/'/_ / THE CHRISTIAN
Identity:
Sunday school teacher/p4
Reflections ofa Sunday school teacher/p8
The gift of spiritual friends / p 1 0
TO BE A TEACHER
The smiles and trials of discipling each other in the church
FIRST WORDS from the editor
THEY MAY BE the unsung heroes of the church-the Sunday school and Bible study group leaders who toil week after week to bring God's Word to life in the lives of their fellow spiritual travelers. Too often, their commitment is taken for granted by those they lead.
In this issue, Katie Funk Wiebe reminds us that teaching a Sunday school class or small group can be nothing less than a calling of God. Her article can inspire each of you who teach in the church-but it should also be read by those of us who are taught.
Stanley Clark follows that with some thoughts about the responsibility that comes with the assignment to teach God's truth. If his questions haven't occurred to you yet, maybe they should.
Finally, Tom Steward presents another side of discipling-developing committed relationships with friends believing friends. Simply put, followers of Christ need each other. Be challenged to open your life to another person this fall.-DR
COMING
• Southern District Conference regional rallies:
• SEPTEMBER 25-Colorado; host: Garden Park Church and Belleview Acres Church, Denver
• OCTOBER 2- Western Oklahoma; host: Com MB Church
• OCTOBER 9- Eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas; host: Westport MB Church, Collinsville, Okla.
• OCTOBER 16-Central Kansas; host: Wichita First MB Church
• OCTOBER 23- Northwest Kansas and Missouri; host: Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan.
• OCTOBER 30-Western Kansas and Oklahoma Panhandle; host : Ulysses (Kan ) MB Church
• OCTOBER 2S-30-Central District Conference convention, Rapid City, S.D.
• NOVEMBER lO-12-Pacific District Conference convention, Fresno Pacific College.
QUOTABLE
• Our utilitarian society makes friendship difficult. It invites us to become relational prostitutes by "making friends" in order to minister. So we use friendship as a relational bridge, especially in what is called friendship evangelism. But what if the "friend" does not become a Christian? Do we drop him or her? If we did, we would be proving that we have not made a friendship at all. Friendship is not for anything. It is uncalculating. In a sense it is useless.-R. PAUL STEVENS IN DISCIPLINES OF THE HUNGRY HEART
4 Identity: Sunday scho ol teacher
The call to teach others from the Word of God is a high call, worthy of our best effort. What does it take to be a teacher called by God? Find out. BY KATIE
FUNK WIEBE
8 Reflections of a Sunday scho ol teacher
With the joy of tea chi ng the Bible comes the challenge of handling God's Word responsibly. What does that mean? Is it even possible? BY
STANLEY A. CLARK
10 The gift of spi ritual f riends
The evidence of st rong Christian faith isn't our abil ity to carry our own burdens. It is our w illingness t o share struggles and weaknesses with others . BY TOM STEWARD
DEPARTMENTS
• More than horse sense
Minds
• Inequities in the world • Internationalization of the MB Church Ph'lip Sid e
Christianity that isn't
• Help for Rwandan refugees 20
• MBM/S budget challenge 21
• New curriculum takes shape 22
by Philip Wiebe
• The cost of attending Mennonite World Conference 23
• MWC proposes a global sharing fund 24
• Roland Reimer recovery update 24
• Slavic church dedicates meetinghouse 24
• Our grieving God
ART CREDITS: Cover and page 4, Religious News Service photo of "Invo cation, , a modernist oil painting by Max Weber;" page 8, Religious News Photo of · Still Life With the Bible," by Vincent Van Gogh; page 10, Cl photo of original art by Tim Walter; pages 20 and 21, Don Edkins/WCqMCC.
VOLUME 57, NUMBER 9
EDITOR
Don Ratzlaff
BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Ron Braun, Noelle Dickinson, Jeanie Klaassen, Herb Schroeder, Kathy Heinrichs Wiest
MANDATE: THE CHRISTIAN LEADER (ISSN 00095149), organ of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, is published monthly by the U.S. Conference Board of Communications, 315 S Lincoln, Hillsboro, KS 67063 The Christian Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions, and issues of their denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialog so that they will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelical!Anabaptist theological tradition.
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by KATIE FUNK WIEBE
IDENTITY: Sunday school teacher
Sunday school teachers have the key-the resources-to help students to a deeper experience with God through their teaching
'VE LISTENED TO DIRECTORS OF education moan how hard it is to get Sunday school teachers. I've watched class members, sometimes educators or professionals, hesitate to volunteer to teach. I'm not sure whether it is too much work, too difficult, too intimidating or what. The pulpit is one setting where the Bible is interpreted. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, communion, even business meetings and prayer meetings are other settings. But the Sunday school classroom is highly important. I like to teach. I see teaching Sunday school as a holy calling. How about you?
You are teaching for change-to help students see where the meaning of God's plan for humanity and the meaning of their lives meet, where they connect.
obstacle to teaching is not usually skill or talent for teaching. The obstacle is not usually time, although people use it as an excuse. You always take time for what you think is important.
The obstacles to fulfilling God's call for you will usually come from within yourself, the greatest of which is the fear to wrestle with yourself about what you accept and reject about Christian truth.
Added obstacles are the fear of failing as you teach today's children, young people, and adults, some of whom may not be very interested in faith issues, who lack intellectual curiosity, and want to be entertained. Their attitude is "Do it to me."
I have found that in teaching I must deal first with myself. What is my vision for the world? What does God want of me? People with a vision, sense of a gift, also have a sense of stewardship for the task.
How can you develop the skill of teaching?
• Begin serious, consistent study of the Scriptures. John R Stott says that God cannot lead an empty head
To help you, invest money in a good Bible (several versions) , a Bible dictionary, and a commentary. Read books about teaching. Read Christian literature, especially articles that deal with theology. Feed your mind . Books cannot teach you what to say nor why, but they can lead you in your thinking.
• Use a notebook for your lesson plans , not just scraps of paper It shows how serious you are about the task. Buy a notebook for this purpose Be aware of material for the whole quarter
• Plan ahead Begin Sunday afternoon Work the lesson through in your mind What key concepts do you want to get across?
• After the lesson, evaluate yourself. What went well? What didn't? Keep trimming the fat from your thinking, bringing it more in line with what the Bible actually teaches instead of what you think it teaches
Everything worthwhile requires discipline. Teaching is a discipline acquired only by conquest. But you may say, "I don't feel inspired to study my lesson." You will fmd that inspiration comes as you study-not before.
Sound like work? Yes, of course . But that is what goes into making a teacher who has the key to life .-KFW
One of the most maturing aspects of my life has been the opportunity to teach, year after year, in adult classes. I teach at the edge of my expertise. Teaching pushes me to study and work with material I am not always comfortable with
If you are going to teach, accept the assignment seriously, for you carry a lot of responsibility. A Sunday school teacher can wreck a child's tender psyche or bring a child to the place of spiritual growth.
Combine prayer, systematic study and intuition-pray about moving people with ideas they can use and with emotions they can identify with without being mawkish and sentimental.
Don't be afraid of ambiguity and inconsistency in what you observe or even studydon't be afraid of not knowing.
A major obstacle is a general unwillingness on the part of all of us to change-teacher and student. We like to live with the theology we have nurtured as long as we have been Christians.
Welcome not understanding, having problems, being bewildered and being forced to change our minds. And accept that confusion can be a grace. Out of it comes growth.
Change is the name of the game. A God who never changes wants us to change-to become more Christ-like in our attitudes, character, habits of doing and thinking.
People resist change, for it undermines their security, threatens their self-concept. Someone has said people wear the same hairstyle year after year to be able to recogniZe themselves in the mirror each morning . Change takes time and energy to work through concepts. It forces one to risk.
One high school teacher commented to me: "The hardest thing for me is to figure out how what happens in this church building relates to what goes on at my workplace. "
You are teaching for change-to help students see where the meaning of God's plan for humanity and the meaning of their lives meet, where they connect
A third obstacle to teaching is the secularism of our times . Many forces coming from many directions push God aside in our homes - the long weekend, television and movies, the working mother and distracted father, or maybe the distracted mother and the working father Add to this the single-parent family, singles, the small family, all with different individual and family rhythms And
of a Sunday school teacher
Along with the joy of teaching the Bible comes the challenge of handling God's truth responsibly. What does that mean? Is it even possible?
by STANLEY A. CLARK
LOVE TO STUDY THE BIBLE.
IT is one of the greatest joys I have in life. But, as the teacher of an adult Sunday school class, I sometimes worry about the very serious responsibility of teaching the Bible to others.
I'm not a Bible scholar by training, and am therefore a "victim" of the commentaries I read. I study them with care, but do not pass along everything I read. Many times I tell my fellow class members what I personally believe to be true, and don't bother to tell them which statements are from me and which are from some scholar. That makes them victims too.
I've concluded that, in the long run, the only way we can claim the Bible as our own is by approaching it directly ourselves. We can't depend on the "screen" of other people, even godly ones, and especially not Sunday school teachers Wisdom comes from the Lord, not from people. We are, basically, blind, although God sometimes does allow for wisdom to emerge collectively as we compare notes from our personal search for truth.
As a believer and as a Sunday school teacher, I believe the Bible contains God 's truth. It is meant to be studied, but not worshiped It is a guidebook for living It is not just a collection of words; it is a collection of messages
Whether as teachers or students, we often treat the Bible intuitively; if something seems good or sounds good, it must be right. If it agrees with my biases, it must be true But beware! This book is full of hard teachings and mysterious passages If we always try to interpret the words literally, to seize them from their context and lay modem meanings over ancient ones, we run the risk of missing the point entirely.
If the Bible is to be studied, what does it mean? What does it take to "study" any book? At least four things are required:
• an open, curious, probing mind;
• a desire to seek out the real meanings in the text;
• a lack of satisfaction with glib or shallow interpretations;
• a desire to know its content for ourselves, not through another's eyes
When we study the Bible in this way, many questions will flood our minds. For instance, in our class's recent study of the Book of Judges, we encountered several questions Was Deborah a judge or a prophetess? Did Gideon really have 70 sons? Did Jephthah really bum his daughter to death?
Many other questions will haunt us as we move through Scripture. Was a Genesis "day" only 24 hours long? Was woman literally a rib from a man's side? Were rainbows nonexistent before the flood? Are women supposed to wear hats in church? Are we to take the visions of John in Revelation as literal reality?
Questions like these lead us squarely into issues of infallibility and inerrancy. Are the books we find in our Bible exactly the ones God wanted there to be? Are all the verses there? All the words? Are they translated properly? With so many different writers, did anybody add or omit material for personal reasons along the way, and foist these things off as truth? With so many different translations, they can't all be precisely right; are any of them? Is the Bible a science textbook? A history book? Poems and stories? Is it to be read literally, or as symbol, or some of both? If both, which parts are literal and which are symbolic?
And now the personal part. Am I wrong in some of my interpretations of Scripture? Of course I am! How often? I have no idea. About which topics? Again, I don't have a clue.
The same is true for all of us . We can't rely on each other to arrive at truth, because groups can be blind too , and "common wisdom" is too often common folly . We students of the Bible will not always agree, even on key passages. I may be "positive" that I am right and you are wrong on a given issue; in reality I may be absolutely correct, partially correct, or completely wrong Living as believers in this maze of uncertainty can be very disarming, and even dangerous for unity That is why our rule has to be: in essentials, unity; in nonessentials, freedom; in everything, love
For me, the bottom line is this : Does God's love cover our mistakes? Is heaven big enough for all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ, or only those who come up with the spiritual equivalent of all six numbers in the Power Ball Lottery? Is there some kind of eternal report card that God is preparing on the many Bible issues open to debate? If there is, on judgment day I may get an A in Bible interpretation-or I may get a B-minus, or even an F For that matter, none of us may get into heaven if God is keeping score But I cannot believe God is like that.
So, we-teachers and students alike-have to approach the Bible with a humble spirit, asking God to help us discern truth from eIl-or, to forgive our foolish ways and to have mercy on our souls. 6Z
Stanley Clark, when he's not teaching Sunday school at the Hillsboro (Kan ) MB Church, is vice president of academic affairs at Tabor CoUege.
When we admit our weaknesses to others, we find strength to grow and mature
by TOM STEWARD
The gift of spiritual friends
WAS CAUGHT IN THE WEB OF personal distress, an emotional and spiritual crisis. In the midst of it, many of my questions went unanswered. I became resentful, even bitter. Anger, even an overwhelming rage, enveloped me at times. The emptiness inside me left me hopeless. I was groping for comfort and found none. God, whom I had loved and come to know as a help in any troubling time, was conspicuously absent. My calling out to him seemed to be mere words echoing within me. They were the faint breath of a dying man who seemed to be speaking only to himself.
At this difficult time in my life I had no one near who was available to comfort me I yearned for a spiritual friend who could help me manage my anguish. No one came. Despair wafted through my soul.
Somehow, only through God's grace, I survived that time of personal crisis. Since then, I have encountered other difficult periods, but with one significant difference: I have had several spiritual friends available to help me through them. I have held these friends when their hearts were assaulted by life's blows, and they have done the same with me. Having such a friend who is near, one who is willing and able to help carry one's sorrow or trouble, makes all the difference.
Many people in the church today are lonely and empty Caught up in the rush of life, or simply unwilling to open themselves to others, they haven't developed the deep friendships that are able to sustain them when the dark periods come. So they endure the pain alone.
It doesn't have to be that way I have also heard the stories of individuals who have encountered the darkest periods imaginable-but came through them relatively unscathed. The interesting thing to me was that, in at least one case, pastors and counselors played a limited role in that person's triumph. Instead, church friends and a few family members held this person together. They shared the burden and provided the necessary strength to persevere . The body of Christ, in the intimate gathering, stood finn in the midst of the stonnand no one fell.
It is a Christian myth that as believers grow in the Lord they have less need for others. In fact, the opposite is true As we grow in spiritual maturi-
ty we actually become more aware of our weaknesses. And we become more aware of the need to seek others to help us deal with them. Our spiritual adventure may be ours alone, but our brothers and sisters in Christ are never irrelevant.
Are you presently developing the kind of relationships with others that would sustain you in the midst of a crisis? Put another way, do you have a spiritual friend that walks with you through the day-to-day struggles and triumphs of life? "Each day has enough trouble of its own," Matthew 6:34 reminds us. If so, we need people near us with whom we can share the pertinent infonnation regarding our weaknesses, frailties and doubts. It is by sharing our weaknesses that we ultimately become stronger, not by hiding them
Remember, God's business is to transform our hearts and lives. God wants to do more than give us enough help to reorder our outer lives, while leaving our inner being untouched. When God works within us, we don't just look better, we become changed deep within, and are better. Spiritual friendships offer us the opportunity to engage in significant structural change in the heart. If we only restructure our outer lives we remain shallow, and the inner life is decidedly unchallenged.
What we give to others in the intimate gathering is our pain, sin and weakness, as well as our victories and triumphs. I heard a Christian say recently that because we are believers we do not have pain This is an awful lie. Christians experience deep pain, as much and as deep as anyone. By simply admitting the truth to ourselves and others, we can experience significant release . The Christian life is about recognizing innennost truth (ps. 51 :6), which includes the truth that pain and problems are a natural part of living in this fallen world . Only then are we able to comprehend the grace and glory of God in a troubling situation. This pain often takes the fonn of an inner ache and at times leads to despair and misery. A certain release comes in the sharing of that pain A true spiritual friend can utter the sim-
One of the greatest things a spiritual friend can do is help us focus beyond our immediate crisis to eternal realities.
pIe words, "I am with you in this." In most cases, profound advice and incisive answers are not nearly as important as personal presence. When trained help is needed, spiritual friends can encourage us to find it.
Sometimes the source of our pain is the presence of sin-whether it be harmful attitudes or unacceptable, .even unconscionable, behavior. When we find ourselves in such situations, the natural impulse is to run from God and others. But what we truly need is to settle ourselves near a trusted friend and confess our dilemma. Could you reveal to another person your most troubling sin, your worst fantasy, or even that one area that plagues you most intently and leaves you most vulnerable to a fall? In the struggle with sin, God extends his mercy and help to us through the presence and assistance of others.
Let's face it, we all have weaknesses. Strength is found not in disregarding that truth, but in recognizing and admitting it. Then we can give it to Christ in the presence
How to find and make a spiritual friend
1. Begin by fonning a small group (two or more individuals) that is willing to meet regularly (preferably weekly) to pray together and support each other You can recruit the members yourself or enlist the help of a pastor, church leader, or other trusted church member
2 . Spend part of each group session openly discussing a struggle or weakness, or some aspect of your life that is troublesome to you or beyond your ability to solve, control or eliminate
3. Pray diligently for each other as you meet and also during the week. Make mental or written notes about their needs and carry these with you
4. Include these individuals in your social circle by periodically meeting with them in casual settings.
5 Pick at least one individual from the group to spend additional time with Find someone whose personality and experience best suits you , someone with whom you feel c omfortable
6 Give yourself and the group time to develop trust and closeness Intimate sharing requires a sense of "safety;" emphasize the importance of confidentiality. What is said in the group must stay in the group-unless permission is given to share it more broadly.-1S
of others. This is the grace that strengthens us (2 Cor. 12:9). Rather than focusing on what we can do, how strong we are, true strength is acknowledging what we cannot do-and then what God can do in us, often through the help of
Oothers.ne of the greatest things spiritual friends can do is help us focus beyond our immediate crisis to eternal realities. The Apostle Paul said such a focus means that "we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). This expanded vision of the eternal is possible as we renounce "secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2).
What a vision for the intimate gathering of spiritual friends! That we together come to see the eternally significant as truth, and that the things fonnerly hidden are unveiled and dealt with openly.
The most signillcant interior work, which includes this unveiling, often happens when we are struck down by affliction. The Apostle Paul himself experienced it: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:7-9).
Our strength, help and salvation come from God. This is recognized most pointedly as truth-seeking believers come together as friends in spiritually intimate relationships. May we be open to truth, honest with others, as we together seek our God and his deliverance in trying times. Take that bold but important step of seeking and finding at least one close spiritual friend who can walk with you each day and carry you through whatever that day may bring. ef2
Tom Steward, a member of the Laurelglen Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif., is a licensed clinical social worker engaged in private-practtce counseling.
PROMISE KEEPERS REVISITED
My disappointment meter registered off the scale when I read Don Ratzlaff's article about Promise Keepers Ouly). I'd like to offer another view of the Promise Keepers experience.
I left Dallas, Ore., on June 18 for the rally in Portland with 150 men from several denominations. Before we left, we prepared our bodies (with doughnuts) and our spirits (with prayer) for something extraordinary to happen. It did.
The article was right about one thing: Watching a stadium fill with 30,000 men is a sight to behold . I noticed that every man seemed to be mOving with a purpose. Yes, we also had beach balls, paper airplanes and the wave going. But the question of "festive or frivolous" never entered my mind-then or now.
Few experiences are as awesome as singing praises to God with 30,000 brothers. At times, you feel you are getting a small preview of a day yet to come when the voices will number in the millions. This excitement comes from another source: Matthew 18:20 says that where two or three come together in Jesus's name, he is with them.
Bonding occurs when you are at Promise Keepers. This is no "Tool Time" kind of bonding. It's the "tie that binds" kind of bonding As I looked across that sea of men, I realized I have something in common with each of them: we love Jesus and are born in the Spirit of God.
One of the most important aspects of Promise Keepers is the men who
Puddle
speak and teach. The speakers included Howard Hendricks on mentoring, Stu Webber on relationships, and others I heard the talk Tony Evans gave at Denton and was deeply moved by it. He said more about racism and its cure than Jesse Jackson has been able to articulate in a lifetime Through Promise Keepers you are introduced to new resources and teachers, like E.V. Hill.
Promise Keepers is not just an event that happens in June or July. You can enter the movement at any time. I believe it is not the work of Bill McCartney or Randy Phillips, but the Holy Spirit working through these men. The goal is not political change or power, or reestablishing good American family values. It is the revival of the church.
I'm curious what the editor heard that gave him the perception that Promise Keepers stands for authoritarian and hierarchical roles for men. He should read Stu Webber's Tender Warrior. That's the message I heard.
How you get to Promise Keepers, what you eat, where you sleep, and whether you get rained on is immaterial to the experience. (fexas storms are another thing ) Promise Keepers is not strictly an experience of the mind and body, but one of the heart and spirit.
A personal note to the editor: Read the book Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper; look for PK rallies in your area and get the tapes from other seminars; study the PK movement and go again next year-but leave your press pass and critical approach at home. Go with your heart and spirit
open and write another report next year. You owe your readers that.
There are no fools or bad seats at Promise Keepers. The hundreds of men turned away at Portland would have been thankful for those seats you had behind the cameras.
Most important, changes are taking place in me and the men who went in June. The effect has been immediate. This thing is working. I urge everyone to become a Promise Keeper
Although some of your conclusions about Promise Keepers were on track, I was disappointed in your cynical musings about souvenir sales and macho testosterone levels Words are so powerful. Your article was the first I've read that was anything less than excited about Promise Keepers. I am sorry you missed the excitement. Robert Pauls Dallas, Ore.
fbJ I'm disappointed that Don Ratzlaff's exposure to Promise Keepers was the "Denton disaster." Not that it was really a disaster, but that he missed out on what many men have considered a mountaintop experience
Several men from our church who attended at Anaheim and then read the editor's assessment were quite upset at what they perceived to be a very negative report While I personally didn't get upset at the article, I did want to say that I reported about my experience and the Promise Keepers movement quite positively in our local newspaper
Thank you, Don, for doing what is often a thankless job You are God's man standing in a very important place. I pray that you will not become discouraged, that you will receive positive reinforcement as well as criticism. Dave Gerbrandt, pastor Shafter MB Church Shafter, Calif.
fbJ Having attended both the Anaheim and Portland '94 Promise Keepers conventions, I was ecstatic to fmd an article in our own Christian Leader regarding this exciting movement . I
Pontius'
was disappointed, however, to find several critical, judgmental and selfrighteous comments woven throughout the article.
Although I realize the Denton conference was not a typical PK experience, and may have been disappointing for those attending, I felt the article had an underlying spirit of criticism aside from that fact. Some examples:
• On the selling ofPK paraphernalia. I wonder if the editor checked the prices of the things sold at PK as opposed to the prices in the Christian
Rather than trying to assess the impact of Bill McCartney's pointed message on the crowd, the editor should assess his own heart, town and church.
bookstores. Obviously, they were not selling these things there to make a profit. The benefit of what was sold far outweighed the fact they were sold during the event. Why not just concede that the books, CDs, tapes and articles can and will greatly help the people who read them, listen to them and put them into practice?
• On being the "poor fools" who had to sit behind the tower with the IV cameras. I've never much cared for anyone being called a fool. I guess it reminds me of the teaching of Matthew 5:22.
• On wearing Christian t-shirts. The comment about whether it is easier to wear one's faith than to live it strikes me as extremely pious. When I wear my t-shirts-which I do frequently-it does not substitute for living my life with a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered attitude I resent the insinuation.
• On whether the spirit Of the event, especially between sermons, was jestive or frivolous. " lighten up! Were those beach balls, waves and gliders distracting him during the times of prayer, learning and teaching? Where is his JoY?
• On the loudness of the PA system. Did he think it was too loud for
Christ? I wonder if Christ wished they could turn down the volume on all that "noisy praise and worship."
• On evaluating the speakers and the impact of their messages. I'm glad he liked James Ryle's "clear and nonmanipulative gospel presentation. " I often try to discern whether my pastor is trying to manipulate me from the pulpit as well. Not!
Rather than trying to assess the impact of Bill McCartney's pointed message on the crowd, the editor should assess his own heart, town and church.
The "power and oratory style" of Tony Evans and A. Louis Patterson Jr.? How about the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through them?
• On Promise Keeper 's vision for men. The article states that "the rhetoric of some speakers and participants seems to hearken back to an authoritarian and hierarchical tradition where men rule with machismo and privilege rather than a servant's heart that recognizes and affirms the gifts of women too." This is about as far off base as one could get . You should see the video of Bill McCartney kneeling before his wife and blessing her as a woman, mother and wife? It's a pretty special tape
The article also highlighted statements that appeared in the newspaper by a PK speaker and an unknown participant The statements criticized the feminization of pastors and the effect of the feminist movement in America. I work in the public school system of California. Men do need to take a stand and become the head of their households again The statements made have a great deal of bearing and impact for those of us in the trenches.
• On PK's long-term effectiveness. It's our responsibility to translate PK's vision into our local congregations. Yes, PK is not above the need for critical discernment, but neither are we. Our churches are stagnant with criticism and self-righteousness. It's no wonder men are flocking to this movement . The walls are being tom down and something real and lasting is being offered to the souls of men.
• On the impact of the conference on individuals. The editor may have been deterred by the logistics of traveling back to Denton for the make-up
conference, but my friends and I drove 14 hours to attend the Anaheim rally and 24 hours to attend the one in Portland. I would pack tonight to attend another one. The Spirit of God will bring me back again and again.
I was happy the editor gave a grudging "thumbs up" to Promise Keepers at the end of the article. But a true movement of God, such as Promise Keepers, Harvest Crusades, Billy Graham Crusades, will never need our individual or denominational approval. God is at work and will continue to work within the hearts of men with or without us. Not everyone standing within the gates of heaven will be Mennonite Brethren.
It would be nice to read something a little less critical and condescending about a truly magnificent demonstration of God moving within the hearts of men.
Steve Isaak Lodi, Calif.
IlJJ After hearing so many positive comments about Promise Keepers and signing up to attend the event in Boulder, Colo., I read the gloomy and skeptical report the editor wrote about his experience in Denton.
Admittedly, the circumstances were not good in Denton, but thunder storms are beyond anyone's control. Still, I have heard from others who were there and went away deeply moved. They were very upset by the Leader's report, which seemed to cast a shadow on the whole movement except for some strained attempts to say something good
My experience at Boulder was just the opposite of the editor's. Yes, we had long lines to catch shuttle busses, long walks to the food line, and little sleep. But it was great to be among all those men praising God, interacting with enthusiasm, and being challenged by biblical teaching.
This was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I shed tears much of the time and encountered others moved in the same way. I regularly am encountering men who were there and are full to overflowing
After the event, I discovered that one brother from my own church was also there . He called me the other day to ask if he could share in church. That almost never happens
Many of us pray for revival in our
land. 1brough this movement, God is indeed sweeping the land like a wildfire. Let us pray for God's watchcare over those who plan and lead this, for Satan will not stand idly by. Let us pray that God will lay hold and transform many of us men to stand up for God and righteousness May God help the men who have made promises to truly be Promise Keepers.
Ron pastor Silver Lake MB Church Freeman, S.D.
tbJ It is three weeks now that I have pondered (cooled off) writing a rebuttal to your article on Promise Keepers. As nine of us from the Fairview MB Church boarded our bus for the Boulder rally, we discussed your articleand no one cared for your "notes. "
Your opinion of the Denton rally was different from that of others who were there. Although the meeting was cut short due to the weather, they told me they were blessed and thought it had excellent content. Why did you go, anyway? To get a story or to gain spiritually from the experience? Who paid your registration?
Because the members of our church group had read your articles before, we took what you wrote in context. But for those who had not been accustomed to your writing, it could have been taken quite differently. Would that person have had a predetermined opinion formed before he went? Perhaps he would have gone with an "attitude"-and not the type we are supposed to have before we worship.
Your adventures added to the story, but it was quite opinionated. Cramped vans, a Texas dormitory, cold and soggy chicken and no water jug-just the facts, please, just the facts.
You blew it, Don. You had the opportunity to influence men firsthand to go to a Promise Keepers conference. Let's stick with the facts and not sensationalism. Your hesitant conclusions were somewhat factual, but the part about men returning to rule in the macho, authoritarian and hierarchical tradition was not at all alluded to at Boulder. The book, Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, explains the purpose of the PK organizers.
I don't have a degree in journalism. I do know that articles and editorials need to be taken with a grain of salt (and light) We read differing perspectives on the Boulder rally in the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post the following Sunday. I also know you are in a very influential position as editor of the Christian Leader. Promise Keepers is good. Our church has a goal to send a chartered bus next year.
Let's recognize a good thing when we see it and write about it accordingly.
PhtlEitzen Fairview, Okla.
A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION
Thank you for your July editorial, "Friendly or friend-like" Ouly). You hit the nail on the head regarding an important aspect of our Christian lives.
The Scriptures tell us our "love must be sincere" (Rom 12:9), but I'm afraid too often it is insincere or shallow. Frequently we hear that churches practice only foyer friendliness and so visitors rarely return and become active members
We at Fig Garden Bible Church are attempting to remedy this by inviting people to join a home fellowship group. Visitors soon become part of the church as they learn to know us better, share their needs and pray together in a smaller group. They no longer are fringe people, but become and feel like part of the "in group "
Harold Gaede Fresno, Calif.
AN OFFER OF SUPPORT
In regard to your coverage of the conference on domestic violence and sexual abuse (May), I can identify with the comments made by the featured speaker, Carolyn Heggen.
Three years ago, our 15-year-old daughter became pregnant via molestation by a man we had considered to be a close family friend. We received compassion and support from some church members, but the majority stared at us in silence. We often felt like the perpetrators instead of the victims We received more understanding from people who were not connected with a church and had experienced teen pregnancy personally or through a family member
Even when our hearts were breaking, we experienced joy. Our granddaughter is a loving, outgoing child . We cannot measure the depth of our love and degree of pride for our daughter, who has accepted the responsibility to raise a child while still a child herself.
We hope our experience will help others to know they are not alone. We want to offer them understanding support and a listening ear.
Church members, Sunday school teachers and youth sponsors, I challenge you to gain more knowledge and understanding in order to help the victims of sexual abuse, not push them away
Rosemary R. Balzer Buhler, Kan.
POPPED ABOur CONFERENCES
I've attended some of the conferences as an interested observer, but not as a delegate. I've found them to be bright and challenging. The reports are often dull by comparison. When the delegates get home, maybe we get a report, maybe not The reports just don't carry the conviction that the conference does .
Perhaps the following illustration will explain my feelings. Let's look at each congregation as a pile of popcorn kernels. Each group picks a few kernels and sends them to the giant popcorn popper in Colorado Springs. Most of these kernels get popped, large and white with just the right amount of butter and salt.
Most kernels go back to their home churches, proud and tall. A few fortunate people get a bit of grease or salt on them from these kernels
I pray that this year each delegate comes home with a popcorn popper. This will not be easy Our church sends delegates who wish to go and can afford to go. I think there could be a better, although more expensive, way some of this excitement could be brought home. Delegates would be selected from each adult Sunday school class, at the church's expense if necessary, and then share in their class when they got home. I believe conference decisions would be embraced more widely in our churches with this method.
Sylvia Heinrichs Fresno, Calif.
O. L\
B A I N H E I N
QWhat right do we have to be happy and enjoy God's blessings when so many suffer so
AI don't really know! What right do I have even to try to answer that question when I sit here at my handy Apple computer, can buy about anything I want for lunch today, and, when I leave my comfortable office, drive in my neat little air-conditioned Chevy S-lO pickup truck back to a house where, if I can keep up with the PG&E bill, I will remain cozy and comfortably air-conditioned.
How can I enjoy all that and more when I see the thousands of Rwandans starving to death? I don't know why there is so much inequity in the world. I can't explain why I enjoy comforts because my great-grandfathers decided to leave Russia in 1874 and come to America. Nor do I have much of an idea why I should be fortunate enough to have forbears who believed in hard work and frugality and education so that I learned to work and save so that now I do not have to occupy the welfare rolls.
One answer is obvious: It's not because of anything I have done. I am the recipient of untold blessings given to me by a gracious God and some very helpful parents, grandparents, and others.
I know a couple of other things. I know it has always been this way. I read Hebrews 11, where it describes the people who conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, escaped the sword, received their loved ones back from the dead, and more. But in the same sentence it talks about those who were mocked and whipped, stoned, cut in two, afflicted, ill-treated, destitute.
Why such contrasting treatment when the Bible says they all lived by the same faith? Here again their fortunes or misfortunes had nothing to do with what they deserved.
I don't know why some people are good-looking and some are homely. I don't understand why some folks seem so naturally loving and others
have a nasty personality? I don't know why the mother in Rwanda dies of starvation and I eat good food because Social Security pays me monthly.
I do know that I oUght to be very grateful. I also know I ought to be very humble about why I have it so good. I know, too, that I had better be very careful not to
ignore the cries of the unfortunate-in Rwanda or anywhere else. I know that God will hold me responsible for the manner in which I handle the stewardship of my comfortable things .
Come to think of it, in terms of eternity, it may be more risky to be among the well-to-do in America than to be starving in Africa.
QWith the emergence of 14 national Mennonite Brethren conferences, do you see a day when our General Conference, instead of being binational, will become a global or worM conference with delegates seated from all 14? How many Of these 14 now help support MB Missions/Services churchplanting efforts? (CAllFORNlA)
ASome among us dream of such a world conference of Mennonite Brethren. The formation several years ago of the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB), a six-member board with representatives from the continents where we have Mennonite Brethren churches, has no doubt raised that hope for some people.
Moreover, some people feel the General Conference should be dissolved because it is composed of only two national conferences and we should equalize with the other 12 by becoming separate national conferences. These persons usually suggest that in that event, a world Mennonite Brethren conference should meet for fellowship every six, eight or 10 years Having watched and worked rather closely with ICOMB, I don't foresee an elaborate world organization for
Do you have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference poltcy, or other spiritual issue? Send it to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, CA 93727.
Mennonite Brethren developing in the foreseeable future. It is true that we are beginning to think more globally as a church, but the opposite is true as well-we are pouring more and more resources into local endeavors. I cannot see large numbers of people being willing to pour their finances into the more global picture. While finances alone should not determine our strategy, it is a fact with which we have to live. Presently in ICOMB the Japanese, Europeans and North Americans have a measure of financial support. Representatives from the rest of the national Mennonite Brethren conferences would have to be supported, or at least subsidized, when a meeting is called.
We have certainly progressed from the time when all non-North American churches were seen as "children" of our mission enterprises. We must continue to think of these former mission churches as full-fledged partners We need to find ways for them to join us in deciding matters of doctrine and other issues of mutual interest. Theoretically, it would be great to have a world organization. I doubt that it will come soon and easily.
How many other national conferences now assist MBM/S church-planting efforts? Other than Canada and the United States, the Japanese have worked with MBM/S in sending a missionary to Pakistan (that worker has now joined another agency), and Brazil once sent a missionary to Portugal. Paraguay earlier sent a person to Colombia "Partnering," where MBM/S and national conference cooperate within their own country, is occurring in about 10 countries tf2.
MCC, Zaire church aid refugees
• MCC observer convinced 'we can make a difference' amid inhuman conditions
MENNONITE Central Committee is helping fund Zairian church efforts to aid some of the 300,000 Rwandan refugees in Bukavu, Zaire, south of Goma. MCC is also collecting cool weather clothing to be distributed to the refugees, and is planning a large food shipment to Goma.
These actions are based on the recommendations of an MCC assessment team made up of Tim Lind, William Reimer, Cathy Hodder and Terry Sawatsky. The group was in eastern Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda]uly 14-31.
Lind said that Goma, where more than 1 million refugees are camped in "inhuman" conditions, defies description. Rather than dwell on the ghastliness of the situation, Lind stressed
that "now that we know, we are responsible to act."
"We came away from our visit convinced that we can make a difference, " Lind wrote.
Through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, MCC has arranged to send 6,000 tons of lentils and oil to Goma. The organization is also recruiting three to five French-speaking people to help distribute the food, provide medical care, befriend refugees and perform other duties. Zairian Mennonites are also hoping to volunteer.
Food distribution in Goma is chaotic, Lind said. By one distribution center, the hillside was "a solid mass of people, shoulder to shoulder."
"The size of Goma is difficult to fathom," he reported. "People are camped for kilometers; those on the outskirts must walk more than 12.4 miles to get food, water or health care. Some die on the way."
MCC is also helping Zairian church efforts to aid some of the Rwandan
refugees in Bukavu. Hodder, who is now in Kenya, returned to Bukavu Aug. 3 to deliver an initial MCC grant of $35,000.
Zairian Protestant churches had established a refugee committee several years ago, so in mid-July, when Rwandans streamed into Zaire, church members were organized to help. Although the Zairians themselves have little money or food, they met the refugees at the border and brought them to church compounds. When they saw Zairian soldiers looting refugees' goods, they protested to the governor and even helped recover 20 out of 22 vehicles stolen.
Although the churches cannot respond to refugees' needs on a massive scale like the United Nations, Hodder said their work is "vitally important...
"I was overwhelmed by sadness at what I saw in Goma," Hodder said. "I'm so glad that at least 5,000 refugees in Bukavu won't have to live
Scenes from Benaco refugee camp in Tanzania which houses more than 300,000 Rwandan refugees who fled their homeland.
like that," said Hodder. She and others on the MCC team were awed by the generosity of Zairian Christians, many of whom have few resources themselves.
Hodder said Zairians use a French word, use debrouiller, " which roughly translates as "just managing," to describe how they cope. "People want to do what they can," she said.
The MCC assessment team said the Rwandan refugees in Zaire are not likely to return home soon. "Both sides-the Hutus and the Tutsis-have been involved in such horrendous acts of violence. Rwandan church leaders said political tensions are so great that until some of the problems are solved they will not encourage people to go back, " Reimer said.
The team saw signs that more Rwandans may come to Zaire. Sawatsky traveled into an area of Rwanda protected by French soldiers who are scheduled to leave in several weeks. People told Sawatsky they would cross the border when the French left.
The team also visited Burundi, south of Rwanda. "We heard from people there that the situation in Burundi is only a step away from Rwanda," said Lind. Burundi has experienced ethnic tensions over the past years. MCC will fund a Campus for Christ project training Hutu and Tutsi youth in construction and reconciliation skills. They will go to rural villages to rebuild homes and teach rec· onciliation by example -from an Mee news release
FINANCES
The good news: MBMjS giving is up; the bad news: total income is
down
• Churches respond to pleas with additional gifts, but negative economic factors result in $435,000 overrun
A FTER A YEAR of increased pub.1"1..licity about MB Missions/Services financial needs, the organization saw a 3.73 percent increase in contributions, according to Fred Epp, director of finance. Canadian churches led the gain, giving 5.6 percent more than the previous year.
At Convention '93 in Winnipeg, the conference asked MBM/S for more frequent and specific ftnancial information. Apparently, concluded Epp, Mennonite Brethren churches responded favorably to direct mailings and more news stories.
Most years, the increase would have boosted total income and improved the overall financial condition But due to economic factors beyond the control of the mission or the churches, neither occurred. Negative factors affecting the ledger include:
• low interest rates and fewer bequests, causing a $137,000 decline in earnings;
• grants from the Canadian government were $114,000 below previous amounts;
• unforeseen costs for medical needs and housing adding $121,000 in expenses;
• changes in the ORC (the international formula for computing salaries in global markets), taking a $50,000 larger bite than anticipated;
• an 8 percent decline in the value of the Canadian dollar.
All this resulted in expenses exceeding revenue by $435,000, said Epp, even though spending cuts initiated in January eliminated $140,000 from the budget. For 1994-95, all salaried personnel have taken a 3 percent wage cut, and new missionaries are foregoing salaries Some programs have been eliminated and several worker assignments have been terminated.
Noting that the shortage is the worst in several years, Harold Ens, general director, expressed gratitude
for "the surge in giving that reaffirms the global mission of MBM/S." He praised the Manitoba Conference in particular, which raised per-member giving by 43 percent . Saskatchewan, leading all conferences, boosted its total by 11 percent to $114.77 per member.
Churches in the Pacific District contributed $11 more per member, for a gain of $60,000 Other conferences in Canada and the United States stayed about even or declined slightly. Ens plans to send a letter to all North American congregations, informing them of their level of support. The letter will emphasize the conference-adopted goal of $100 per member
"People are amazed when they learn that the entire MBM/S budget can be fully funded by 28 cents per day from each member," Ens says. "The only challenge is that everybody needs to participate. "
Of the 350 or so Mennonite Brethren churches in North America, seven give more than $200 per member. The 182-member Parliament Community congregation of Regina, Sask., tops the list with a $574 average. The eight members of the John's Lake congregation of McClusky, N.D., give $201 per member.
Seventy fellowships-mostly smalldo not send funds to MBM/S. A few have memberships over 150. The mission plans to intensify efforts to enlist the aid of these inactive groups.
A cautiously optimistic Ens says that "in time, Jinterest rates, bequests and exchange rates will tend to even out, and, therefore, are not yet cause for long-term alarm." Meanwhile, reserves have dropped to precariously low levels, particularly in the United States. Canadian reserve funds were tapped to cover the U.S. portion of the shortfall.
"We can't dip into reserves anymore," Ens says. "In this ftscal year, we have to balance the budget That will require about 3 9 percent additional funds." -Gary Hardaway, MBM/S
Two Rwandan refugee girls without their family.
RESOURCES
Curriculum series takes shape with
'incubator' work
• Lessons will address MB history, missions and peace/recondliailon
A TEAM OF 28 writers, editors and .l"l..consultants took the ftrst several steps toward a new curriculum emphasizing Mennonite Brethren core values and history during a sixday "incubator" session July 30 through Aug. 4 in Fresno, Calif.
The curriculum; part of the new "Faith Family Focus" series, will address three topics (Mennonite Brethren history, missions, and peace/reconciliation) with parallel tracks for two audiences (youth and adults).
The Faith Family Focus project, spearheaded by the Board of Resource Ministries (BRM), was ftrst introduced at the 1990 convention of
the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. It is intended to convey the Mennonite Brethren perspective on doctrine and discipleship in the selected three areas and foster an appreciation for the historical pil-
grimage of the denomination.
"We hope the Faith Family Focus curriculum will unite our congregations around a similar theological direction while challenging them to move into discipleship and ministry," says Michael Dick, BRM executive director and curriculum project manager.
Except for identifying the three topics and a dual-track approach, little else about the shape of the curriculum had been determined. Incubator participants worked in large and small-group settings to focus the speciftc target minist"" " audiences, determine the '"
results were quite gratifying," says Dick.
Each topic will be grouped into four lessons, Dick says, so that the entire package-12 lessons-could be used as a quarter's worth of study. Because the trend in Christian education is for shorter units of study, however, the topics can also be treated as separate, four-week blocks used
"We hope the Faith Family Focus curriculum will unite our congregations around a similar theological direction while challenging them to move into discipleship and
topic, the general format of each lesson , and then to identify sub-themes and outlines for each session.
according to the interests and schedule of a particular class.
The curriculum will involve various media with the intent of involving learners through activities and discussion. "We want to include a lot of storytelling, both from our past and present," Dick adds.
Dick hopes the project will be ready for use in the churches by January 1996. number of lessons for each -Michael Dick The writers of the adult curriculum are Marvin Hein and Phyllis Martens of Fresno , Calif., and Bob Rempel of Lethbridge, Alta. Ken Esau of Clearbrook, B.C., is the editor of the adult material.
"The process itself was extremely intense and challenging, but the
STAFFING
Faber named Leader assistant editor
• Former Tabor College staffer to fill half-time role
CONNIE
FABER of Hillsboro, Kan., has been named assistant editor of the Christian Leader, effective Sept. 1. Faber succeeds Deborah Penner, who resigned the position to pursue graduate studies and teach writing at Wichita State University.
Faber, a deacon in the Ebenfeld MB Church, is a Hillsboro native and a 1980 graduate of Tabor College. Since graduating, she has worked in a variety of positions at Tabor, including publicity writer, admissions and various administrative asSignments She is currently secretary of the Southern District Conference and has been involved in the youth and camping programs of the district.
"In addition to her writing and editing skills, Connie brings a strong history with, and a commitment to, the Faber Mennonite Brethren Church," says Don Ratzlaff, editor. "Her familiarity with conference-related ministries and institutions will be an asset for her new role-and for the magazine."
In her half-time assignment, Faber will be involved in most aspects of production, including planning, reporting, writing, editing and office administration. Faber and her husband, David, who teaches philosophy at Tabor, have two daughters, Amanda, age 5, and Rebecca, age 18 months .
The writers for youth are Philip Wiebe of Salem, Ore., Gayle Goossen of Kitchener, Ont., and Edith Granholm of Richmond, B C. Don Ratzlaff of Hillsboro, Kan., is the youth editor.
Other participants in the incubator were:
Historical consultants: Ed Boldt of Kitchener , Ken Reddig of Winnipeg, Man., Abraham Friesen of Golata, Calif., and Paul Toews of Fresno.
Peace/reconciliation consultants : Ron Classen and Dalton Reimer, both of Fresno.
Missions consultants : Elmer Martens, Joy Hofer, Gary Hardaway and Dennis Langhofer, all of Fresno.
Youth specialists: Darrel Schmidt of Langley, B.C., and Rod Jost of Hillsboro.
Curriculum specialists: Ron Penner of Fresno, David Wiebe of Winnipeg, and Martha Wall of St. Laurent, Que.
Media consultants: Burton Buller of Henderson, Neb., and Lorlie Barkman of Winnipeg.
Design: Cliff Derksen, Winnipeg.
Marketing: Marilyn Hudson, Win · nipeg.
ASSISTANCE
MWC proposes global fund to share resources
• MCC and MMA to be major contributors toward $1 million giving goal
FOR TIlE FIRST TIME, the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ world fellowship numbers more members in Africa, Asia, and Latin America than in Europe and North America. Recognizing this new moment and anticipating worldwide developments in the 21st century, Mennonite World Conference is establishing a Global Church Sharing Fund.
The purpose of the sharing fund is to encourage sharing power and
resources through the international church according to the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8: "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
In announcing the fund, MWC secretary Larry Miller explained: "Major contributions will come from Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Mutual Aid.
"In connection with its 75th anniversary celebrations in 1995, MCC will give $600,000. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, also in 1995, MMA will donate $300,000."
These two church-related agencies invite Brethren in Christ and Mennonites organizations, congregations and individual members in North America and around the world to join them so that at least $1 million dollars can be collected by the time the MWC world assembly convenes inJanuary 1997.
An initial contribution of $647 has already been received from a North
HEALING
Surgery adds to hope for recovery
• Bone chip had been blocking facial nerve
PATIENCE
AND OPTIMISM mark the continuing recovery of Southern District minister Roland Reimer following surgery Aug. 12 to repair his middle ear and aid the recovery of his facial nerve
Reimer suffered multiple injuries Apr. 23 while participating in a workrelated service project at Topeka, Kan Most of the injuries-including a fractured skull and shattered shoulder, five broken ribs and three compression fractures of the lower vertebrae-have 'been healing satisfactorily, but the damage to the inner ear and facial nerve had not.
Reimer underwent the four-hour operation last month following several visits with specialists and additional tests. The surgeon , a neuro-otologist who specializes in skull surgery, repaired or replaced the bones in the middle ear that had been dislocated. The procedure is expected to correct the hearing Lois and Roland Reimer loss in that ear
The surgeon also discovered and removed a bone fragment, from the head injury, that had been blocking a nerve in the mastoid. According to Reimer and his wife, Lois, the nerve should now be free to heal in a gradual and normal manner. They said doctors are hopeful the procedure will help restore the function of the right eye and much of the face
"We are most grateful to God for these results and have renewed hope for continued recovery over the next several months," the Reimers noted in an Aug. 15 memo circulated among Southern District churches.
Though still in therapy, Reimer has resumed most of his duties, working full-time out of the office in his Wichita home
American group of former Mennonite church workers in East Africa.
Fund distribution will begin in 1997. Between now and then, MWC representatives-at least two-thirds of whom are African, Asian or Latin American-will establish guidelines and priorities for fund use.
Initial suggestions include leadership training in Anabaptist perspective, literature development and distribution, church-to-church relations, activities by and for women, peacemaking and witness, and joint mission projects.
"MWC will not use Global Church Sharing Funds money for its own activities," Miller said. (MWC)
DEDICATION
Vancouver, Wash., church celebrates new meetinghouse
• Conference funding helps Slavic congregation realize its dream for worship space
THENEWLY acquired meetinghouse of the Slavic Christian Church of Vancouver, Wash., was dedicatedJuly 10. The flower-filled sanctuary was crowded with about 500 people.
The congregation of about 400 adults, made up of Russian and Ukrainian people as well as those of other ethnic backgrounds, was the second Slavic congregation to ask for affiliation with the Mennonite Brethren Ten Slavic congregations, with a total of some 3,000 adults, have been formally received into the conference in the past three years.
Pastor Peter Tishchenko opened the service by reading from Isaiah 66, emphasizing that "we are all kings and priests" and that "God our eternal and heavenly father made this day possible." He added, "You should be delighted that we can come into the house of God-which is a wonderful place to worship and listen as the Word is taught to every member of the body of Christ. "
While Tishchenko spoke, many
wept as they praised God for the miracle brought to pass because God had heard them when they prayed. The building was acquired with the help of a grant for the down payment from Evangelism Partners, a funding program of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and a loan from the Pacific District Conference.
It was the third building acquired in such a manner for the newly adopted Slavic congregation in the Pacific Northwest.
Dedication service participants included Vyacheslav Boynetsky, pastor of the Slavic Christian Church, Salem, Ore., and Vasily Vakulsky, pastor of the Slavic Christian Church in Portland, Ore.
The program included several musical numbers and a 45-voice choir. A liturgy, known and accepted by all Slavic and Christians, Orthodox and evangelical, encompassed the Christian creed. Identical to the more familiar Apostle's Creed, it was presented in song.
As tempting aromas from the kitchen wafted across the congregation, the people stood to recite the Lord's Prayer at the conclusion of the service. Blending their voices, they thanked God for their new meetinghouse, then joined for a fellowship meal.-Esther Baltsky
. CHURCH NOTES
• Baptism/Membership
DELFI', Mlnn. (Carson)-Rick, Carol and Jenny Goeman, Susan Kroeker, Lana Witt and Jayme Dick were baptized at Cottonwoodlake in Windom, Minn., July 10.
• Ministry
TOPEKA, Kan.-The congregation collected canned goods through August for the local rescue mission and Let's Help ministry.
• Teaching/Nurture
MADERA, Calif. '(Madera Avenue)-John and Mary Giger presented a concert at the church Aug. 14. The Gigers have been the featured musicians at several national events, including the National Association of Religious Broadcasters' convention and the Presidential Prayer Breakfast.
GETTYSBURG, S.D. (Grace Bible)-The congregation held a family camp out at
75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren
The Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren, wishes to invite our friends and former members to a reunion and celebration of our 75th anniversary. The dates will be Friday, October 28, to Sunday, October 30,1994. Having you with us to help celebrate would be special for our current membership.
This is also a request for historical information, documents, or photographs about our church. Please contact Sam Wall at (209) 674-5533, or our church at (209) 673-0611. We look forward to hearing from you.
Madera Avenue Bible Church, Mennonite Brethren 124 Walnut Street Madera, CA 93638
Phone: (209) 673-0611
Fax: (209) 674-5533
National hnnonite Brethren Youth Conference fstes Park Colorado Harch 25 - 28. m5
COLLEGE PRESIDENT
and his wife, Elvira, plan to retire from fulltime pastoral ministry.
UTfLETON, Colo. (Belleview Acres)Glenn Balzer, assistant pastor, resigned his position, effective Sept 30. He has not announced his plans.
ADAMS, Okla.-Steve Unruh and his wife, Carol, began their service as pastoral couple Sept. 4. They previously served at the Martin Box MB Church in Marshall, Ark The Adams congregation sponsored a grocery shower for the Unruhs that evening. Formal installation is slated for Sept 18
MARION, Kan. (Good News Fellowship)The congregation joined with six other churches in town to call Mark McClure as youth pastor for the community.
WEATIlERFORD, Okla. (Pine Acres)-Hal Penner, a 1994 graduate of Tabor College, was installed as associate pastor of youth Aug. 7.
WICHITA, Kan. (First)-Mark Willems, associate pastor, was ordained into the ministry Aug. 28.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Lincoln Glen)-Travis Reimer accepted a call to be senior pastor. He and wife, Lois, will begin their ministry in early November.
BRIDGEWATER, S.D. (Salem)-Pastor George Klassen and his wife, Eileen, were installed as pastoral couple Aug 7.
LODI, Calif. (Vinewood Community)The congregation honored outgoing interim senior pastor Skip Suess and his wife, Denise, with a send-off dinner Aug. 21. Suess has accepted a call to be the lead pastor at the Good News Fellowship of Ferndale, Wash.
• Youth
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (Garden Valley)The youth group participated in a Mexico Mission emphasis July 23-30.
TOPEKA, Kan - The youth group worked with Mennonite Disaster Service in Elwood, Kan., Aug. 6. The group assisted with clean-up, painting, and repair. The Elwood area suffered damage from last summer's severe flooding. A MOVE TO ARIZONA?
Call or write for free information packet
"Pastor Ed does what he says"
The Board of Directors invites nominees for the position of president of Tabor College, commencing on or before July 1, 1995.
Tabor College is an accredited four-year Christ-centered liberal arts college that is owned and operated by the Mennonite Brethren Church. The bachelor's and associate of arts degrees are offered in some 20 areas of study. Current enrollment is about 460 students.
Qualifications sought. The successful candidate will have the following:
• Earned doctorate or its equivalent
• Demonstrated commitment to, and experience within, Christian higher education
• Evidence of successful management and fund-raising experience
• A significant and proven role as a church person
Search procedure: The search committee invites nominations of qualified persons for this position. Please include a brief statement detailing the nominee's qualifications. The search committee will solicit resumes and supporting materials from selected candidates. To ensure consideration, all nominations must be received by October 1, 1994 Address all materialsto:
Dr. David Wiebe, Chair Presidential Search Committee
Tabor College
400 South Jefferson Hillsboro, KS 67063
Asia Resource Box
Asia Resource Box teaches children about Laos and Thailand. Includes teacher's guides, a story cloth, book, game, maps, photos, ball, a spoon made from a bomb casing and a two-part video Letter From Laos/Taste of Thailand. Teaches about peacemaking and suggests ways to raise money for MCC's bomb removal project in Laos. Contact an MCC office for free loan.
He is also survived by two daughters, Karen and husband Gerald Anderson of Fresno, Calif., and Neva and husband David Skiniter of Moline, m.; three sisters, Elizabeth and husband Earl Bartel of Hills· boro, Kan., Leona and husband Vic Duerk· sen of Fresno, Calif., and Una and husband Allen Wiebe of Reedley, Calif.; three broth· ers, Leonard and wife Anne of Tucson, Ariz., Lloyd and wife Donna of Merced, Calif , and Joel and wife Connie of Fresno, Calif.; two grandchildren and two step· grandchildren.
STOBBE, MARIE E., Clearbrook, B.C., a member of the South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church, was born in 1903, to Martin and Anna Harder in Henderson, Neb ., and died July 14, 1994, at the age of 91. In 1929, she was married to Peter J. Stobbe, who predeceased her in 1981. She is sur· vived by three sons, Leslie and wife Rita of Wheaton, m., Vern and wife Ruth of Sur· rey, B.C., and Brazil, and Elmer and wife Wilma of Wmnipeg, Man.; two daughters, Lillian of Winnipeg and Wilma and hus· band John Friesen of Grunthal, Man.; 10 grandchildren and two great·grandchil· dren.
SUDERMAN, LEONARD J., Mountain Lake, Minn., a member of the Mountain Lake MB Church, was born Mar. 12, 1899, to Jacob and Eva Pauls Sudertnan in Rich· mond, Texas, and died Apr. 28, 1994, at the age of 95. On June 14, 1925, he was married to Christine Epp, who prede· ceased him in 1978. On Aug. 18, 1979, he was married to Martha Eytzen Dick, who survives He is also survived by three sons, Jean and wife Lois of Windom, Minn., Leland and wife Marilyn of Dallas, Ore., and Emery and wife Inez of Mission, Texas; one daughter·in·law, Elsie and hus-
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band Art Rahn of Mountain Lake; 14 grand· children, 23 great·grandchildren, one sis· ter·in·law, Katherine Sudertnan of Reedley, Calif., and five step-children.
TIESZEN, HELEN H., former missionary to Zaire and the Native Americans at Yankton, S.D., and member of the Silver Lake MB Church of Freeman, S.D., was born July 23, 1896, to David D . and Katherine Schmidt Tieszen near Marion, S.D., and died recently at the age of 98. She is survived by two sisters, Emma Tieszen and Kathryn Ortman of Marion, S.D.; and one brother, Alfred of Gordon Ville, Pa.
vom, MARmA STELTlNG, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of the Hillsboro MB Church, was born Mar. 14, 1902, to Andrew H. and Helena Funk Stelting at Buhler, Kan., and died Apr. 8, 1994, at the age of 92. On May 20, 1923, she was mar· ried to Abraham J. Voth, who predeceased her in 1971. She is survived by two daugh· ters, Lucille of Hutchinson, Kan., and Mar· garet and husband Ed Rysdyk of Wyoming, Mich.; one son, Richard and wife Ruth of Buenos Aires, Argentina; eight grandchil· dren and 13 great·grandchildren.
WARKENTIN, MARIE JANZEN, Reedley, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, was born Oct. 13, 1913, to Her· man and Sara Janzen in Escondido, Calif., and died May 23, 1994, at the age of 80.
CLEARINGHOUSE
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
MENNONITE MUTUAL AID is seeking a project man· ager in its Information Systems Department. The right person will have a bachelor's degree and at least 2·5 years of managarlal, professional or technical experi· ence in application software development or acquisi· tion and implementation, insurance, financial ser· vices, accounting or related areas This person will also have at least one year of project management experience and possess strong skills in such areas as leadership, working with people, communications , planning and organizing This position may require some computer programming Technical training will be provided. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants must pass an aptitude test. MMA offers an excellent, smoke·free working environment and a competitive benefit package If Interested please send resume to: MMA, Human Resources Dept., P.O. Box 483, Goshen, IN 46526
I munity oriented. Knowledge of Kansas adult care home and federal regulations, organization, leader· I ship, personnel, guest, family relations and PR skills necessary Two to five years nursing management I experience required Family-oriented town with good I school system Send resume to Administrator. Lone Tree Retirement Community, Box 340, Meade, KS I 67864.
I .. HELP WANTED In food services and maintenance. Contact Phil Penner, Hartland Christian Camp, P O. Box 25, Badger, CA 93603.
On Dec 17, 1936, she was married to Pete D Warkentin, who survives. She is also sur· vived by two sons, Kenneth Warkentin of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Larry Warkentin of Fresno, Calif. ; one daughter, Dona McClung of Hacienda Heights, Calif.; one sister, Anna Penner of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; one brother, Herman Janzen of Stockton, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and five great·grandchildren.
WIEBE, EMMA FRIESEN, Com, Okla., a member of the Com MB Church, was born Sept. 16, 1905, to John F. and Aganetha Ediger Friesen, near Alta Mill, Harvey Coun· ty, Kan., and died June 6, 1994, at the age of 88. On Mar. 29, 1925, she was married to Henry Wiebe , who predeceased her. She is suvived by one son, Vernon and wife Rubena; two daughters, Elda and husband Henry Martens, and Grace and husband Odie Sawatzky; 12 grandchildren and 22 great·grandchildren. eR.
Mennonite Economic Development Associates
invites you to attend our annual convention
God's week has seven days, not just one. But sometimes it's hard to cany the lessons of Sunday over to the realities of Monday morning and the rest of the work week.
Convention 94 will help you bridge the Sunday-Monday gap; in cultivating a ministty of daily life. You'llleam how to be God's agents in a marketplace that tempts us to leave our Sunday ethics behind
November 3 -6 Century Center and Marriott South Bend, Indiana
convention 1994
Random kindness
The offices of the Canadian MB Conference, Mennonite Central Committee Canada and MCC British Columbia were the targets of a "random act of kindness" inJune. The act-in the form of a $5 check to buy doughnuts for coffee break-came from Northgate MB Church in Dawson Creek, B. C. The decision to send the gifts were made by the church board. "It's basically a way to share a smile and encouragement with people," says Northgate pastor John F. Klassen. The expression "random
Yact of kindness" comes from a saying that encourages people to "practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty" by doing such things as helping a stranger by dropping coins into a parking meter whose time has expired. The saying was coined in 1983 by a California woman and popularized in 1991 by a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
(MCC Canada)
Deciding to wait
Mennonite young people will be encouraged to make a promise to God to abstain
MARKETING
OU'VE HEARD OF AMISH QUILTS and even Amish furniture, but Amish computers? David Luthy explores the marketing of the Amish image in the January issue of Family Life, an Old Order Amish magazine_ The Amish name and the horse-and-buggy image are being used to sell everything from camping trailers to television sets, he notes_ A computer company in Palo Alto, Calif_, named Amish Software, Inc., markets programs such as Amish Memopad, Amish Clock and Amish Desk. Amish Country Spas in Pennsylvania names its classy bathtubs after towns in Lancaster County. And Windgate Vineyards in the same state offers "Amish Country White" and "Amish Blush" among its wines. Sherwin Williams paints has an "Amish yellow" on its color charts and the Amish Clothing Company used to offer "Buggy shirts" for $35. In 1987, the Westem Ontario Farmer carried this ad: "Pups-six weeks old, black, white, part Amish." A caller was assured that the mother had come from an Amish farm. And in 1992, Case Farms was advertising "All natural Amish chicken" in Indiana newspapers. Fifty years ago the Amish were considered the "dumb Dutch," notes Luthy wryly. But not anymore. "Today the Amish are In," and have become a highly "marketable commodity." (Mennonite Reporter)
from sex until marriage. Regional youth ministers from the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church recently endorsed the True Love Waits campaign, to be held in conjunction with the Wichita '95 Youth Convention. True Love Waits is sponsored by numerous denominations. "One of the exciting things about the True Love Waits campaign is that it emphasizes that sexual abstinence is not only for virgins," says Carlos Romero, MC minister of youth. "Teenagers who have had sexual experiences will be invited to seek God and make a fresh commitment to abstinence until marriage." The campaign includes 'outlines for Bible study, worship services, copies of articles about the campaign and a campaign logo. (AlBCM News Service)
Kicks for Christ
During the month-long soccer World Cup that began June 17, a coalition of several hundred churchesandseveralthousand Christians mounted a $1 million-plus campaign to get their message to soccer fans. Born-again activists staged mass rallies featuring Christian soccer stars; passed out 200,000 copies of a glossy sports magazine printed in English and Spanish with testimonies by Christian players; distributed more than 2 million four-color gospel tracts with World Cup information; and ran hundreds of soccer clinics where tips
on kicking were interspersed with tips on praying. Some results:
• In Dallas, 77 out of the 200 children attending a five-day soccer clinic made decisions for Christ.
• In Chicago and Washington, crusades featuring Argentina-born evangelist Luis Palau attracted 11,000 fans and prompted 325 to commit their lives to Christ.
• In Los Angeles, an event aimed at Latinos that included Christian salsa musicians, rap artists, mimes, jugglers, a live 1V broadcast of a World Cup game and a sermon by Hugo Perez, drew 3,000 participants; 75 made decisions for Christ. (Pacific News Service, reported in Mennonite Weekry Review)
A cry for universal care
Two Mennonite medical organizations, convening in Laurelville, Pa., have called for a "universal and just health care system" for the United States. The Mennonite Medical Association and the Mennonite Nurses Association, along with nine other Mennonite health and church organiza· tions, are signatories of a letter sent to U.S. senators and representatives regarding the direction away from universal coverage of health care legislation. In part the letter reads: "We urge you to seize this historic opportunity to enact comprehensive legislation and avoid the temptation to settle for incremental change Central to our faith tradition is the biblical call to alleviate
human suffering, with particular attention to helping those who are most vulnerable. » The letter identifies four principles as essential to health-care reform legislation in 1994: universal coverage, comprehensive basic benefits, fair and equitable fmancing, and real cost containment.
Big-screen debut
Robert Schuller, whose weekly church service is broadcast to 20 million viewers worldwide, announced Aug. 9 that his ministry plans to produce the "Hour of Power" program in fllm format, for screening in movie theaters. The fllms would present actual church services on the wide screen with stereo sound. Schuller said his ministry plans an early 1995 test of the idea in about 20 theaters across the United States and in additional theaters in Australia. Schuller said people viewing his services in a theater will be informed of programs offered by churches in their area. (EP)
CompuServant?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is speeding onto the Information
On July 5
the denomination opened a private forum on CompUServe. The forum will allow church members and pastors to communicate with church leaders and other members, and to receive resource meso During the first two weeks of operation, more than 150 members were on-line and 400 membership packets were distributed. "The Information Superhighway is a reality in our public life and the church does well if it keeps abreast of technology that allows us to be in direct and instant contact with each other, » says Ray Dabrowski, the denomination 's communications director. The Southern Baptist Sunday School Board is also on CompuServe with a private forum, and a Christianoriented service area called the Christian Interactive Network can be reached through CompUServe (EP)
September surprise
By the time you read this , it may be too late . With September upon us, the end of the world must be nigh At least that's the prediction of Harold Camping, owner of 40 radio stations, who has written two books predicting that the world will end this month. Evangelical scholars have dismissed
Camping's prediction as groundless. "It's just another screwball prediction," former Dallas Theological Seminary president John Walvoord told the Associated Press "Nobody has ever guessed the date right. You'd think they'd learn." (EP)
Rich is relative(s)
Most people think having money is less important than having relationships and religion, according to a national surVey conducted for Lutheran Brotherhood Only 4 percent ofthose polled said monetary success is the most important thing in their lives. Instead, a majority of Americans (56 percent) report that rela-
tionships with family and friends are most important. Other things that scored higher than money include religious faith and spirituality (21 percent), doing something to make the world a better place (12 percent) and a fulfilling career (5 percent). (EP)
Building a reputation
Habitat for Humanity International, a Christian ministry which builds houses for people who can't afford usual mortgage arrangements , was the 17th largest home builder in the United States last year, according to Builder magazine. The ministry rose from number 22 the year before. Habitat sold 2,705 homes last year, and has built 30,000 homes worldwide since 1976. The homes are made available to low-income families at cost, with 15- or 20-year no-interest loans. This summer the ministry launched its most ambitious project yet: building 30 houses during the week of July 1723 on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. (EP)
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
CHURCH-SPONSORED
SIGNS caught the eye of New York Times wri ter Peter Applebome during a tour of the South He recorded some memorable slogans in a column. Some were inspirationa l ("No Jesus, No love; Know Jesus, Know love"), and others were informative ("Heaven's Directions- Turn Right, Go Straight" ) Some were ridd les ("CH - CH - W hat's Missing? UR") and others were puns ("Seven Days Without Prayer Make One Weak " ) And at least two cou l d have been country western song titles: "let Jesus Fix Your Achy Breaky Heart" and " You Can't Walk With God if You Run With the Devil. " (EP)