from the e ditor
Since u.s. Mennonite Brethren partner as one family, the Christian Leader functions in many ways like the family dinner table. This is a place where we talk, listen and learn from each other. We might not always agree, but around the table we're family. And this is a dinner table that expands and grows as new congregations and individuals join us.
Just like the family cook every so often changes the menu, magazine editors periodically alter the content and appearance of a publication. While the CL was redesigned in 2005, it's been 18 years since the CL had a significant makeover. For some time now we've dreamed of publishing in full color and of reworking our magazine to better reflect current publishing trends and practices. This month you see the fruit of this labor.
"We've been
dreaming for
some time now
of reworking
our magazine
to better reflect
current pub-
lishing trends
and practices,
and this month you can enJoy the fruit of this labor.
"Think of the "new" CL as the same balanced diet but with a twist. Some favorite dishes are seasoned with different spices, while other patts of our menu feature new dishes. We hope the changes are pleasant-and tasty.
Our new content plan, guided by the 2009 Readership Survey and staff research, reflects the U.S. Conference mission statement that we "partner as one family serving one Lord on one mission, for the transformation of individuals, families and communities."
• New columns written by a variety of authors will focus on family issues, the impact of media in our lives and testimonies of transformation. Devotionals written by Mennonite Brethren pastors and two reader essay opportunities are also new. We know readers will miss the regular contributions of our long-standing columnists, but we hope the new column format will help readers think in new ways about these integral parts of our everyday lives.
• The feature section will target general and specific interests of readers in all stages of life, encourage discipleship and address contemporary issues of faith and life. We are moving away from a theme for each issue's feature department and think this is a good move given the shift to a bimonthly publishing schedule.
• News Briefs and Church News departments are expanded.
• The addition of a Mission USA section includes news about church planting and a message from Mission USA director Don Morris.
Even with these changes, we remain committed to providing a gathering place for the people, passions and mission of U.S. Mennonite Brethren. In some ways, our denomination is not all that different from a busy household. We are culturally diverse and geographically scattered. Family dinners are less frequent than they once were.
Which is exactly why having a gathering place is so important. The ways in which we communicate are changing, but the benefits of being linked to one another remain the same. The better we know the other members of our rich and varied family of faith and the more we talk together about our shared values and convictions, the greater our opportunity to experience the "oneness" that can be ours as part of Christ's church.
(The Sermon on the Mount)
Pastor Terry Hunt The life Center
My grandfather taught me that if I was going to do a job, I should do it right the first time and always go the extra mile. Going the extra mile meant doing more than what was required. He would say, "Going that extra mile will payoff after awhile."
In Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus explains six important Old Testament laws and interprets them for his people in the light of the new life he came to give. Jesus makes a fundamental change without altering God's standards: He deals with the attitudes and intents of the heart and not simply with the external action. The Pharisees imply that righteousness consists of performing certain actions, but Jesus says it centers in the attitudes of the heart.
What sins in our life keep us from going the extra mile? The Pharisees had a list of external actions that were sinful; however Jesus explains that sin came from the attitudes of the heart. Anger is murder in the heart (vv. 21-26); lust is adultery in the heart (vv 27-32).
However Jesus states in verse 45 that by not displaying these attitudes, "you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (TLB).
Anyone who says that he lives by the Sermon on the Mount may not realize that these guidelines are more difficult to keep than the Ten Commandments! A son is marked by obedience to hi s father and by following in the father's footsteps. For Christians, son ship means sacrificial love evidenced by loving enemies and praying for one's persecutors. 1 John 1:12 states, " But as many as received him , to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name" (NKJV).
Jesus drops the "P" word on us in verse 48: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (NKJV). When Christians read about being perfect like God is perfect, we automatically raise the white flag and surrender. So what does the "P" word really mean? The Greek wordteleios (perfect) refers to maturity and completeness rather than to a gradually achieved moral perfection. Jesus expects us to relate to one another inagape (unconditional) love as God relates to us . He calls us to relate to all people, even enemies, in this mature way. Only then will people see God's love in us. By going the extra mile we demonstrate God's love within us and to others who are in need of a Savior. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believe s in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, NKJV).
Terry Hunt is the pastor at The Life Center, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Lenoir, NC, and serves as district minister for the North Carolina District Conference
,nd whoever compels you to go one mile, :- go with him two. Matt. 5:41 (NKJV)
October I November 2010
Volume 73. Number 6
Connie Fabe r EDITOR
Myra Holmes ASSISTANT EDITOR
Shell ey Plett GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Unruh Photograph y COVER PHOTO
The Christian Leader (JSSN 0009-51491 is a gathering pLace for the peopLe. passions and mission of U.s Mennonite Brethren. The Christian Leader is pubLished bimonthLy by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. However, the opinions expressed here are not necessariLy those of the church as a whoLe.
COPYRIGHT The articles printed in the Christian Leader are owned by the CL or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission UnLess noted. Scripture quotations are from the New InternationaL Version
READER PARTICIPATION Letters to the editor shouLd be 300 words or Less and on one subject. Letters must be signed and include the writer's city and state. Letters wiLL be edited for clarity. appropriateness and Length. Letters wiLL be published. as space aLLows. unLess marked. "Not for publication ." Readers interested in contributing essays for In My HumbLe Opinion and First Person shouLd contact the editor. FreeLance article submissions are weLcome; a SASE must accompany articles.
SUBSCRIPTIONS $10 for six issues and $20 for 12 issues 1$15. $40 in Canada; aLL other countries $25 for six issues); $1.50 per copy
CORRESPONDENCE: ALL correspondence. including subscription questions and address updates. shouLd be addressed to Christian Leader Box 155, 107 N. Main. Hillsboro. KS 67063-0155 Phone: 620.947.5543
E-mail: christianleaderfausmb.org
MEMBERSHIP The Christian Leader is a member of the EvangelicaL Press Association and Meetinghouse. an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.
POSTMASTER Send address changes to Christian Leader. Box 155. HiLLsboro, KS 67063. Periodicals postage paid at HiLLsboro. Kansas.
The Christian Leader is published by
U.S. Conference of MB Churches
USMB Executive Director
ebed
@usmb.org
Partnership health check
Recently I heard, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." Far is preferred, especially in kingdom mission.
Phil Butler is the author of Well Connected and the designer of a survey to check the relative health of parrnerships. Twenty-four of us at the 2010 USMB National Leadership Summit completed the survey to get a read on our effectiveness as a network of ministries. The complete reporr is available at www.usmb.org under "Currently."
These results give a srrong signal that we have a ton of room for growth in our parrnership effectiveness. When a score of 3 means "implemented with excellence" and a 0 means "Not present," a pass is 1.5 or better. We failed in four of II areas.
We scored I.4 in "big vision and limited achievable objectives." We have a big vision. It is, however, very difficult to get agreement on realistic goals when we are scattered and regional. The current strategy for increased health in this area is to capitalize on the common purposes of leadership development and church multiplication and health.
Availability of funding got us a 1.3. This is no surprise. Our plan is to reevaluate our budget and funding realities in a sweeping review process over the next two years. We are thankful that Jon Wiebe, president and CEO of MB Foundation, has agreed to lead us through this process.
A question about "agreed accountability, outcomes and process" got a rating of 1.0. Does this mean that our Leadership Board and staff are not getting it right? Or, does this mean we are too busy with our own backyards to lean in on broader causes? We will continue to invite collaboration among our districts and with our various shared ministries and institutions.
The 0.8 rating we got regarding "online collaboration site (passworded and/or public )" is intrigu-
ing Does this mean that hardly anyone knows that we are alive and well at usmb.org? Or, that we're not doing the right stuff online? Honestly, as a staff we're not sure. But we do know we need to add some innovative initiatives to broaden and strengthen our online impact, especially with the emerging generations.
That's why we are adding a part-time staffer as social media coordinator. Click on the "Social Media Coordinator Info" button at www usmb org for further information This issue of CL introduces the newly redesigned format of our magazine and is another attempt by us to communicate more effectively and to strengthen our networking and parrnerships. Personally, I'm grateful that summit participants gave me better than a passing grade at being a "committed champion/facilitator " Given that, let me be clear that we will need the input of your best ideas and suggestions. We are also counting on broad and enthusiastic support through your contributions and prayers. In our structure, it's your choice. My earnest request is that you commit to dynamic parrnership with your USMB family
We partner as one family with one Lord on one mission, for the transformation of individuals, families and communities. This is our national mission statement. It is why we exist. Dan Cousins reports in his book, Experiencing Leadershift: Letting Go of Leadership Heresies, that 50 percent of the churches in America failed to add one person by conversion last year.
So it is critical that we keep our shoulders to the mission and do what we can to ramp up our impact. As a national leadership and ministry team, we are committed to serve our conference of churches. Whatever you can do to help us get that right will be much appreciated.
I'd love to hear from you at ebed@usmb.org or 661 -412-4939 .
These results give a strong signal that we have a ton of room for growth in our partnership effectiveness.
Barbara Rosedale Reedley, Calif.
Discovering Dulzura delights
Icould think of many ways to spend my summer, but none of them involved the Mennonite Disaster Service in Dulzura, Calif.
Dulzura is a tiny community nestled just a few miles from the border of Mexico. MDS volunteers have been helping residents rebuild their homes after the "Harris fire" devastated the area in 2007.
The assignment was to help finish construction on the last home. Gordon Wiens and his wife, LeAnna, were the group leaders that week. While Mom helped LeAnna cook, my Dad helped at the construction site. Gordon did work as an electrician, Roger Brandt and Lee Willems installed the laminate flooring throughout the house.
This was what my parents enjoyed doing every chance they could get? I wondered what was so great about Dulzura? My curiosity was piqued, so when Dad suggested I come down for a short stint, I recruited my boyfriend Michael and off we went. The Dulzura campsite was not exactly easy to find thanks to windy roads and tree leaves obscuring the only MDS sign around.
While I volunteered in the kitchen, Mike helped Vernon Willems build a staircase on the front porch That first morning at breakfast I realized there was something different about this crew. The work weary folks I expected were nowhere to be found. Instead there were jokes and wisecracks aplenty. Then we
had morning devotions from Vernon, who did his best to put the fear of God in all of us.
Gordon Wiens always had a good joke. It reminded me of the verse that says a cheerful heart doeth good like a medicine. Amidst the work and construction, we celebrated two wedding anniversaries that week: Ralph and Pauline Rosedale celebrated their 51st anniversary July 18 while Gordon and LeAnna celebrated their 44th.
Despite having to get up at 5:30 to help make breakfast, I realized why my parents enjoyed it here. The Dulzura charm was in the volunteers. They were friendly and really cared about the people they came to help. And you were never short of an extra hand to do the dishes. !twas a
breath of fresh air just to work around people who had fun being God's hand extended.
God's presence was evident. We were in an area where the Border Patrol is very vigilant and yet the MDS campground was never disturbed. We heard dogs barking at night and at times, helicopters buzzing overhead. But the campsite remained safe.
'i\.lways give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (I Cor. 15:58). God promises to go with those who do his work, and he was with us too!
Barbara Rosedale is a former Fresno, Calif, KMJ reporter and anchor. She attends Reedley (Calif) MB Church.
Seminary continues devotions for Advent
MB Biblical Seminary, now part of Fresno Pacific University, will again provide Advent devotionals for 2010. The Fresno, Calif., seminary is the school for graduate-level theological education for U.s. Mennonite Brethren.
This will be the third year the seminary has provided Advent devotionals. "The two prior Advent devotional series have been received very favorably," says Lynn Jost, seminary dean and FPU vice president. "We want to build on that positive tradition."
Devotionals will again be distributed in electronic and printed formats. More than 500 people took advantage last year of the e-mail subscription, which delivers the daily devotional to subscribers each morning . Many more accessed the entire devotional guide on the seminary Web site, www.mbseminary.edu, or through links like the one on the U.s. MB Web site, www.usmb.org.
"Jesus is our focal point, the center of our faith ," affirms Mark Isaac, director of seminary advancement and the one responsible for producing the devotional.
"Preparing a devotional for this time of year gives us a unique opportunity as the seminary community to call us all to his attention. We celebrate that Jesus came once, and we anticipate with joy the advent of his return. "
With the transition of the seminary into FPU in June and the subsequent separation of U.s. and Canadian seminary education for Mennonite Brethren, the devotional will promote a continuing strong collegial spirit across the border, according to Jost.
Look for the 2010 Advent devotions to arrive online and in print i n time for the first day of Advent, Nov. 28. - MBBS
MCC urges donations for Pakistan
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a peace, relief and service agency of North American Anabaptists, urges people to respond to needs in Pakistan, where summer flooding displaced an estimated 5 million people and killed at least 1,600 this summer. MCC has shipped 2,000 relief kits and welcomes donations and is forwarding funds to trusted and experienced agencies working in Pakistan "It is a race against time," says Willie Reimer, coordinator of MCC's Food , Disaster and Material Resources program. "The floods are causing huge destruction and life-threatening consequences "
As part of its relief efforts, MCC partner agency Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan has rushed emergency food and medical assistance to flood-affected communities, deploying more than 1,610 ton s of food aid to more than 68,000 people in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Mobile health teams have provided care to more than 1,530 people in flood-affected areas with more than 1,900 people assisted in permanent health facilities in the severely affected Swat Valley.
For information on donating through MCC, see www mcc.org - Gladys Terichow for MCC
MBs killed in Congo
Fifty-one members of the Mennonite Brethren church in Democratic Republic of Congo were killed and 50 were injured when a fuel truck overturned, caught fire and exploded July 2 in the town of Sange. A total of 250 people were killed and over 300 hospitalized in the accident.
Mennonite World Conference, Mennonite Central Committee and the Congolese MB church responded with aid. -MWC
at work in the mennonite brethren
M OS distributes cards in Lousiana
As the British Petroleum oil spill captured national headlines last summer, Mennonite Disaster Service [MDS] organized encouragement to Gulf Coast residents via personal cards. MDS, a Mennonite disaster relief agency, invited people to send cards, then forwarded approximately 200 cards to Diamond, La., to be distributed to residents.
Some cards were distributed to the approximately 40 people who gathered for a two-hour morning worship service at Port Sulphur Baptist Church. People came forward, took a card, and went home to pray for those who sent them.
Mike Wilson, MDS Project Director in Diamond, reports that the cards were well received, bringing tears to the eyes of many residents. "It was a moving experience," says Wilson "It was a good experience to hear from other folks who were concerned about their well-being.'· He gave one woman from the congregation the cards written by children. Before she could open them, she began to cry, seeing the children·s handwriting.
For information on sending a card to Gulf Coast residents, see www mds mennonite.net/-MDS
byTheNumbers
$5,251 - Average spent on engagement and wedding rings OR 105 nights of hiring a babysitter for $50 to go on a date with spouse.
$11,000 - Average reception bill OR cost of cleaning service for the five sticky years many twokid couples spend in baby stage
$1,276 - Average flower bill OR 127 $10 thinking-of-you bouquets once a month for 10 years
Source: Laura Vanderkam "What Else Could That Ring BuyT USA Today 12/10/10)
billion spent annually on weddil9ftlated purchases. What happens if you spend the same amount maintaining marital bliss as your family grows?
5 minutes with ...
Lucas Pauliukonis
Lucas Pauliukonis is a 6th grader with a national title. He was the top popcorn seller in th e nation for the Boy Scouts of America in 2009. Lucas, wh o attends Shafter (Calif.) MB Church with his parents, Kes and Cindy Pauliukonis, has garnered considerable media attention fo r his accomplishment.
Why do you sell Boy Scout popcorn?
Irs all about the prizes. But irs fun and it shows how you can become a good bus i nessman.
How much do you sell?
In 2009 I sold $39,501. Thi s year I broke my old record and sold $42,518, but another boy sold $66,000. That boy has connections!
Why do you think you are so successful?
You have to have five things: a nice good smile, a positive attitude, good manners, respect and a good speech ready
What did your friends think when you got on TV?
They said they wanted to be on TV, too, so the next time I had the news reporter come to school so my friends could be in the picture with me
Do you want to be a salesman when you grow up?
I would like to sell helicopters and fly them. The one job I don·t want is to be a businessman in popcorn.
Interview br Kathy Heinrichs Wiest
Ja nzen writes on Hutterites
Rod Janzen, professor of history and social science education at Fresno Pacific University, the MB-owned school in Fresno, Calif., has co-authored a book
on Hutterite communities. Janzen and co-author Max Stanton draw upon existing research, primary sources and personal experience to examine the history and unique culture. The Hutterites in North America is published
Tabor improves rankin§
Tabor College, the Mennonite Brethren liberal arts college Headquarby Johns Hopkins University Press and is available at www press.jhu.edu or www.amazon.com.
MCC & MEDA help
tered in Hillsboro, Kan., has again earned a national, Tier 1 ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges by U.S. News Media Group, being ranked 40th in the division of regional colleges in the Midwest. This was an improvement over the 43rd ranking from the 2010 report and the seventh consecutive year the college has been recognized. To view the complete report, go to http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-
Haiti's HOMELESS
Haitians left homeless by January's earthquake are getting construction help from a collaborative venture of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDAl. The earthquake claimed more than 200,000 lives and destroyed an estimated 105,000 homes, with at least 200,000 more damaged. MCC contributed $1.43 million to rebuild and repair about 775 homes of microfinance clients, most of whom are women MEDA will administer and monitor the 18-month project, expected to be completed Nov. 30, 2011. Recipients of the assistance are clients of Fonkoze, the country's leading microfinance provider, with 46,000 micro loan clients. Fonkoze has been a long-term partner of MCC and MEDA. MCC is a peace, relief and service agency of North American Anabaptists; MEDA is an association of Christians in business. -MEDA colleges. -Tc
TOMS Shoes at FPU
Blake Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of TOMS Shoes, Inc , will be the guest speaker for the 2010 Business Forum Oct. 27 at Fresno Pacific University (FPUI. Fresno, Calif. FPU is the MB-owned university on the West Coast. TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased and was on track to give their one millionth pair in September. For more information on the Business Forum, see www.fresno.edu. -FPU
It warn't supposed to happen to us. sn't that what every parent thinks? Our lives changed forever May 17, 2005, when our college-aged daughter Melanie tearfully told us she was pregnant. Through many tears, hugs and hours of talking and praying, we began our journey, moving through a variety of emotions: numbness, shock, overwhelming anguish, hurt, anger, guilt, a sense of grief and failure.
Being a pastoral family, fear and anxiety also threatened as we surmised what impact it would have on our ministry and on our lives. One of the hardest things for me was the feeling of helplessness to "fix" this. I couldn't kiss this and make it better. We had to go through this difficult situation. But in spite of the array of emotions, our overwhelming desire was to shower Melanie, our only daughter who was scared, hurring and wounded, with compassion.
Picturing God's love
Tim and I both were immediately teminded of God's great love and forgiveness to us. We thought about our daughter, and knew Christ had already forgi ve n her, and we knew we would do th e same. I was so proud of Tim in hi s respon se to her. He wasn't angry-s he had been so afraid to tell him - but talked to her like a little lost sheep, so gently and lovingly.
Tim talked about the prodigal son. When th e son came home, the father didn't yell at him or ask about all his sins but loved him and graciously forgave him. Thi s is a pictu re of God 's love for us. How could we do less? We told Melanie we loved her no matter what. forgave her and invited her to come back home and stay as long as she needed to. We would always love her, care for her and protect her.
Some people handle this situation differently. Some parents send their daughter to a home for unwed mothers or kick their child out of the house or force the girl to have an abortion We know people from all of these situations. But our first and only thought was to help Melanie through this crisis, to support her with love and forgiveness and to help her as much as she would let us in the decisions to be made in the future.
Melanie had made some bad decisions and poor choices and had pushed God and us away for a time . As she told us bits and pieces of the past year, our fear and anxiousness for her grew. She had considered abortion, but by God's grace she couldn't
do that. It quickly became clear that we needed to get her out of her current environment, especially out of the abu sive relationship with the father. It took almost two months, but with God's help she was finally able to make the break, and we moved her to our home. We are thankful for God's grace that kept her safe over tho se months.
Surrou nded by love
During these first months, we experienced God's amazing grace through his people. It was difficult at first to "tell" people -to expose our pain . But we knew we needed people praying for us, and we needed support - alI three of us. When we did open up, we were surrounded with expressions of love and acceptance, words of encouragement and many prayers and hugs of support that we desperately needed. These were invaluable to helping us face the days ahead.
It was amazing to see how people at our current church opened their arms to Melanie, accepting, loving and helping her in many ways.
We went with Melanie to our former church where she was still a member. We first met with a group of elders and people that had influenced her growing up, and then Melanie stood before the church, confessed her sin and asked for forgiveness and prayers. It was a very healing time for us and for the church as we experienced many expressions of love and support and many prayers. Another
h\ DONNA SULLIVAN
expression of came when the Melanie a baby over 75 women the highest attenat a shower at that a blessing to the church as it
parents we taught
of blessings of sexual purity and even gave
Our precious grandson, her a purity ring. But even when
Shay, was born a few months Lessons learned our children have a personal later. During the past four years, What have we learned? relationship with Christ, they, God has continued to extend his We learned that the younger like all of us, can stray from grace in Melanie and Shay's culture, particularly college- what they know is right and find lives in amazing ways. From aged, views sexual relationships themselves ensnared in sin. health crises to providing a new very differently than their par- Our hearts are so thankful home for them, God has blessed ents' generation. Even being and full of joy as we have a them with this love, faithfulness pregnant and having a baby is restOred relationship with our and grace. not a big deal, as it was for our daughter. We see Melanie, lov-
Even though it was and older generations. ing and walking with God, servextremely difficult and painful at We learned that even in the ing in his church, and raising first, we have seen and experi- midst of what appears to be her son in a godly home. God enced God's amazing love, impossible circumstances, God has been amazing in her life, grace and provision through this still redeems and brings beauty rebuilding and providing for experience. We learned more out of ashes. her. Even though she is still about God as we experienced We learned that love and working through some of the the truth that his grace is truly forgiveness can heal even the issues and damage from that sufficient in all things. His love, deepest hurts. relationship, God has redeemed compassion, enablement and We learned that family her and brought her back into especially his grace were what is vitally important and that the fold. sustained us. includes our church family
God continues to use this as well.
Donna SuUivan serves experience in our ministry, to We learned that children beside her husband, TIm, who is share with and help others in make their own choices. Their the Southern District Conference similar circumstances or with mistakes are not our fault even minister.
YOU know it's not going to end well when your boss starts a conversation with, 'This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
My wife and I had two young kids, a mortgage we couldn't afford and an idyllic life in the house of our dreams. I had recently left a well-paying job that took me away from home at a rate that had become destructive to our family life and accepted an administrative position at a well-known college.
And then it ended. The program I managed was cut back and my job eliminated. I was angry, terrified and embarrassed, thinking others would assume I was fired for incompetence. This was the worst moment of my life. And though I didn't know it at the time, it was also one of the best moments because I was about to learn some profound lessons.
Let it go
Angry and frustrated, I called a wellconnected mentor and friend at another university and unloaded. I hoped she would offer me a job. Instead, she told me to get over it and hung up. Moving on is easier said than done.
Nights were the worst . I'd sleep for several hours and then toss and tum until morning. Sometimes I'd sit in the dark living room thinking about how unfair everything was I'd pray and cry When Saint John of the Cross wrote of "the dark night of the soul," he wasn't exaggerating.
I was at the end of my rope . Desperate, I prayed at 2:30 one morning: "Lord, I can 't do this anymore. I can 't get past my anger at the college for what has happened I can 't wish away my fear. This burden is too heavy for me to carry. I can't seem to let it go ; you will have to take it away."
I relaxed and a sen se of peace like I'd never experienced before literally swept over me The next thing 1 knew, it was 8:00 a.m. 1 had not slept that late in years. From that point on, 1 could sleep again . Though it didn 't change my circumstances, 1 learned I had to let go of everything - anger, fear, frustration - before 1 could experience God's healing touch. The former was a conscious, rational choice; the latrer was the powerful work of God.
Seize the moment
"You're the luckiest man around ,"
said a pastor who listened to my story over dinner shortly after 1 lost my job. "How many people in their 40S get to start over and decide once again what they want to be and do?"
Ftankly, I wasn't feeling particularly lucky but was intrigued by his next question: "If you could choose absolutely anything, what would you really like to do next?" Without thinking, I blurted out that I wanted to teach, mentor graduate students and do research at a major university.
1 quickly reminded him, however , that we were in a deep recession and universities were laying off professors and promoting early retirements - not hiring new faculty. On top of that, 1 had committed "professional suicide " a decade earlier when 1 left a faculty position at a research university to work for a mis sion organization . I asked the pastor, "What university would hire me now? "
'That wasn't my question," he snapped, "I want to hear your dream." He was neither very patient nor interested in hearing about the barriers to my dream. As we left the restaurant, this pastor promised to pray that I'd find a university teaching position where 1 could teach,
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wo rk with graduate studen ts and do research - but only if I prayed too. Th at was when I stopped worryin g about simply find ing a job and began thinkin g ab out how Go d might open new doors.
Explore broadly
I read Rich ard N elson Boll es ' book, What Color Is Yo ur Parachute? It forced me to reflect on my profess ional expe rience, evaluate my gifts and articulate personal goals. I took a tes t des igned to asce rtain a person's gifts and interests. Wh at did it suggest to som eon e who enjoye d travel, reli shed intercultural experi ences and spoke other languages? Beco me a flight atrendant! After I stopp ed laughing, I re alized thi s exercise did identify som e themes that reflected my gifts and interests This new self- understanding fram ed my ongoing search for a position in new and deeper ways
Walk with those who build you up
When I shared the pain of losing my job with the interim pastor of my church, he explained that he had been removed from his position as a denominational executive several years earlier. He both understood how I felt and reminded me that the God who had brought me to this point had not abandoned me now. My Heavenly Fath er, he sugge sted , would lead me into som ething new and exciting if I opened myself up to him As we p arted , I felt ready to look for another job . My pastor stayed in touch , prayed for me and lifted my spirits
Around th e same time , I had lunch with an old fri end who had lost hi s job seve ral years earlier. He was still ang ry, bitrer at his fotm er employer, vindictive and un employe d. As I listened to him , I could feel th e life being sucked right out of me. I lea rn ed later that potential employers con sidered my fri end toxic; they didn 't want to contaminate their own workplaces with hi s anger and cynicism
Th ese dear friends taught me a very important lesson in two very different
ways: Surround yourse lf with people who build you up and avo id th ose who wo uld take you down wi th th e m. I lea rn ed to hang out with peo ple who wo uld enco urage me and run from tho se who invited me to wa ll ow with th em in th eir own mi sery.
Expect surprises
A fac ulty member met me in th e stairwell one morning as I was fini shin g up my job. Our phil osophical differen ces about the nature of high er education ran dee p We had often argued, leading me to conclude he had littl e use for my work or me. H e was so mething of a cutmudgeo n, so I definitely didn't want to talk with him th at morning Unfortunately, th e stairwell was narrow so I couldn 't ignore him . H e stopped me, grabbed my atm , reached into his billfold, pulled out a tattered scrap of paper with a faded list of names and said, ''That 's my prayer list." Then he asked, "Do you see whose name is on top?" It was mine. "I pray for you every day," he said. Without another word, he stuffed the paper into his wallet and continued down the stairs.
I'm glad he kept walking because I didn't want him to see the tears rolling down my face. I thought I knew this man , but I didn't know his heart. God uses the most unlikely people to walk alongside us during our hour of need.
Don't settle
I was desperate for a job when two fri ends eac h offered me a job I lacked th e requi site skill s and passion for one of th e po siti ons and th e other wa sn't a good fit , yet it was very hard to say "no ." In th e midst of thi s, I rememb ered th e words of th at pas tor: "Foll ow your hea rt Don't settl e. Don't jump at th e first thing that comes your way! " I knew I wanted to teach at a research university, but it was hard to walk away from job offers
Before the year was over, I was teaching at an Ivy League schoo\, doing research and mentoring graduate students I earned tenure and ultimately a senior
leaders hip pos ition. I clea rl y saw God's hand in this.
Several month s later one of my new colleagu es as ked if I unders tood why I got the job. They had received nearl y a hundred other applicati ons, so I was interested in hearing why my nam e had ri se n to the top. My colleague explained that what tipped the balance for the search committee wa s what they had learned about me through my friend - the one who had told me to "get over it" and hung up on me
Serve in your own area of need
Several yea rs later, whil e visitin g our fotm er church, a man I didn 't know introduced him self to me. " I want to th ank you for your letter," he said . " It was an enormou s encouragement to me." 1 stared at him blankly; 1 had no idea who he was or what he was talking about
He explained After he lost his job the previous year, his brother sent him a copy of a letter 1 had written to this friend when he had lost his job two years earlier. My friend was so encouraged by what 1 said in the letter that he saved it and sent copies to other people, including his brother
Over the next few years the two brothers sent copies of that letter to a number of other people who had al so lost jobs. So me of them , in tum , copied and circulated it furth er. God had used my own pain to encoura ge others walking the path 1 had travel ed .
As a universi ty administrator, I've been forced to layoff people, so 1 understand th e pa in th ey experi ence. Th ough 1 don't kno w exactly how th ey feel , 1 kn ow ho w it feels. And alth ough every situ ation is uniqu e, 1 know th at God wa nts to carry our pa in and will bl ess us with new joy. 001
D. Merrill Ewert is president of Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren institution in Fresno, Calif Prior to this appointment, Ewert was a professor and the director of Cooperative Extension at Cornell Univ.
The
trafficking of children happens on every continent and in every country around the world.
Latin America:
dant joy as she has learned about and missionaries Bill and Sara are filling Gabriela's Story experienced God's love. Gabriela no in as interim directors of the organiza-
When Gabriela was an infant, longer feels ashamed or guilty about tion that works with this home. her mother abandoned her five chil- her past, and she has extended that Bill and Sara continually witness dren because of the abuse that she grace to the people who hurt and the reality of child trafficking and suffered at the hands of her alcoholic exploited her. Even though Gabriela their hearts break for the girls husband. At the age of eight, is sick, she has entrusted her son to involved. But they are also in awe as Gabriela ran away from home afrer God and believes that he will take they see the lives of trafficked girls her father tried to stone her. care of him. Gabriela lives a life of changed for the glory of God. When
With nowhere to go, she lived continual praise to God for what he the girls share their stories of freedom, on the streets and was soon caught up has done! none of them can do it with a dry eye. in a lifestyle of sniffing glue, doing These girls are overwhelmed by the cocaine, drinking alcohol, and selling Southeast Asia: love of God and thankful that they drugs. Gabriela's drug addiction Sumalee's Story have been set free. made her an easy target for sexual Girls are frequently sold by exploitation, particularly by drug their families in this Southeast Asian Africa: dealers and providers. country because of widespread Violet's Story
Gabriela, like many of those poverty due to government corrup- Violet was tossed out onto the who have been trafficked into the sex tion. Families can't even afford to streets when her father accused her trade, became infected with put rice on their tables. When young of being a witch. False accusations HIV/AIDS. She discovered that she girls are 13, they are of age to be sold of witchcrafr have become a major had AIDS after she started to feel sick to a brothel. problem in the Democratic Republic and visited a doctor. Gabriela felt that Sumalee's mother sold her to a of Congo. Parents and relatives her life had no worth. man in their city when she was a little often blame family crises on chil-
Then she found out she was girl. But when he tried to cross the dren, especially girls, and accuse pregnant and decided to go to the border with Sumalee, he was caught them of sorcery. Home of Life, a home for mothers and sent to prison. Sumalee spent Calling her a witch, Violet's with HIV and their children. A trans- three weeks in prison because they father beat her until there was a gash formation began in Gabriela's life weren't sure about what to do with on her head and she was bleeding when she met Janice, a MBMSI mis- this young girl. But through divine badly. Then he kicked her out of the sionary. Janice came regularly to the connections, someone found out house and Violet became one of the Home of Life to read, do crafts and about a safe house that offers hope to 20,000 children who live on the pray with the women and children. girls who have been trafficked or are streets of Kinshasa. These children
Although at first Gabriela didn't at risk for sexual exploitation. Leaders have no shelter and are frequently trust anybody, over time she began to from this home rescued Sumalee exploited and abused. Many girls let her guard down. Janice had the before she was taken to a brothel. are forced into the sex trade in order opportunity to share the love of In the safe house, she learned to survive. Christ with Gabriela and to pray for about Jesus and was captivated by his Violet had nowhere to go that her and her unborn child. incredible love. Sumalee was recently first night so she slept alone on the God blessed Gabriela with a baptized along with three other girls streets. As a young, unaccompanied healthy baby boy. Her life of pain has who have been rescued from sexual girl, Violet was in an extremely vulbeen transformed into a life of abun- exploitation and trafficking. MBMSI nerable position. She met a prostitute
who offered to help her out and Violet was soon lured into the illicit world of child trafficking.
Violet and the other gi rl s were forced to go with older men eve n though th ey didn 't want to . And wh en Violet refused to go, she was abused and burned with hot plastic bags. Violet longed for freedom and prayed to God for help throughout this time.
Violet's prayers were answered when she met a pastor who is a caregiver at Mercy Home. Mercy Home is funded through MBMSI and provides education, healthcare, clothing and a home for former street children.
At Mercy Home, Violet became part of a family as she lived with other children like herself. She began attending church and decided to follow Jesus and serve him. Now Violet dreams of graduating from high school and attending college. She hopes to get a job and to help other children just as she has been helped.
How do we respond?
Oppression and injustice are rampant in this world, including North America. Each year 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States, and 200,000 American children are at risk for being trafficked into the sex industry. As we learn about and engage in hard issues, we are sometimes overwhelmed and feel paralyzed. Can we really make a difference? Our efforts seem miniscule in comparison to the larger problem
But change can and is happening. Our Heavenly Father is rescuing children from bondage, addiction and exploitation and is filling them with joy, life and hope. We serve a powerful God who can do the impossible. And as followers of Christ, we are invited to join him in bringing justice to an unjust world.
God calls his people to seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of orphans, bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for the captives (Isa. 1:17, 63:1). Ask God how he wants to use your gifts, passion, and resources to help those who are suffering in situations of injustice. Educate yourself and others, give generously to organizations that are fighting trafficking and cry out to God on behalf of those who have been enslaved and exploited. God's gift of freedom and hope are life changing. rH
Katie Born is the MBMS International mission reporter. She lives in Abbotsford, Be, and is pursuing a degree in social work with the goal of working with victims of human trafficking.
• Post your comments at usmb.org/christian-Ieader
• Study questions are available at usmb.org/christian-Ieader
D Everence Growing together
Flood Warning
National Youth Convention to feature "head, heart, hands" flow
Get ready for the flood. An anticipated 1.000 Mennonite Brethren youth in grades 9-12 from across the nation will inundate San Antonio. Texas. April 1619 for San Antonio 20II (SA2on). the next National Youth Convention (NYC).
NYC. held every four years. is hands down the largest gathering of Mennonite Brethren in the U.S. "If God can begin to work among that number of students. the potential influence for the future is enormous." says NYC co-director Wendell Loewen.
Youth will explore justice and righteousness through the theme "Flood." taken from Amos 5:24: "But let justice roll on like a river. righteousness like a never-failing stream."
Like Anaheim'07. which pioneered a service-oriented model in an urban setting. SA20II will incorporate three main componentssessions. seminars and service oppottunities. The three-man team that pioneered the Anaheim model has returned to plan SA2on: Wendell Loewen. professor and campus pastor at Tabor College. Hillsboro. Kan.; Rick Bartlett. senior pastor of Bethany MB Church. Fresno. Calif.; and Tim Neufeld. professor at Fresno Pacific University. Fresno. Calif.
CL assistant editor Myra Holmes recently asked the co-directors via e-mail about their hopes for this event and for its impact on MB youth Here are edited excerpts from that conversation. A longer version of this interview is posted at www.usmb.orglchristian-Ieader.
CL: Why "Flood"?
RB:A number of possible theme verses were considered. When Amos 5:24 was read. there was a clear sense around the room that this was a holy moment and this was the direction we should go.
CL: You've said that SA20n will follow a "head. heart. hands" flow. What do you mean by that?
San
WL: The intent is to encourage our students toward seeing their world as a mission field and all of life as a ministry oppottunity. To do this. a kind of educational "flow" needs to happen. We want students to first understand the biblical mandate for compassion. love and justice (head knowledge ). Second. we want our students to hear stories of how God is at work in the world through missions and service and be inspired (heart knowledge). Finally. we want to give our students hands-on. practical oppottunities to put love and compassion into practice (hand knowledge).
CL: The speakers are Shane Claiborne. Christian author and activist. and Paula Simpson-Parry. who brings experience with Youth for Christ in the u.K. What do these speakers have to offer a gathering of MB youth?
RB: The Program Team subgroup took the theme and the associated call of justice and righteousness and brainstormed a list of people who could speak to our theme from a national or international perspective and who lived their convictions. Shane Claiborne's name came to the top of the list. He will bring a message targeted
"We want biblical compas s ion, justice, love and righteousne s s to "flood" from Christ, through our students to their world.
right at our theme, a message that challenges us all to deeper commitment to Jesus and to a lost and hurting world. Paula also has a heart and passion for justice, and her expertise will fit well with where the planning team envisions the theme taking us. Stories in Braille, the featured musical group, have led worship in a variety of large venues and were chosen, again, because of theological considerations.
CL: What do you have planned for the seminars?
WL: The Sunday afternoon workshops will provide the heart knowledge Students will hear stories of people who are actually engaged in service, mission, compassion and justice around the world. MBMS International is working with us on this piece.
TN: A unique twist on the otherwise traditional seminar format is that we are going to give a "call" for seminars and ask not only youth leaders but youth themselves to offer proposals for seminars.
CL: One of the most memorable pieces of Anaheim'07 was the opportunity to serve. What are the service plans for SAzon?
WL: Well be partnering with DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) in San Antonio. Theyl1 be able to provide us with some insight into the city and offer some really neat ministry opportunities. We have blocked out Monday for ministry and are discussing a number of questions, including different levels of ministry assignments: entry level, encounter level and engagement level.
"TN: The service component cannot be underestimated. Main sessions and seminars could happen easily enough at a mountain retreat center. The service and ministry opportunities-and the learning that takes place through them-can only happen in an urban center.
CL: What do you hope teens who attend SAzon will take away ftom this experience?
RB: I hope teens leave with a greater appreciation of the uniqueness and significance of our evangelical and Anabaptist theology and how we have a part to contribute to the church today.
TN: As Mennonite Brethen we are committed to radical discipleship and proclamation of the good news. We want each student to be challenged by these two important values.
RB: I hope our youth gain a renewed passion for Jesus Christ, a larger perspective of the church in the world and a deeper desire to care for and share with those on the margins of society. I am praying that we will see young people dedicate themselves to a life of service to Jesus expressed in a wide variety of ways:
missions, church ministry, parachurch ministries.
TN: We want teens to experience the transforming work of the Spirit through the risen Savior and then have this weekend experience transfer into a lifestyle of discipleship in pursuit of God.
SA2011 speaker raises eyebrows
NWL: We want biblical compassion, justice, love and righteousness to «flood" from Christ, through our students to their world.
Online registration and further details, including pre-event study guides and post-event materials, are available on the SA20II Web site, www.SanAntonio2oII.org.
oone would call Shane Claiborne "boring. " Claiborne looks and sounds like an Old Testament prophet, sporting dreadlocks, boldly questioning wealth and calling for Justice for the poor. He makes lots of people, including Christians, uncomfortable. So it's not surprising that Claiborne's selection as one of two keynote speakers scheduled for San Antonio 2011 has raised questions among some US Mennonite Brethren.
National Youth Convention co-directors Rick Bartlett, Wendell Loewen and Tim Neufeld have worked with national and district US MB leaders throughout the vetting process. The CL talked with several of these leaders about the concerns and the role speakers and sponsors play in calling teens to a life of discipleship. Here, in part, is what they have to say
Steve Schroeder, U.S. Conference Leadership Board chair : When people come to me with these kinds of concerns I first ask: "Have you verified the information?" Too often, the answer is "no" I have read one of Shane Claiborne's books, which I found very inspiring and which sounded very Anabaptist to me. I have also combed through his Web site looking for anything that would contradict our MB Confession of Faith and I ' ve found nothing.
Rod Suess, Pacific District Conference Board of Faith and Life : We have excellent iSA2011] leaders that take seriously the concerns being raised . They are seasoned in youth ministry and have designed this event to challenge young people caught in a very materialistic culture to risk their lives with Jesus It is critical that we support them in the effort, surround them and all those who will attend in prayer and direct any concerns directly to them so that they can make SA2011 the best experience it can be
Ed Boschman, U.S. Conference executive director: When a youth camp speaker challenged me as a 15-year - old to lay down my life to follow Jesus-over the top as far as I was concerned-I said I would. And while I'm still struggling to get it right, I've never regretted it The NYC Planning Team has put together an incredible plan for a similar discipleship opportunity. I'd love to be a youth pastor or sponsor at SA2011, and after hearing from this modern-day prophet, get into a circle with open Bibles and do what the Bereans did. The Spirit of Jesus Christ would be there.
Larry Nikkel, chair of the national Board of Faith and Life : I have read Shanes writings and find him among the most serious followers of Jesus I know. If his messages offer the opportunity to engage in serious examination of biblical truth, he would be presenting our youth and our youth leaders a great opportunity for spiritual discernment and growth.
Study guides and post-event materials to help youth prepare for and process SA207 7 are available at www.SanAntoni02011.org. More information about Shane Claiborne is also linked on the SA207 7 site
Conspiracy theory thrives
M Bs rethinking Christmas consumerism
Last winter, Mennonite Brethren in California, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado quietly joined a conspiracy. Now, MB Foundation is encouraging even more Mennonite Brethren to join the movement.
Until now, word has spread quietly, through word of mouth, the Internet, even YouTube. This year, MBF, the MB stewardship agency, is promoting it blatantly, sending resource kits to every U.S. MB church and creating both a Web site and Facebook page to share ideas.
Word is out.
So, what's the conspiracy? Advent Conspiracy. It's not a program so much as a movement, a shift in thinking about Christmas. It's a reaction against a culture of materialism that seems to pervade the holiday, turning what should be a time of worship into a time of stress and rampant consumerism.
MBF president and CEO Jon Wiebe says that at Christmas, the battle between God and money reaches a fevered pitch. ''The way many of us celebrate Christmas has become the antithesis of the gospel story," Wiebe says "Striking a blow at consumerism and refocusing our Christmas celebration on worship gets at the heart of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:24: ' No one can serve two masters.'"
Advent Conspiracy (AC) proposes that participants do four things during the Christmas season: Worship fully, spend less, give more, love all. While AC offers suggestions for how to do this, it's up to the individual or church to decide how to apply the principles.
Accordingly, U S MB congregations participated in AC in various ways last year: setmon series based on the four principles, presentation of the concepts and giving projects, for example. Brian Harris , pastor of Pine Acres Church, Weatherford, Okla , says, "I think the idea is pretty simple, so we just put up posters and gave people freedom to think through fresh ways to celebrate Christmas ."
AC is not anti-Christmas, Wiebe insists Rather, it properly refocuses the holiday on Christ. Take gift giving, for example. At Trailhead Church, Centennial, Colo., AC has for three years helped people consider the meaningfulness of their gift-giving, with many choosing to give a dollar to the poor for every dollar they spend on themselves. ''This has transformed the way that many of our families do Christmas," say pastors Jeff Nikkel and Anne Griffin.
As thinking about Christmas shifts, results are often profound. A
recent church newsletter from North Fresno (Calif. ) MB Church tells about a community in Zambia transformed by a clean water project; the North Fresno congregation gave $7,000 toward this project as part of their participation in Advent Conspiracy in 2009.
At North Oak Community Church, Hays, Kan., the response was evident in $I3,250 given toward a water project in the Dominican Republic. Six people from North Oak then went to DR to help distribute the water filters the congregation had purchased. As a bonus, regular giving has increased. "God certainly used AC as a catalyst for spiritual growth and generosity," says pastor Ken Ediger.-Myra Holmes
For more on Advent Conspiracy, start with MBF's resource page at www.mbfoundation.comladventconspiracy
Oklahoma churches build for youth
Corn, Fairview facilities are tools for outreach
Youth at two Mennonite Brethren congregations in Oklahoma have new spaces to call their own as this school year starts. And pastors at both congregations see the new facilities as a tool for outreach
At Fairview (Okla.) MB Church, youth now have a building that youth pastor Travis Schmidt likens to a "mini church," with a fellowship area and a small sanctuarytype meeting area. The space fits what they try to do when youth meet, Schmidt says: relationship-building and corporate gatherings.
Schmidt says it's important to provide a space youth can call their own at church. "If you want kids to come and come back, they have to feel that they belong," he says Youth began using the facility at the beginning of the new school year, with a dedication planned after finishing touches are put on the building.
The Fairview youth will get priority use of the building, says Schmidt, but the facility would also be ideal for small weddings and other gatherings. He hopes that theyll see an upswing in youth group attendance as some youth come out of
curiosity. 1t1l be an opportunity, he says, to build ongoing relationships with those newcomers.
At Com (Okla.) MB Church, the original plan was to build a separate youth building, much as Fairview has done. In fact, land had already been earmarked for that purpose. Then two seemingly unconnected events occurred that changed their building plans. The public schools were closed due to declining enrollment and a building became available on Com's main street. So the church purchased the Com Hardware building and remodeled it to fit their purposes. The space has been dubbed "The Comer Hardware" in recognition of its history but also as a clue to its purpose, with a tagline that reads, "Building materials for life."
Youth pastor Russ Claassen hopes Comer Hardware will become much more than a building for youth. With the public schools closed, the town now has an urgent need for a community gathering space-a need Claassen hopes Comer Hardware can fill. He dreams of opening the building after school for students to play games and build friendships-especially important since students are
now scattered among eight different schools-or making it available in the mornings for coffee and dominoes for a more mature crowd.
Classroom space in the back of the building might be ideal to house English as a Second Language classes that are part of a larger outreach to the Hispanic community and are currently hosted in homes.
"There's a lot of potential," Claassen says. "We've got to provide a place of unity not only for our church family, but also for our community." The land once earmarked for a youth building, meanwhile, is coming in handy for outdoor community gatherings.
Com MB dedicated Comer Hardware Aug 22 at an evening service. Refreshments included doughnuts-a nod to the doughnuts served at the opening of the hardware store 55 years ago .
Special recognition was given to former storeowners and Com MB members Paul and Melba Friesen, who served the community faithfully as business owners and also volunteered as junior high youth sponsors. 'Their heart is still with the youth," Claassen says. - Myra Holmes
"The
isn't going to change lives or do any out-
When it comes to supporting their youth the Fairview (Okla.) MB congregation put their money where their mouth is and built their new youth space debt-free. They secured 80 percent of the funding before starting construction and committed to proceeding only as they had funds. In the end, the congregation gave even more than was needed.
building
reach," says Corn MB youth pastor Russ Claassen of the refurbished hardware store now dubbed Corner Hardware. "But it can be a great tool for us to use." The congregation dedicated their new youth facility Aug. 22. The celebration gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy the new facility, including the pool tables.
(church planting in the U.S.)
Don Morris Mission USA director
Preparing for a flood
Over 10 inches of rain fell in just 12 hours near our home recently. There was flooding in many parts of our city of Edmond, Okla., but thankfully we were spared. It was a record rainfall But we're already needing another rain because all that water of a few days ago has been used up, depleted due to high temperatures and beating sunshine.
I have another flood to tell you about: I firmly believe that God is granting his favor to us to plant a flood of new Mennonite Brethren churches over the next few years. Since I began as director of Mission USA six years ago, I have not experienced anything similar to this. We have several gifted people who would like to plant churches, who are feeling the call to plant churches and just itching to get started
As I envision this flood approaching, what's truly amazing to me is that it really is about what God is doing rather than anything that we have done. The only question is: Will we allow him to do this through us? Are we, as a MB family, willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen? Are we willing to pray for it to happen? Are we willing to fund it? Are we willing to embrace it?
I don't make this prognostication lightly. It would be a huge mistake to talk up the storm, only to see that there
Half of all unchurche an no • adults admit that they are . nd .nur.hose tn .. meantng a t" t" int life -providing a meaningful entry po
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Source:
Bam4 Research Online
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are actually no clouds on the horizon. It' s pretty easy to simply talk about a coming flood of new MB churchesbut is it? Is it really? Again, I believe it is.
When the clouds formed over Edmond that day, very few were predicting record rainfall. Sure, it looked like rain, but 10 inches? C'mon! People were unprepared for that. A lot of people are now replacing soaked Sheetrock and carpet It's an awful mess. But our yard and lawn loved it. It greened-up like you wouldn't believe.
My personal belief is that we could see at least five to eight new church plants per year in coming years-if we are prepared If we are, think of how lush and full that feeling will be for us as a family of churches, to have planted and witnessed how God watered and grew them. If we are not prepared for what God is doing, it will just be a mess. And it could easily end up kind of like our flood in Edmond. Some people were ready and reaped the benefit of lots of rain while others saw only damage and a drain on their livelihood. Some of our churches and constituency will see this as an opportunity to invest in the kingdom of God, enjoying the result of watching seedling churches grow and reach people. Are you ready for the flood?
Finding hope
New Hope pastor Josh Gonzales is surrounded by delegates at the July convention, who prayed for his ministry.
Even though the new church plan in West Valley City, Utah, is months away from an official launch, eight people have been baptized since this past spring when church planter Josh Gonzales began laying the foundation for a new church targeting young adults living with addictions and difficult lifestyles.
A recent community survey shows that West Valley is a city of mixed ethnicities, unlike most of the Salt Lake City Valley that is Caucasian. West Valley is predominantly Mormon, and its average resident is under the age of 30.
Both Gonzales and his wife, Melissa, grew up in the area and were immersed in its culture of drugs and alcohol. Finding freedom in Christ several years ago, their marriage was saved and they have dedicated their lives to serving Jesus. When God called them to plant a church , he called the Gonzaleses back to this struggling community of 130,000.
Mission USA is providing subsidy and support along with the Pacific District Conference and individual supporters. New Hope enjoys a solid "granddaughter" connection with South Mountain Community Church, planted in the mid 90S by Pastor Paul Robie.
Denver ministry expands
Four years ago when Jeff and Lianne Nikkel planted Trailhead Church in Centennial. Colo., they envisioned the church as a "greenhouse" for training potential church planters. That dream became a reality this summer when Vaughn and Taryn Jost began laying the groundwork for the newest Mennonite Brethren church plant in the metro Denver area.
Through the end of 2010, Vaughn will serve on the staff of Trailhead while also developing the core group for The Micah Project, the name stemming from Micah 6:8, emphasizing certain characteristics that will be a part of the project's focus: justice, mercy and humility.
'We believe a successful church is defined by kingdom impact, not measured in numbers but in terms of stories, the healing of broken relationships and the transformation of neighborhoods," says Jost. ' We believe that God is already at work in the Denver area, and that a church plant in Littleton is neither more nor less than joining the mission God has started here."
This is a joint project of Trailhead Church, Southern District Conference and Mission USA.
Portland Church launched
Trinity Church, a new church plant of about 70 individuals in Portland, Ore., was officially launched Sept. 12. Trinity is supported and resourced by Mission USA, Pacific District Conference and other Portland churches and individuals.
Art Azurdia is the lead church planter and pastor Serving as an elder in the church is Norm Thiesen, professor at Western Conservative Seminary. Thiesen, formerly of Omaha, Neb , has a long connection with Mennonite Brethren.
"Trinity is a vibrant congregation of people energetically devoted to proclaiming and displaying the most relevant message of our time: the life transforming gospel of Jesus Christ," says Don Morris, Mission USA director.
'We are establishing a charter membership and have received 30 membership applications," says Melissa Leary, Trinity Church administrator. "People are establishing relationships and are caring for and ministering to one another. Please continue to pray that Trinity Church will be used by the Lord as a vessel of the gospel."
Jon C Wiebe CEO. MB Foundation
Joe L. Brown Heritage Bible Church
Movie helps teens rethink life
III I
t's a rental," I thought after seeing a preview of To Save a Life with other youth workers. But then a pastor shared at our youth network meeting how the movie resonated with his students and how they experienced growth and transformation because of it. So I jumped in and bought the basic package, which includes lots of good material for promotion and p l anning.
The movie description reads: "Jake and Roger grew up as best friends. But in high school, Jake becomes a star athlete who has it all: a college scholarship and the perfect girl, an ideal life that comes at the exclusion of his childhood friend. Meanwhile, Roger no longer fits in anywhere and becomes tired of always being pushed aside He makes a tragic move that spins Jake's world out of control. As Jake searches for answers, he begins a journey that will change his life forever ."
This narrative barely scratches the surface. The movie boldly reveals a raw slice of high school life. It touches on a host of issues: suicide, cutting, drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, teen pregnancy, gossip, hypocrisy in the church, peer pressure, wild parties, depression, divorce and swearing, just to name a few . Too many issues and too little time. Parents and other youth workers were mildly impressed, but our teenagers thought it was fantastic!
We showed the movie to parents a week before their students saw it and parents loved that. Christine, mother of a fteshman girl, was concerned : "I don't want my daughter thinking everything will work out fine if
MBs want more of Moore
she gets pregnant." Tim , with a sophomore son, didn't think that would be a problem: "There were real and life-changing consequences " Susan, a parent of three girls, said, '1\ key part of the movie was how Christians were not portrayed as perfect; hypocrisy in the church was evident But God touched Jake and helped him try to do the right things, despite the mixed message." One dad wept as he watched Roger being rejected by his peers. Another mom said, 'We should be more attentive to the person who is the outcast As Christians, there should be no outcasts in our community."
Students eagerly praised the film. "It was great, not at all cheesy," said Andre, 19, who plans to be more careful with his behavior, realizing that younger people are looking up to him. Josiah, 17, related situations in the movie to his life: " I guess I've got to do what's right, no matter what others may do." Laura, 14, thought we should watch it again immediately!
The movie provides a bridge to issues that can be somewhat awkward. Our youth group seems more open to discussing difficult issues. We're not as afraid to bring up sensitive topics or to offer help to friends that are hurting. Students have also expressed a desire to reach out to their peers. Plans are underway to show it again in the fall, with a greater effort to invite not only friends, but those who seemingly have no friends.
Its author, Jim Britts, says To Save a Life is not a Christian movie But I have to admit it's the best movie I've seen on following Jesus.
Joe L. Brown is the "youth guy" at Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif
u.s. Mennonite Brethren women's groups consult Beth Moore more frequendy than any other author. Moore, regarded as the
most popular Bible teacher in America, has more than zo best-selling books and Bible studies rangmg from profiles of heroic biblical figures to topical studies. Her popularity stems from her abIlity mme the riches of Scripture and apply them to everyday life. Critics out Moore IS laIgely seHtaught and does not have much interest in theology or tradition, relYIng Instead on her own intuition when interpreting and applying Scripture. But all agree that Moore has enhanced bIbIicalliteracy and prompted women to dig into the Bible on their own.
BAPTISM/MEMBERSHIP
Shawn Fish was baptized Aug 29 at Bible Fellowship Church, Rapid City, SO Peter, Jennifer, Keanna and Anthony Centineo, Carol Carey, Elizabeth Mercaldo and Jerry Chewning were received as members Aug 15 Brad and Charity Hughes were baptized July 25. Jeff and Sharleen Schreter were baptized July 18
Tyler Ferris and Stephanie Larson were baptized Aug 22 at Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif
Clayton and Kathi Herbel and Phyllis Kellerman were received as members Aug. 22 at North Oak Community Church, Hays, Kan.
Thirty-three people were received as members at First MB Church, Wichita, Kan., Aug 15 : Luke Barrow, Geoff and Stacy Graves, Rod and Laura Routon, Joe Sims, Thomas Calvert, Susan Haney, Kruze Sanders, Randy and Jenel Edwards, Kathy Hamer, Jared and Michelle Schrag, Brad and Gina Willems, Allison Dialberto, Hannah Jennings, Jonathan and Lucia Sherman, Michael and Emily Gagnebin, Chad and Ashlie Heitman, Dayna Wohlgemuth, Chad and Katie Ahlstrom , Mike and Debbie Gri mes, Marc and Lisa Lackey and Art and Pam Varian. Thirteen of these were also baptized.
Kayla Ewert was baptized Aug 15 at Hesston (Kan.) MB Church A church campout at a local lake July 17-18 culminated in worship at the lake and a lake baptism fo r Mitchell Martin and Trav is He r shberger
Elizabeth Nachtigall was baptized and received into membership Aug 15 at Zoar MB Church, Inman, Kan
Jon Bonsall was baptized and received Aug 8 as a member of Shorelife Community Church, Capitola, Calif. John and Laura Lukin were received as members.
Austyn Mekovich, Cody Lind, Kilie Tryon, Izaya Taylor, Tayah Tryon, Mark Stevenson, Julia Sherman, Madison Wheeler, Shakada Walker-Braddy were baptized and received as members of Birch Bay Bible Community Church, Blaine, Wash., Aug 1.
Brooke Glanzer, Haley Glanzer, Vanessa Dowden and Rachael Petts were baptized and became members of Salem MB Church, Freeman, SO, July 25 Katie Petts and Andrew Petts were received as members
Mark Alexander , Sandra Kelly, Quanah Zahn , Cheyenne Levene, Amy Alexander,
Ale x Levene and Nathan Kelly were baptized July 22 at Christ Community Church, Sioux Falls, SO.
Bailey Balakian, Jason Peters, Eleni March, Jeff March, Dimitrios March, Alexis March , Sophia March, Zoe March , Matthew Franks, Sierra Trostrud and Jeremy Weems we re baptized July 11 at Reedley (Calif.) MB Church
Rebekah Hood, Ruthie Hood, Mason Houghton, David Letts , Chris Thomas, Michael Thomas and Zach Williams were bapt ized June 27 and received as members of Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan , July 11 , as were Jack and Lori Houghton
CELEBRATIONS
Valleyview Bible Church, Cimarron, Kan., recognized 30 years of AWANA ministry May 30
DEATHS
Aydelott, John Henry, 89, Fresno, Calif , member of Bethany MB Church, Fresno , died July 22, 2010 Spouse : Gladys Children : Robert; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Cumbry, Shilanda Elaine, 54, Fresno , Calif., member of North Fresno MB Church , died July 17, 2010. Children : Melvina , La Toya Rowe, Tiffany , Erika, Regis , Robert Shawn, Jonathan, Jabarri, Adrian; 14 grandchildren.
Huston, Keith Oale, 62, Fairview, Okla., of Fairview MB Church, died Aug 8, 2010 Parents: John and Ellen IHoover) Huston Janzen, John A. , 68, Buhler, Kan , of Buhler MB Church, died Aug 19, 2010 Parents : Frank and Pansy IRegier! Janzen Spouse : Genevieve Mierau Children : John F. , Matthew, Nathan, Andrew ; seven grandchildren
Neir, Estel Amy Craven Hall, 99, Buhler, Kan ., of Buhler MB Church, died July 16, 2010 Parents : Lineus W. and Margare t IBurgess) Craven. Spouses: Harry R. HalL. deceased ; George Neir, deceased Children: Dor ice Neir, Judith Lind strom ; three grandchildren; seven great - grandchildren Stepchildren: Roberta Graber, Roger Nei r Neufeld, Kathryn , 94, Corn , Okla., of Corn MB Church, died July 6,2010 Spouse: Jake , deceased Parents : David C and Lena IBartell Peters. Children : J. Averrell, Danny, Joy Fran z; four grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren
KS, Ne youth serve together
Youth from Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan., joined with the North Carolina District Conference for the NCDC youth group's annual Lenoir Mission Project, held this year July 3-10. The teens helped needy community members with projects such as landscaping. home maintenance, cleaning and painting. A short-term mission trip with MBMS International's SOAR program in 2004 provided the initial connection and sparked a desire to work together again. Community Bible's youth paStor, Russ Friesen, says the Kansas group particularly enjoyed "soul food" and worshiping in the "distinct" style of the NCDC --c:hwcltes. -Myra Holmes
orelife embraces the race
On the fourth Sunday of every July, some 15,000 runners race through Capitola, Calif., home of Shorelife Community Church. The annual 'Wharf to Wharf" race closes down major roads to the church, making regular selVices impossible. But rather than fight the race, the congregation views it as an outreach opportunity. This year the congregation of about 70 selVed as an official race sponsor and placed bottles of water labeled with the church's name and a verse in each runner's gift bag. For more, see www.usmb.orglchristian-leader. For local coverage of the :1010 race, see www.santacruzsentinel.com/wharftowharf. -Myra
eritage Bible urch turns 100
Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., is marking their looth anniversary with both an extended look at the church's ministry and a weekend celebration. The theme for both is "Sharing God's Faithfulness: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow."
Throughout the year, the congregation has focused on various aspects of the church's ministry, such as local ministry to prisons and the homeless, the Heritage Village retirement community established by HBC and Heritage Christian Schools, the school operated by HBC. The church's involvement with Mennonite Central Committee was celebrated with "Bucket Sunday," featured in the June / July issue of the CL. "It was great to be able to stop and appreciate the various things that HBC has been part of, and many folks leamed about things they didn't realize existed," says Michelle Welch, HBC church administrator.
The celebration weekend, Nov. 6-7, will feature a Saturday evening dinner and musical presentation as well as a Sunday moming celebration service followed by a "faspa" lunch and reception with former pastors and music directors. For more information, call 661-871-1212 or visit www.heritagebible.us.
reachIng In DISCIPLESHIP
Valleyview Bible Church, Cimarron, Kan., is spending six weeks, beginning Sept. 12, studying Romans 12 together through Sunday services, small groups and devotional readings for what they're calling the "r12 Campaign "
When Sunday school classes took a summer break at First MB Church, Wichita, Kan., in August, families with preschool and elementary school children were invited to sit at tables in the front of the worship center during services, where activities were provided to help kids interact with the sermon.
" Mad Science Camp" was offered at Discovery Bible Fellowship, Collinsville, Okla. , July 29-30 for kids in preschool through sixth grade.
At Bible Fellowship Church, Minot, ND, vacation Bible school was held the week of July 11 in partnership with Child Evangelism Fellowship. A rally the final evening featured a cookout and games for all ages.
FELLOWSHIP
Bethel MB Church, Yale, SD, challenged couples to plan a date night once a week for seven weeks this fall. Dates must include a meal and an activity.
Women at Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., kicked off a new season Sept. 10 with "Dessert First, " an evening featuring dessert, then dinner and a guest comedian that talked about the "sweetness" of putting God first.
The Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan., congregation shared their summer vacation or activities by posting photos on a bulletin board
At the fall kick-off event Aug 30 for women at Zoar MB Church, Inman, Kan., women wore aprons and brought potholders to swap The community was invited to a BBQ in the city park Aug 29 that included worship, lunch, and a BBQ contest.
Women from Mountain View Community Church, Fresno, Calif., went to baseball games July 22, Aug. 22 and Aug 28
Women from Bible Fellowship Church, Rapid City, SD, went camping Aug. 20-21.
Men had breakfast together Aug. 21 at North Oak Community Church, Hays, Kan.
Volunteers from Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church served a BBQ dinner to 1 Tabor College football players Aug 15.
A cancer survivor at Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church has started a monthly support group for individuals and families affected by the disease.
Iglesia Cristiana Vida Nueva , a Spanishlanguage congregation in Bakersfield, Calif., hosted a lunch every Sunday in August for Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield.
Families from the Amor y Fe congregation of Butler Church, Fresno, Calif., and the Spanish-language congregation of Grace Community Church, Sanger, Calif , joined for a retreat the weekend of Aug 7
Youth from Hesston (Kan.) MB Church raised funds for the upcoming National Youth Convention with "Flip flops and flap jacks" Aug. 1. Participants were invited to wear sandals for this pancake breakfast. Youth at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, Blaine, Wash., raised funds for the same event with a garage sale and car wash July 31.
The youth of Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., once again raised funds for the entire year with a fireworks booth leading up to July 4.
WORSHIP
Attendees were encouraged to bring a friend for "Back to Church Sunday" Sept. 12 at Christ Community Church, Sioux Falls,SD.
The Bridge Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., now offers three Sunday morning worship services.
Musician Jeremy Hofer and band gave a benefit concert July 24 at Bethany MB Church, Fresno, Calif.
reaching out
LOCALLY
This fall, the mission board at Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church invited individuals, small groups and families to apply for a "Local Mission Challenge Grant" of up to $100 to be used as "seed money" for local mission efforts.
Bible Fellowship Church, Minot, ND, participated in a community-wide "Bless the City Day" Sept. 12, which included individual and congregational activities, followed by a community gathering.
churchNotes
[glimpses of God at work among us)
Kingsburg (Calif.) MB Church uses its annual Block Party Fall Kickoff. held Aug 22 to get to know neighbors.
Volunteers from Bible Fellowship Church, Rapid City, SO, partnered with another local congregation for a day of outreach in a Native American community Aug 14 that included work projects, children 's ministry and an evening concert
Enid (Okla.) MB Church cooperated with five other area churches to distribute about 500 backpacks with school supplies at a community event Aug 8.
Watershed, a church plant in Kansas City, Mo., worked this summer to transform the unappealing main entrance of the elementary school with which they have chosen to partner The project included landscaping and painting over a number of workdays with other churches, neighbors, parents of students and the community in another summer project. about 90 people from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds shared a meal at a ''justice Feast" hosted by the church in a park near downtown Kansas City The hope was that simply eating a meal together would spark reconciliation among the diverse groups.
Summer vacation Bible school at Bible Fellowship Church, Minot, NO, took a different turn this year. with 10 families hosting 5-Day Clubs at their homes through Child Evangelism Fellowship. Children and parents from all 10 clubs attended a VBS Rally at the church, which included a cookout. bounce houses and games.
More than 150 kids attended "Summer Spectacular " the first week of August at Mountain View Commun i ty Church, Fresno, Calif At least nine made first-time commitments to Christ.
Salem MB Church, Freeman, SO. reports that nine children accepted Christ at vacation Bible school this summer Ten children received Christ at vacat ion Bible school at Birch Bay Bible Community Church , Blaine , Wash • July 18-22
As children at The Bridge Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif got their wardrobes ready for a new school year in August, they donated outgrown and gently-used clothing
to children in need. Junior high youth participated in weekly service projects throughout the summer, including cleaning and weeding at the local SPCA
A team of 15 students and four adult leaders from First MB Church, Wichita, Kan • served in Chicago 's inner city July 24-31.
Children who participated in vacation Bible school July 26-30 at Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield , Calif.. made and donated fleece blankets to a ministry for the homeless
Some 87 golfers participated in the annual golf invitational tournament at Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., in July Participants were encouraged to invite friends and neighbors who don ' t attend church
GLOBALLY
A team from Bible Fellowship, Collinsville, Okla.. served in Juarez, Mexico. Sept. 8-11
A total of 119 people from Reedley (Calif.) MB Church have served in short-term missions in the past year
Allen and Arlene Kliewer. of Belleview Community Church, Littleton, Colo • will be serving with Mennonite Central Committee in the Ten Thousand Villages warehouse in Lancaster County. Pa
Youth from Zoar MB Church, Inman, Kan •. traveled to Post Oak MB Church , indiahoma, Okla , Aug 1-7 to help with vacation Bible school and connect with the community
Two young people from Emmanuel Church, Onida, SO. served short-term th is summer in the Czech Republic and at a local Bible camp.
Youth at North Oak Community Church, Hays, Kan .• combined their annual "Big Give" service emphasis with a 3D-hour famine. Donations for this year's July 16 - 17 event exceeded their goals. raising $4.475, to provide clean water in the Dominican Republic and feed hungry children through World Vision. and collecting over 1900 pairs of shoes for people in Kenya
Statement of ownership, management and circulation
Publication title : Christian Leader Publication number: 000<)-5419 Filing date :Q9 /07h o Issue frequency : bimonthly. Number of issues published annually: 6 Annual subscription price : $10
Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 107 N Main, Box 155, 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, 7348 W 21st Suite 115, Wichita, KS 67205; Editor: Connie Faber, 107 N Main, Box 155, Hillsboro, KS 67063 Managing editor: none Owner: U S Conference of MB Churches, 7348 W 21st Suite 115, Wichita, KS 67205. Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding I%or more of toral amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: none. Tax sratus has not changed during proceeding 12 months Issue date for circulation data : Oct/ Nov 2010 Extent and nature of circulation : the first number represenrs the average number of copies of each issue during the proceeding 12 month s, the number in parentheses is the number of copies of a single issue (Au g/Sept 2010) published nearest the filing a ate (a) Total number of copies: 9,626 (9,61 7) (b ) Paid/requested circulation: I) paid/requested outside county mail subscriptions: 8,637 (8,620 ) 2) Paid in-county subscriptions: 587 (576 ) 3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS paid distribution: ° (0 ) 4 ) Other classes mailed through the USPS: 252 (239 ) (c) Toral paid and/or requested circulation: 9,476 (9,435 ) (d ) Free or nominal rate disrribution: I) Free or nominal rate ourside county copies ° (0 ) 2) Free ornominal rate in-county copies (0 ) ° 3) free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the UPPS 13 (3) 4 ) free or nominal rate disrribution outs ide the mail ° (17) (e) Total free or nominal rate disrribution outside the mail : 13 (20) (f)
Total di stribution : 9 ,489 (9,455) (g) Copies not disrributed : 137 (162) (h) Total: 9,626 (9,617 ) (i )Percent paid and /or requested circulation: 99.86% (99 78%) I certify that all information furnished is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on th is form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions and/or civil sanctions Signed : Connie Faber
• Oct. 1-3, 2010 -U S Conference Lead ership Board meetings. Denver, Colo.
• Nov. 11-14, 2010 -Ce ntral Di strict Conference conve ntion , l\lountain Lake Minn.
• Nov. 12-14, 2010 -So uthem Di stri ct Conference Youth Convention , Wichita , Kan .
• Apr. 16-19, 2010 -Na tional Youth Conve ntion , San Antonio, Texas
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