails to treat single adults like unique individuals." I echo many of the challenges Steve Fast's focus group shared. To hear their voices was life giving. Knowing that my fellow Mennonite Brethren are reading these articles gives me hope. My prayer is that who God has called me to be as a single woman will be more than accepted; it will be embraced. .
Melissa Bergen, Fresno, Calif.
Our responsibility
God's Word convicted me to move forward. When Daniel was faced with the decree to pray only to King Darius, he went home, threw open the windows for all Jerusalem to hear and prayed aloud to the living God He did not keep silent and neither willI. For Christians, this is one of the most crucial elections in America's history. We are living in a time when voting for JudeoChristian principles, the end to abortion, the end of sanctioning lifestyles God considers an abomination and a platform that supports Israel transcends voting for a particular race, gender or political party. Throughout Scripture, nations brought God's wrath upon themselves not because of the actions of unbelievers but because of the decisions and actions of believers.
Abortion is not a trivial issue . God repeatedly punished nations for the shedding of innocent blood and warned them to be purged of this sin so it would go well with them (Deut. 19, 2 Kings 24) God has given us explicit instructions in regard to Israel and we must vote for a platform that supports her. Isaiah 62:1 commands us to speak out for Zion's sake We are blessed when we bless Israel and cursed when we curse Israel (Gen. 12:3) Encourage your legislators to support Israel's right to her land; God will bring judgment to anyone dividing up that land (Joel p). Let us fall on our knees, repent and seek his face. The United States of America is neither above God's wrath nor his judgment. The line has been clearly drawn It is up to us; we cannot afford a wrong choice at this point in time. I do not want the destiny to be that of Sodom and Gomorrah but rather that of Nineveh.
Donald Graumann, Hillrboro, Kan
The editors invite readers to share their thoughts and opinions on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church using letters to th e editor Letters should be on one topic, not exceed 300 words and include the writer's name and city. Letters will be edited for clarity, appropriateness and length .
mplOyment: Cl1urcl1
Lead Pastor: Bible Fellowship Church [BFCI of Rapid City, SO is seeking a Lead Pastor We are looking for an individual who loves to preach God's Word and enjoys conveying the truths of God's Word in an applicable, real-to-life manner The Lead Pastor provides leadership in promoting and developing the overall vision and mission direction of BFC, following the eight foundations of ministry : empowering leadership, gift oriented ministry [assisting people in identifying and using their spiritual gifts for the benefit of all believersl. passionate spirituality [committed to living lives of faith, characterized by peace, joy and lovel need-oriented evangelism !impacting our community for Christl. inspiring worship, loving relationships, dynamic small groups and functional structures [committees providing strength and cohesion to the church body!. Lead pastor is to be involved in personal discipleship, either small group or one-on-one The congregation of 150 is a loving, caring body desiring to grow spiritually, deepening our relationship with the Lord Jesus and reaching out and ministering to others Seminary graduate preferred Please send resumes to BFC Calling Committee, 1212 E Fairmont Blvd, Rapid City, SO 57701 or e-mail inquiresto : BFCLPIClRushmore.com Web site: www BibleFellowshipChurch.net [2/?1
Senior Pastor: Garden Valley Church, a Mennonite Brethren church in the diverse community of Garden City, in Southwest Kansas, is seeking a senior pastor to lead a group of approximately 150 believers. Our church has a heart for the community in which God ha s placed us and
CLearing HOUSe ---
a heart for missions-the world in which God has placed others Visit our Web site at www gardenvalleychurch com Send resumes and inquires to: Search Committee, c/o Garden Valley Church, 1701 N 3rd Street, Garden City, KS 67846 or e-mail searchcommitteelClgardenvalleychurch com [3/121
Lead Pastor: Hillsboro MB Church, a congregation of 400+, is seeking a lead pastor with a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. The successful candidate is expected to bring spiritual vision and direction for the church's mission and programs, have positive relational skills and a strong preaching/teaching ministry The lead pastor is one who desires to lead, develop and partner with other members of the pastoral staff and lay leadership team. This intergenerational church is located in a progressive college town Seminary graduate preferred Please send resume to Pastoral Search Committee, Hillsboro MB Church, 300 Prairie Pointe, Hillsboro, KS 67063 or email inquiries to : hmbcsearchlClyahoo com [6/121
Senior Pastor: Kingwood Bible Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Salem, Ore , is seeking a Senior Pastor who can grow our congregation and help us reach out to the unsaved in our city Kingwood is a congregation of approximately 100 members and is located on the west side of Salem Besides the senior pastor position, we have one fulltime youth pastor, a part-time children's ministry coordinator and a part-time church office secretary We seek to grow our church through evangelism and
CURRENT OR FUTURE
discipleship. At least six years experience as a pastor is preferred Mennonite Brethren background/ordination is also preferred, but not required. If interested, send a resume to : Dave Davis, co-chairman, Pastoral Search Committee, 2225 Dorchester Drive S , Salem, OR 97302; phone 503-581-9507; e-mail davyactslClaol.com. A packet of information on our church and the surrounding area is available upon request. [10/121
Youth Pastor: Bethany Church in Fresno , Calif., is seeking a strong leader who is passionate about students, grades 7-12 Resumes can be sent to Bethany Church, attn: Youth Pastor Search, 9161 N Maple Ave. Fresno, CA 93720, or officelClbethanychurchonline.com. [10/121
Faculty: Faculty position opening soon in the Marriage, Family & Child Counseling department at MB Biblical Seminary Join the team at MB Biblical Seminary's campus in Fresno, Calif , a community rooted in the Anabaptist and evangelical traditions This position will be at the assistant or associate professor level. In addition to a strong emphasis on the integration of counseling and the Christian faith, the seminary's MFCC program includes a priority of helping students grow in a wide range of areas not limited to academic achievement and counseling skills Teaching and mentoring are prioritized but research is encouraged MFCC faculty functions as part of an interdisciplinary team with Bible, Theology and Missions faculty For complete details and resume information, visit www.mbseminary.edu/employment. [3/111
CHARITABLE GIVING
ESTATE PLANNING
PLANNED GIVING SOLUTIONS
CHARITABLE TRUSTS
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES
ENDOWMENT MANAGEMENT
transforming lives in mission
ARE YOU PREPARED ?
TRAINING for TRANSFORMATION
Table of Contents
MBMS International Fall 2008
Editor in Chief Randy Friesen
Managing Editor Natalie Binder
Graphic Design Everglow Design Group
MBMS INTERNATIONAL VISION Holistic church planting that transforms communities among the least reached.
MBMS INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY Mobilizing churches through intentional discipleship in experiential mission that contributes to holistic church planting.
ORGANI ZATIONAL VALUE S
• Unreached People
• Holistic Church Planting
• MB Theology and Family
• Prayer
• The Word of God
• The Great Commission & the Great Commandment
OFFICE LOCATIONS
INTERPER SONAL VALUE S
• Dependency on Jesus
• Risk-taking Obedience
• Transforming Community
• Relational Integrity
• Celebration
WE STERN CANADA (INTERNATIONAL OFFICE)
302-32025 George Ferguson Way. Abbotsford. BC V2T 2K7
P: 604 859 6267 F: 604 859.6422 E : mbmsi@mbmsi.org
Asummer mission team leader recently remarked to me that her ACTION mission training had been the best that she had experienced because it focused on life change She then inquired about long term service with us on a church planting team
My doctoral research several years ago underlined that pre -trip discipleship training was a significant factor in mission participants retaining the positive changes in their lives as a result of their short-term assignments. Mission experience alone is not enough to build a new generation of mission workers We've learned that both discipleship training and theoretical reflection are also important.
What distinguishes discipleship training from other forms of training?
Discipleship training in a mission context begins with an understanding that we are learning to follow Jesus He is on a mission and our effectiveness as his partners is determined by how well we follow. Information without transformation can reinforce pride and actually become a barrier to our growth
Training is one of our core services as a mission and is expressed through every level of our global team Our North American staff meets every other week for 45 minutes of training on topics as varied as computer software skills. protocol on communication with our work in creative access countries. and effective constituency and team communication
Mission experience alone is not enough to build a new generation of mission workers.
Our training for new long term missionaries is based on something we call our Missionary Training Institute (MTI) This eight month residential program focuses on 22 learning outcomes (transformational training models) with an emphasis on life transformation. Training occurs in the classroom as well as experiential learning settings. The training outcomes include topics such as team life, crosscultural sensitivity, evangelism and the great commission, and love for the word of God
As an example, our outcome goals for training in "team life" reads , "through instruction and team life, the trainee will come to understand team dynamics, learn to appreciate personality styles, develop healthy patterns of conflict resolution, and learn to appreciate the nature and importance of team leadership." In addition to the theoretic frameworks and principle-based teaching, our long term church planting teams are encouraged to participate in a short term cross - cultural mission assignment. Their team interaction, conflict resolution, decision making, and leadership experiences are evaluated and learning outcomes are noted
Mentoring is another significant model in which training occurs All of our long and short term mission participants are required to have a mentor. We provide a basic structure for that mentoring relationship which forms the context within which a participant's mission experiences and discipleship lessons are processed
Long term mission candidates are all assigned to a local church planting practicum during their MTI experience Within the lower mainland of BC there are Indo - Canadian, Arabic , Chinese, Spanish, and Korean
church planting groups The urban church plants within the BC context are similarly multicultural and provide a natural mentoring opportunity in contextual mission strategy and cross cultural awareness
Classroom based instruction for long term missionaries is facilitated through our MTI faculty as well as our partnership with MB Biblical Seminary (Langley, BC and Fresno, CA) and Columbia Bible College Classroom based reflection in combination with experiential learning and discipleship enhances skill development and encourages life transformation
Why are we focusing this issue of Witness on our transformational training strategy?
Last year 800 mission participants served with MBMS International on assignments ranging from 10 days to long term (often a 10 year commitment) Preparing, supporting, and measuring their effectiveness is one of our primary focuses as a mission! We ' ve included a variety of short term and long term mission stories in this issue which provide windows into the transformational impact of training in their lives
Paul's counsel to Timothy was "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who c orrectly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim 2 :15). Peter writes, "prepare your minds for action" (1 Pet. 1:13) The writer of Ecclesiastes says, "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success" (Ecc. 10:10). We 're training for transformation because both effectiveness and faithfulness matter.
MBMSI TRAINING PHILOSOPHY: a TRANSFORMATIONAL MODEL
By Ray Harms- Wiebe
Ray serves on MBMS/'s Lead Team - Global Program
MBMSI'S raison d ' etre is to see lives transformed through mission This transformation requires a training philosophy which integrates character change, relational growth, spiritual awareness, cross-cultural sensitivity, and ministry skill development. For transformation to happen on all of these levels, this learning experience requires the Spirit of God, a cross-cultural context, and a learning process that combines experience, reflection, and analysis
The learning process, as ordained by God, takes place in real life We are born before we know how to live, we marry before we understand marriage, we have children before we comprehend parenting, and we become old before we know how to age Transformation takes place as we live. In our Christian life and mission, we are transformed as we obey God's voice over our lives We must be engaged in the process in order to be transformed
Transformation Process
The entire transformation process is a work of God. We cannot transform ourselves, but we can open ourselves to teachable moments by sensitively following the voice of God over our lives What opens a person to this transforming process? The primary motivation for missionary learning comes from the Spirit of God.
When the prospective missionary hears the call of God (logos) on his or her life, a passion (pathos) is
ignited within him or her. This passion is the seed of transformation This call is an invitation to an intimate relationship with Jesus It is an invitation to faithful obedience in .God's mission. This new passion saturates the candidate's whole being and provides the motivation to search for a community (ethos) where this divine call (logos) will be further stimulated and nurtured . (Reflections based on Aristotle and Ted Ward)
Logos didactics
Pathos markers
Remembrance
Walk
Ethos community
MBMSI understands itself as a community (ethos) that provides nurturing for the missionary call (logos) through mission experience (including programs like SOAR, ACTION, TREK, DMI and by holistic church planting) It seeks to help its missionaries understand impact moments or "markers" (spiritual encounters, inter-religious dialogue, team conflict) so lessons will be remembered. The missionary walk of obedience demands that these moments
be submitted to God for reflection, analysis, and synthesis in loving community (ethos). Regular periods of reflection - where the MBMSI team reflects on God's self-revelation, evaluates the growth of its own members, analyzes the realities of the cross - cultural context, and synthesizes the lessons learned - are essential.
An Educational Model for Transformation
The desired outcomes of these reflection periods are a renewed vision, increased passion, heightened consciousness, and more focused discipline Missionaries should come away with a new hope for what God will do in the future, a greater passion for God and his people, a greater awareness of who God is and what he is doing , a more profound understanding of self and team dynamics, a greater sensitivity to the unreached, a clearer understanding of the task ahead, and a more disciplined commitment to the next steps in the church planting process
Modes of learning
Educational theorists speak of three modes of learning: formal, informal, and non-formal. Formal learning represents the escalation of the preparatory academic ladder. The learning process is deliberate, planned, staffed, space-specific and time-determined Progress is based on academic achievements
Informal learning represents the wide spectrum of growth processes through participation in society (e.g.
acculturation or socialization). These processes are natural and unstructured (breathing, eating, and sleeping).
Non-formal learning, like formal, is deliberate, planned and staffed. Like informal, it is functional, unrestricted by time and space, and responsive to current need. It is also specialized and transformational (change or development-oriented).
MBMSI understands that Bible Colleges (CBC, BBC, ETEM), Liberal Arts Colleges (Tabor, FPU, CMU), and Seminaries (MBBS - Fresno, CA; Langley, BC; Winnipeg, MB) provide the environment and staffing for formal learning Our contribution to the learning process is focused on the informal (acculturation, ministry experience) and non-formal (modules of dynamic reflection) modes of learning
MBMS International is implementing a transformational training philosophy based on the core beliefs and values of its learning community. These are articulated in our vision statement, church
In our Christian life and mission, we are transformed as we obey God's voice over our lives.
planting strategy, interpersonal and organizational values, and missionary profile This particular philosophy emphasizes a non -formal mode of learning which encourages the integration of spiritual maturity, relational growth, cross-cultural sensitivity, and ministry skill development Regular modules of dynamic reflection punctuate the lives of both prospective missionaries and long term church planters The desired outcome is the transformation of MBMSI missionaries into the image of Christ and the transformation of whole people groups into that same image around the world
PREPARATION is KEY
By Eldon Fehr
In August 2007 I had the privilege of traveling to India with eight others from our church, one of whom was my thirteen year-old daughter! What a blessed and awesome experience, filled w ith wonderful and life - changing moments , memories and, more importantly, ministry
Our team was supported and commissioned by the Yarrow MB Churc h to partner with MBMSI missionaries Mark and Amy in India for three weeks , The couple, who are also members of our church, were promised at their departure in 2004 that a team from Yarrow would visit - and we did! Our purpose was to encourage them with our presence (and presents!), and also to assist them in any way we could in their ongoing relationships , projects, and outreach initiatives .
During the year of intense planning and preparation preceding our trip, we attended a weekend tra ining event hosted by MBMSI and attended by other teams like ours going to various parts of the world
The purpose of this event was to prepare us for our experience and also to avail ourselves of the practical services MBMSI provides for church teams embarking on short-term assignments.
All of this teaching became our experience, so it was good to be prepared
This excellent event , held at South Abbotsford MB Church , was well-planned and organized by Sam Dick and John Best. Our team was impressed by the quality of everything from meals to t -shirts , the variety of presenters, and the care we received MBMSI is very concerned that local church teams going overseas to partner with long-term workers are not only supported, but are also made aware of the issues they will deal with personally, as a team , and on the field. It also became very clear that MBMSI cares for its long -term workers , making it
Eldon Fehr is lead pastor of Yarrow MB Church.
Yarrow MS 's church team at a mosque in India with Amy and daughters Alexis and Dania
imperative that short -term teams receive adequate information as to not make life more challenging for those who have invested much time and effort integrating with another culture Rhonda Willms said, "One of the primary goals of this training day was to get us, as short-term missions teams, to take the focus off of ourselves and what we wanted to accomplish on our mission trips. Rather, we were encouraged to focus on the specific needs of the long -term mission teams we were going to work alongside. "
In addition to Sam and John, MBMSI staff members Randy Friesen , Ray Harms -Wiebe, and Columbia Bible College professor Bryan Born taught us about the vision and values of MBMSI, cultural sensitivity, awareness and etiquette, the importance of prayer, the reality of spiritual warfare , and the interpersonal
values all missionaries must embrace We also learned how to prepare our testimony and share it cross-culturally (including role - playing! l. and how to conduct a proper debrief upon the arrival home. All of this teaching became our experience, so it was good to be prepared
Rachel Wall , another member of our team, who also happens to be part of the MBMSI staff, said, "I appreciated hearing the stories of various MBMSI leaders participating in mission. Hearing Randy and Ray (outside of the office and their roles) share some of their experiences in a different setting helped put it into perspective My personal preparation was getting my own heart ready to go, and our team preparation involved raising funds and organizing the logistics from this end. The discussions from the training seminar broadened my mind to think of how those on the receiving end would see what we were doing ."
What made the training experience most meaningful to me, and why I highly recommend it to all shortterm teams from all of our churches, was the realization there is a much
MBMSI is committed to sending church teams on short-term trips to come alongside long-term missionaries and provide the fuel they need for ministry If you would like to expose your church to global missions, MBMSI will set up an assignment, provide training and debrief, and take care of the details We'd like to invite you to be involved in God's Kingdom work. For more information visit: www. mbmsi.org/churchteams o r contact Sam Dick [samd@ mbmsi.orgl
bigger picture. Yes, mission is about God's call on an individual, but it's also about the team, the local church, the mission agency and its workers already on the field, the denominational global family, and, ultimately, about God's plan to employ Christians everywhere for his purposes.
The other members of "Team India" were Ashley Bergmann, Kari Bergmann, Amanda Janzen, Christa Walters, Roger Willms and Jessica Fehr.
TRAINING for MISSION WIT
By Johannes Reimer
Johannes Reimer is a Professor of Missiology at the University of South Africa, a church planter and pastor in Bergneustadt, Germany as well as a mission strategist, writer, and evangelist. In March 2008 he taught at MBMS/'s Country Team Leader Summit in Abbotsford, BC where 19 missionaries from assignments around the world gathered for training, strategy development, and consultation (photos below).
There is a new "unword" in the daily German language - overeducated. In times when thousands are unemployed and jobs are rarely available, the right kind and the right quality of education has become key for companies to accept or turn down an application. You might be well educated but remain unemployed simply because of your training. Companies look for efficiency, and training determines the level of efficiency they expect.
Sometimes I feel that mission agencies should apply a similar philosophy. Seldom does a typical college education prepare a mission candidate for his or her future assignment. Why? Well, mission takes place in a certain context The context requires a distinct approach - a set of missionary methods appropriate to the particular way of thinking and living with the people around To miss out on those cultural distinctives could soon mean a total failure of the
whole missionary project. Just consider the persistent disability of Western missions, generally speaking, to reach out to Muslim nations. Our Western education is largely generic and follows patterns of Western culture. Graduates of our colleges are usually illequipped for missions overseas.
Mission agencies such as MBMSI react to this challenge in different ways At MBMSI we train our candidates in preparatory courses on understanding cultures and methods of contextualization The aim of the preparation is to give the potential missionary proper tools for a meaningful cross - cultural ministry. The candidates will be exposed to real-life missionary projects and an exchange of ideas and experiences with missionaries from the field The pre -field preparation may take more than six months of study. Some of the candidates may even be encouraged to enroll in special missionary training programs
TOP (L to R) : Otto and MaJorie Ekk. Jose Prada (Ll. Laurence and Leona Hiebert. Hedi Matthies with Bob and Erika Sukkau, Johannes Reimer BOTTOM (L to R): Carol and Phil Bergen, Vic Wiens and Phil Bergen, Shahna Duerksen, Trever Godard and Ricky Sanchez. Richard and Hazel Funk
a KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
The second stage of MBMSI missionary education takes shape on the field . In fact, we believe that the best education takes place on the job. How will you ever learn to communicate in a language without people around you speaking that particular language? How will you properly confront powers and structures of a culture without being introduced to the culture itself? On-field education is never optional! To enable field education MBMSI offers its missionaries mentoring assistance by encouraging mission in a team setting. The MBMSI missionary is a crucial part of an apostolic team, which is made up of people with apostolic , prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, and teaching gifts The missionary will receive assistance in all of these areas to learn how to use the Spirit-granted gifts for ministry (Eph.4 :11-12). Even in situations where the apostolic
Missionary education is a life-long experience. You will never be done learning and discovering . The rapid development of cultures throughout the world requires constant learning MBMSI missionaries , therefore, subscribe to life - long missionary training
All training aims to raise the ability of missionaries to relate the gospel in a suitable context, which will inform and enable programs of evangelism and church planting Contextual theology is never done once and for ever. Cultures change, contexts change, and people develop Whoever plans to successfully reach people with the gospel must continually make theology relevant to a group and apply the ideas practically Biblically relevant theology takes place in training for the mission
Whoever plans to successfully reach people with the gospel must continually make theology relevant to a group and apply the ideas practically.
team may not yet be complete , MBMSI will regularly bring the missionaries into a regional conference to discuss and facilitate apostolic dynamics on the field. Gifted resource people are available to join a team for a time to ensure apostolic quality of work
Missionary education on the field requires both local and global mentoring Our world has become a global village There are numerous dynamics in a given context which are deeply influenced by developments that are often far removed from the context. Overlooking such dynamics could create enormous problems, like missing out on the local culture. MBMSI, therefore, offers regular conferences for its missionaries with the participation of internationallyversed resource people. Some missionaries with certain gifts will be encouraged to study international mission further, in order to become resource personnel for the different mission teams.
field This model requires involvement, theological reflection, contextual planning, and action. Such a cycle turns into a life-long process of application, digging deep into the different spheres of culture and transforming lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This, in the end, is what mission is all about.
Regional Retreats and Consultations are yearly gatherings for MBMSI missionaries to receive encouragement, rejuvenation, and training. Support for ministry training events can be made under project code C9047.
LAYING a SOLID FOUNDATION
Sandra Fender is from Rapid City, South Dakota. Last year she participated in the Missionary Training Institute (MTI). MBMS Intemational's eight-month missionary training program. Sandra will be serving with the Hope 4 Thailand team in North Thailand, working at the Changed Life Center. In a recent interview with Sandra, she talked about her experience at MTI and its impact on her life and ministry Support for Sandra can be made under project code C0569
from Enid, Oklahoma.
Erica and Stacy will be joining the Matthew Team in Guadalajara, Mexico where they will be involved in discipleship, evangelism, and church planting.
Support for Erica can be made under project code C0580. Support for Stacy can be made under project code C0579.
What is MTI?
The major part of MTI is learning who MBMSI is. When I finished MTI I came away with a solid understanding of MBMSI's values, strategy, and philosophy. I know the history and I know where we are headed By going through training I really came to understand the heartbeat of MBMSI.
What did you appreciate most about MTI?
MTI trained me to understand that I am not a lone ranger. I am part of a team, and my team isn't just those I'll be working with in-country. I'm teaming with friends, supporters, churches, and my family at MBMSI. I have a team of supporters who are working behind the scenes with me.
MTI participants become a team, even though we're headed in different directions. This was a valuable aspect of training because I was learning about team issues that I am going to encounter on the field, such as unity. support, conflict resolution, and cultural differences.
How did MTI equip you for the mission field?
Though we're technically missionary candidates, training really gave me the perspective that I am already a missionary One of the challenges that I have faced is getting friends and supporters back home to understand the importance of training and to realize that training is a part of "going." My faith-walk doesn't start when I hit the mission field! I've come to realize that missions is a way of life as much as it is a location.
I completed MTI knowing that prayer support is a vital key to being sustained in-country. When I walk into new churches to share my vision, I must ask them, first and foremost, to join me in prayer. Support-raising is definitely a faith walk
MTI is a checkpoint for candidates to see if they're on the same page as MBMSI. What does MBMSI believe in? What do they stand for? What is their concept of church planting? MTI helped me discern if this was what I wanted to do and if it's the direction that I should go in. For me, that was a very important part of training. It confirmed that this is where I'm supposed to be
Sandra Fender (left) with fellow MTI 2007/08 participants Erica Ray and Stacy Kuhns Erica is from Crane Valley, Saskatchewan and Stacy is
MATTHEW TRAINING CENTER:
EOUIPPING
LATIN AMERICANS for CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY
By Trever Godard
Trever and Joan Godard went to seminary to prepare for a life of cross-cultural ministry They invested 14 years in Colombia, South America and have been serving in Guadalajara, Mexico since December 2005.
We have reached an interesting point in mission history. Today more cross-cultural missionaries are being sent out of Latin America, Asia, and Africa than North America and Europe. These missionaries need training!
As members of the Matthew Team, our vision is to train Latin Americans to go to the nations We have been planning to buy an existing building and renovate it to create what will become the Matthew Training Center (MTC) in Guadalajara, Mexico. The MTC will provide discipleship and cross -cultural missionary training through community living in combination with formal and non -formal learning Though our focus is to help prepare and send Latinos out to the nations, we also receive North Americans to equip them with missional training in a cross - cultural setting.
A positive, well-informed entry to the culture is crucial for long-lasting, effective ministry Two major reasons for missionary attrition are unsuccessful engagement with the culture and interpersonal/ multicultural team conflict.
The purpose of the MTC is to teach missionary candidates the principles they need to thrive in a different culture and how to live harmoniously in a multicultural team - respecting and learning from different ethnic peoples - which will greatly enhance their effectiveness for the Kingdom and keep them going for the long haul. These cross -cultural principles will be transferable to other cultures, be it a rural setting in Mexico, or an urban setting in the 10/40 window.
We hope to receive four students this fall : two from Latin America and two from North America. The excitement of stepping out in faith, of seeing the Almighty God of this universe do something that only he can do, the fear of failure, and the responsibility of the task, all create a wide variety of mixed emotions . Please join us in praying for the Matthew Training Center. We want to see Latinos reached and sent out to the nations!
For more information on the MTC visit: matthewtrainingcenter.org. The Matthew Team is currently raising funds to make a down payment. The\ hope to move into an MTC building by 2009/10. Suppor1 for the MTC can be made under project code C0448.
Missionaries Jim and Marilou Nightingale in Sao Paulo, Brazil are working on a similar project called the Barnabas Retreat and Leadership Center, which will offer rest and renewal, and will train Brazilians to go to other areas of the nation and to other Portuguesespeaking countries. Support for the training center can be made under project code C0469.
An Intercession Team sent by MBMSI visited Guadalajara and prayed over the build ing that the Matthew Team hopes to turn into the Matthew Training Center
MEET our MTI PARTICIPANTS
The Missionary Training Institute (MTI) is an eight month missionary training program that equips MBMSI missionaries for cross -cultural ministry Meet our newest missionary candidates and learn about their heart for the nations
Trevor and Rebekah Friesen
Rosenort, Manitoba
Trevor and Rebekah come to MTI with a strong desire to reach the least- reached. Rebekah has a heart for shepherding and discipleship, and Trevor 's passion can be summed up by Romans 15 :20, "My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else." From 2004 -2005 they served on a TREK team in the Democratic Republic of Congo They have a son named Isaiah
Motohiro and Mariya Hamana
Osaka, Japan
MBMS International is excited to welcome Motohiro and Mariya from the Japan MB Conference to MTI 2008 After a mission trip to India in 1992 they strongly felt that God was leading them to work among oppressed people Motohiro spent two years studying at the seminary of the Japan MB Conference . The couple desires bring hope and light to Thailand : "We would like to see the lives of all church members rooted in a biblical worldview and reaching out to their community through words and deeds."
Matt and Ruth Braun
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Matt and Ruth served on a summer ACTION team in Japan in 2007 Ruth holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Matt has his Bachelor of Engineering They have two children , Abagail and Caleb "God has been showing us how important our children are in ministry and we want to always think of them as assets rather than a hindrance. We really appreciate having been able to learn how we work together as a family and how our ministry will work in that context."
Dave and Mel Berg
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Dave and Mel served on a summer ACTION team in Japan in 2007 God has been cultivating a deep love for Africa in their hearts. "We are excited to be a part of the worldwide church! We know that God has given the whole body gifts to be used by him. Our desire is to help others find where they fit in the body and to surrender their will to pursuing what God has for them " The Bergs have three children, Mikayla, Brooklyn, and Joshua
OUTCOMES BASED LEARNING
MTI focuses on 22 learning outcomes emphasizing life transformation
1. Obedience
2. Love for the Word of God
3. Saving Grace
4. Evangelism
5. Inner Healing
6. Family Wholeness
7 Spiritual Authority
8. Spiritual Conflict
9 Prayer and Intercession
10. Walking in the Spirit
11. Giftedness
Heidebrecht
Hepburn , Saskatchewan
While studying at Bethany Bible College, Luke was challenged with the question, "How will you invest your life?" Following his studies, Luke spent six months working with MBMSI in India God has stirred up a desire in his heart to return to India to train the locals in beekeeping and aid in the church planting process "I never would have thought that my experience in bee-keeping would lead to so many opportunities in intercultural ministry. I hope that through this God will continue to open doors to enter into new communities to help those in need and reach the unreached."
Ben and Melissa Froese
Surrey, British Columbia
As singles, Ben and Melissa each felt God leading them toward cross -cultural ministry They were married in July 2007 and are delighted to follow God into the mission field as a couple. Ben participated in MBMSI's TREK program twice - first in Brazil and then two years later in DR Congo. In her fourth year at Trinity Western University, Melissa attended Lithuanian Christian College as a study abroad student. This experience confirmed her sense of calling to cross - cultural ministry. "Missions is the everyday with Jesus. I am drawn into the adventure of living with the knowledge of having Jesus always there and inviting me into a love relationship."
12 Love for the Family of God
13 Team Life
14 Worldviews and World Religions
15. Servant Leadership
16. Church Planting
17. Discipling and Equipping Others
18. Acculturation
19. Cross-Cultural Sensitivity
20. Anabaptism
21. Physical & Emotional Health
22. Communication
LIFE LONG LEARNING
MBMSI uses MTilnstructors from various walks of li fe to teach on subjects relevant to the mission field. Here are just a few of the i nstructors who will be joining the MTI participants this fall
BRYAN BORN , MOIV, MTH , PHD CANDIDATE
Bryan is the Director of Intercultural Studies at Columbia Bible College. His focuses are Worldviews. the Uniqueness of Jesus, and World Religions.
ESTHER CORBETT
Esther is a gifted intercessor with MBMSI. Her focuses are Prayer, Intercession, Inner Healing, and Walking in the Spirit.
PAUL DYCK
Paul serves on MBMSl's Lead TeamMember Care His focuses are Team Life, Physical and Emotional Health, and Family Wholeness.
RANDY FRIESEN , PHD
Randy is t he General Director of MBMSI. His f ocuses are Servant Leadership, Obedience, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Conflict, and Discipling and Equipping Others
RAY HARM S-W IEBE , MDI V
Ray serves on MBMSl's Lead Team - Global Program His focuses are Ecclesiology, Church Planting, Anabaptism, Love for the Family of God, and Love for the Word of God.
PHIL HARRI S, MDI V
Phil works with Disciple Making Intemational at MBMSI to strengthen the evangelistic ministry through long and short term teams. His focuses are Evangelism, Discipleship, and Saving Grace
JP HAYASHIDA, BSC ENGINEERING
JP serves on MBMSI's Lead Team - Operations and IT His focus is Communications
JOHANN MATTHIES, PHD
Johann is MBMSl's European Mission Development Team Leader His focuses are Cross-Cultural Sensitivity and Acculturation
LAUREL MCALLISTER, PHD
Laurel is Adjunct Professor of CrossCultural Ministries at ACTS Seminaries Her focuses are Strengthening Interpersonal Skills and Communication.
GORDON NICKEL, PHD
Gordon is the Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies and the Chair of the Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Ministry at ACTS Seminaries His focus is Dynamics of Cross-Cultural Ministry.
JOANNE PEPPER , PHD
Joanne is the Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Intercultural Religious Studies Program at Trinity Western University Her focus is Acculturation
JOHANNE S REIMER , PHD
Johannes Reimer is a professor of Missiology at the University of South Africa. His focuses are Ecciesiology, Church Planting, and Giftedness
AL STOBBE , BA
AI is the Missionary Coordinator at MBMSI. His focus is the assessment of learning outcomes.
SHELAINE STROM , BSS
Shelaine is an instructor at Strategy for Business Her focus is Emotional Health
SELWYN UITTENBOSCH, CA , MBA
Selwyn serves on MBMSI's Lead TeamFinance and Administration His focus is Finance and Stewardship
VIC WIENS , PHD
Vic Wiens is an MBMSI Resource Missionary serving Portuguese speaking countries. His focus is Church Planting Strategy
FINDING FULFILLMENT through SURRENDER
By Michelle Hood
Mic helle Hood is from Olathe, Kansas She recently participated in TREK and spent seven months serving i n Thailand with Team 2000
Some might think that training is just the beginning of something, but after TREK I would have to say that it is an adventure in itself Similarly, debrief is not just an ending, but the start of something new.
TREK training was a time of intense spiritual teaching Every day speakers shared with us on important spiritual issues, such as hearing God's voice and word, spiritual warfare , stewardship of gifts and resources, cross-cultural communication, conflict reconciliation, suffering, and the Holy Spirit. Training forced me to reevaluate what my walk with God was and what it could be.
For me, one defining session was " Relinquishing Your Rights " When I came into training I was distracted by a few things that were hindering my relationship with God. During week two of training , Sam Dick talked with us about relinquishing our rights. He said , " Everything has been given to you by God When you give up your rights you find that Jesus is everything and you don't need anything else " I was struck with the realization that if I gave something up I wouldn 't
be left broken and alone, but God would fill me even more with something much more worthwhile Throughout training my prayer became, "As I pour myself out , fill me with you."
During assignment in Thailand I found myself having to give up more and more of my "rights " Two of our team of four was asked to live in a poor fishing village known
Everything has been given to you by God . When you give up your rights you find that Jesus is everything and you don't need anything else.
as Ang Sila We were shocked by the living conditions There wasn ' t a North American shower or a sink I wrestled with God and asked him to take away the calling I felt to live there But God asked me to lay down my sense of normal and give my rights to him Living in Ang Sila challenged me to see God 's call in my life He
Ang Sila, the fishing village where Michelle and teammate Diana lived for seven months Support for the Ang Sila church plant can be made under proiect code C0545.
has given me a heart for people living in poverty. When I laid down my own feelings of discomfort I discovered a piece of who God is calling me to be
After my experience in Thailand I was overwhelmed by what I had seen God do Debrief gave me the opportunity to meet with God as he and I looked back at the past and into the future I saw God closing a chapter of my life and starting a new one
He gave me peace about what would happen to my friends in Thailand , whom I may never see again He also gave me hope for the wonderful future that he was placing before me. It was a time of sadness and excitement. of sorrow and praise
Training and debrief were two tools that God used to maximize the effectiveness of my mission experience. None of this could have been possible without the directors of TREK and those who poured their time and prayer into this program . But most important. God deserves all the glory for the events that took place in my life and the lives of others because of the TREK program
TREK includes two months of training; three-and-a-half or seven months on assignment working alongside long-term missionaries; and two weeks of debrief.
If you would like to be challenged by cross-cultural missions in a team setting, apply to TREK today. Check out wwwmbmsi org/trek for more details. To read more stories from past TREKers visit www mbmsi.org/trek/stories.
SUGGESTED READING
Visit www.kindredproductions.com for more recommended resources.
BylCOMB KNOWING AND LIVING YOUR FAITH A STUDY OF THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
In this commentary study guide produced by ICOMB, 16 writers from eight countries reflect on different parts of the MB confession of faith The international writers of these articles come from churches planted by MBMSI missionaries and were in many cases trained at schools founded by MBMSI missionaries
THE FORGOTTEN WAYS
By Alan Hirsch
Alan Hirsch shares principles he's observed in the Chinese house church movement that are consistent with the practices of the early church He writes that growth of the church is achieved through the exercise of a genuine spiritual gifting for leadership.
PLANTING WHATEVER CHURCHES CROSSIT TAKES CULTURALLY, 2ND ED
By Dorothy Siebert
By David J Hesselgrave
Albert and Anna Enns In this book author David served as MBMS Inter- J. Hesselgrave uses national missionaries in cultural and experiential Paraguay for 30 years Their data to examine a practical ministry brought the gospel approach to church planting to thousands , and many in the least-reached areas of the current Paraguayan of the world churches were founded by their ministry
Team Photo: (Clockwise fro m b ack left) Michelle with her TREK teammates Fauna Acker, Jillian Wiebe, and Diana Price
