September 1995

THE CHRISTIA N

· D·E·R

SEPTEMBER 1995

IN THE PASTORXTE

Listening to the voices of experience

SEPTEMBER

FIRST WORDS

1995

••• from the editor

H

AVE YOU HUGGED your pastor lately? I haven't hugged mine. But if I can overcome my deep-seated emotional inhibitions, I just might. God knows he deserves it.

Pastoring isn't an easy calling these days. We parishioners tend to be picky and pretentious. We want strong leaders, but not too strong. Change our church, but don't mess with anything I like. Keep us moving, but if I don't like the direction we're heading, I'm outta here. Or, pastor, you're outta here.

My church is fortunate. Our pastor is among those who contributed to the article on longevity in the pulpit (page 4). Are there "secrets" to nurturing durable pastorates? I don't know, but you'll find a lot of helpful insights in the observations of these faithful servants. The article is long, but jump in according to the questions that interest you. It'll be worth your while.

Our conference has endured its share of "mismatches" lately. We hope this article contributes toward more pastorcongregation matches that are made in heaven-and faithfully cultivated on earth.-DR

COMING • OCTOBER 27-29-Central and Southern districts meeting

jointly for their annual convention; hosted by Tabor College .

• Pacific District Conference regional rallies: • Oct. I-Good News Fellowship, Ferndale, Wash.

• Oct. B-Kingwood Bible Church, Salem, Ore. • Oct. I5-Greenhaven Neighborhood Church, Sacramento, Calif.

• Oct. 22-Lincoln Glen Church, San Jose, Calif.

• Oct. 29-North Fresno MB Church, Fresno, Calif.

• Nov. 5-Heritage Bible Church, Bakersfield, Calif.

• Nov. I2-:Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church

Page 4

. JULY 26-29, 1996-u.s. Conference biennial convention, Colorado Springs, Colo.

QUOTABLE "The Church today is speaking and writing more words than in the history of mankind and no one is listening.

The Church is not penetrating the culture, it is mimicking the culture. It is time for the Church to rediscover the power of words, the power of its faith vocabulary, the power of the Living Word. Let the Church 'kindle the light in our words'so that our culture may be able to 'behold the riches they contain. ' " - MIKE Y ACONELLI IN THE J ULy/ A UG UST ISSUE OF THE DOOR MAGAZINE

2· T H E

C HRISTIAN

LEADE

R

TO OUR READERS: Randy Friesen's Forum article in our August issue included a request to receive funds through Youth Mission International for the evangelical Christian community in Iraq . In response to inquiries from constituents, MB Foundation followed up on the request and discovered that contributions for this project do not qualify for a charitable tax deduction. Apparently, the project has not yet been formally adopted by any of three bodies that sponsor YMI (MB Missions/Services and the U.S. and Canadian conferences). The IRS requires such approval before contributions for non-profit (charity) funds can be accepted for project use. We will let you know if the status of this project changes.-The editors

INS

IDE

SEPTEMBER

1995 THE CHRISTIAN

VOLUME 58, NUMBER 9

FEATURES - Theme: Healthy pastorates

4 Longevity: The fruit of effective ministry Why do some pastorates endure and others crumble? We asked pastors in our conference who have served in pastorates of at least 10 years to tell us what has "worked" for them. Their answers may surprise you-and energize your church .

EDITOR Don Ratzlaff

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Connie Faber (on leave)

DEPARTMENTS Forum . . ....... . .... . . . . .. ..... . by Kate Wentland 12 • Fat Man, Little Boy and me

What readers say .. .. ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. 13 Inquiring Minds . ... . .. . ...... . . . . . . by Marvin Hein 14 • 'Made up' Bible stories • Belief and salvation • Jesus and 'new wine'

Ph'lip Side ... . .. . .

. . . . by Philip Wiebe 15

• Random thoughts

People . . ..... . ..... . .. . . .. .. . ... . by Connie Faber 16 • The Mireles family: Reaping the miracles of summer

Musings ........ . . . .... . . . . . .... . ... by Jim Holm 18 • Scratching the itch

Bodylife ... . . .. .... . . . .. ... .. . ... . .. ....... . .. . 19 • Congregational profile: A way station in Western Kansas 19 • MBM/S board sets goals for 7995-96 21 • The seminary's new satellite program 22 • MCC responds in Bosnia 22 • Rwanda: War and hunger 23 • Central District welcomes first Slavic church 24 • Clymers 'smitten' with MDS spirit 25 • Bethany youth focus on community needs 26

Editorial . . . . . .. . .... . ... . . . . . . .

INTERIM ASS'T ED. Aleen Ratzlaff

. . .. . . . .. . 32

• Identity in the balance

BOARD OF COMMUNICATIONS: Ron Braun (chair), 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 evangelicalf Anabaptist theological tradition.

EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions of our writers and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of The Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church . The editors invite free-lance article subm issions, but ask that each submission be accompanied with a SASE . The editors reserve the right to edit, condense or refuse all copy submitted for publication; anonymous contributions will not be published .

READER PARTICIPATION: The editors encourage readers to interact with our articles through letters to the editor and essays to Forum, our op-ed column. letters for What Readers Say must include the author's name and address. Forum is open to members or attenders of Mennonite Brethren churches.

Essays to Forum can address any issue of relevance and interest to the faith and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church. The essay should be no longer than 800 words and should include the home church, occupation and a clear photo of the writer.

COMMUNICATION: All correspondence should be addressed to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063 . Phone: (316) 947-5543. Fax: (316) 9473266 .

ADVERTISING: Clearinghouse ads should be submitted in writing . Cost: $.25 per word . Send no advance payments. For display-ad rates, contact the editor.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Rates : $16 for one year, $30 for two years, and $42 for three years ($20, $38 and $54 in Canada); $1.50 per copy.

ART CREDITS: Cover, photo of Black Canyon courtesy of Colorado Travel Section; page 22, MCC photo by Howard Zehr; page 23, MCC photo by Jon Warren.

ADDRESS CHANGES: Send both old and new address to Circulation Secretary, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063 . Allow up to one month for transition .

MEMBERSHIP: The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors.

PRINTING : The Christian Leader is printed on recyclable paper by Mennonite Press, Newton, Kansas.

POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to The Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063 . Second -class postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas.

AUG U ST

995

3

PASTORS

N THE LATE 1930S AND EARLY 1940S MENNONITE BRETHREN

churches in the United States switched from an unsalaried multiple lay ministry to the theologically trained and salaried pastor.

Factors pushing for the change were the rise of the educational level of church members and the steady shift from German to English. Congregations feared the loss of their young people if services were not conducted in English. Better-trained ministers would result in better preaching.

But many objections to the change surfaced also. Mennonite Brethren would suffer great loss by adopting mainstream Protestant patterns of church leadership. Every three to four years the churches would have a pastors' fruit-basket upset. The gifts of the laity would remain unused.

Now, 50 years later, where do we stand? The Christian Leader invited a number of senior pastors who had been in the same congregation for 10 or more years to reflect on their long tenures. What keeps them from church hopping?

They responded with many valuable insights of which we can bring you only a small part.

Our panel of persevering pastors ...

4.THE

Ron Seibel

Phil Glanzer

Dennis Fast

Jim Weems

Bob Vogt

• Henderson (Neb.) MB, 1977-87 • Silver Lake MB, Freeman, S.D., 1987present

• Salem MB, Bridgewater, S.D., 1975-93 • New Hope MB, Minneapolis, Minn., 1993-present

• Hillsboro (Kan.) MB, 1981-present

• Carson MB, Delft, Minn., 1983-92 • Grace Bible, Gettysburg, S.D., 1992-present

• Dinuba (Calif.) MB, 1984-present

CHRI S TIA N

LEADER

THE FRUIT OF EFFECTIVE MINISTRY CHRISTIAN lEADER (Cl): When you first came to your position, did you expect to stay a long time?

The pastors who took time to answer our request said their early expectations varied with the situation. But most agreed that an early long-term commitment conveyed to the congregation that they were looking for something more than a job.

RON SEIBEL: Leaving after just a few years seemed like a copout. I knew from working mostly with farmers that they couldn't easily run because of some bad years. They had to stick with it.

PHIL GLANZER: A number of factors gave us the feeling that we and the church were a match.

We knew rural South Dakota life and appreciated and understood its challenges, values and people. Our children were just entering school so we knew it would be good not to move frequently during their school years. Living within 100 to 150 miles of our parents was another positive factor.

DENNIS FAST: I came to Hillsboro MB knowing the church had a history of long-term pastorates. I am the seventh senior pastor in the church's 114-year history.

Jim Holm • Vinewood Community, Lodi, Calif., 1974-87 • Reedley (Calif) MB, 1987-present

JIM WEEMS: My philosophy of ministry tells me it takes time, like five years in ministry, to earn the right to be heard_ BOB VOGT: When I came to Dinuba 11 years ago, I was told by the church leadership that they wanted a long-term commitment from me_ The church and leadership liked my philosophy of ministry. My social and cultural background, spiritual gifts and natural abilities seemed to fit the church_ JIM HOLM: When I fIrst started pastoring in Lodi, I assumed I would stay there until I retired or died_ I did not know of any reason (then) why I would ever seek to serve any place else_ ELDON BUSENITZ: Even after being here 11 years I feel that there are many areas of ministry to people just beginning to open up_ Lasting results from ministry often do not take hold until a pastor has been on board for several years_ WERNER KROEKER: A seminary teacher said we would probably not stay in one place long enough to see the whole process of a child's development from birth to marriage and having children_ But it would help us, he said, to think of people in that way_ Ministry, the professor suggested, should be focused on the whole life potential of an individual from birth to the grave

Eldon Busenitz

Werner Kroeker

Henry Dick

Marvin Hein

• Bethesda MB, Huron, S.D., 1983-present

• Lincoln Glen, San Jose, Calif, 1981-1993 • Transitional pastor, 1993-present

• Shafter (Calif) MB, 1958-69 • Reedley MB, 1976-88 • Pacific District minister, 1988-presen t

• Hillsboro MB, 1959-80 • North Fresno (Calif) MB, 1980-90 • General Conference exec. sec., 1990-present

SEPTEMBER

1995

5

and the eternity that lies beyond that. That's the way God sees people and we should try to do the same. If we did that then the length or brevity of our stay wouldn't really matter so much.

MARVIN HEIN: I was just glad to receive a call after going through seminary and winding up broke.

to remember those high schoolers-85 of them on Wednesday evening all by myself-for what they were when I first came. I now see them as mature persons who have become active in the service of the church. I would hope long pastorates enable church members to learn to know their pastor in a way that is not possible during a short period.

PHIL GLANZER: By staying longer the pastor CL: What are the advantages of remaining in the is not always in the getting-acquainted mode in same pastorate for a time? the church and community.

Many responses pointed to the advantage the JIM HOLM: You are able to develop your dream for the church and to see some of its pastor has to watch the church family grow and mature, and to become involved in all aspects of the implementation. For example, in Lodi, we instimembers' life cycle from birth, entry tuted an evangelism ministry and into school, graduations, conversion tried it over the long haul. Also, you learn to know what it is to feel and baptism, career choices, short and long-term service, marriage and loved. The congregation cares for anniversaries, illness, financial loss and you and your spouse and family and shows it. They learn to relax, to success, death and grief. Another decided advantage is the opportunity know that their pastor will be there to become knowledgeable of the Sunday after Sunday , year after community infrastructure and mores year. They can count on pastoral and involved in community affairs. visits in the hospital or at other times of need. They can depend on HENRY DICK: Whatever a pasthe preaching and feel the freedom tor sows he reaps if he stays long to invite others. enough. Today, 36 years later, I DENNIS FAST: In both churches meet couples in their 40s who say -HENRY DICK where I have served something sigto their children: "This is Pastor nificant in acceptance of leadership Dick. He baptized me, married us, took place about the fifth year. I and dedicated you." It is rewarding to hear that. would have missed much of what God has done if It is also scary to think of the pastor's influence I had left then or before that fifth-year mark. Pason the people. tors who stay for long terms witness their goals completed and new goals set and attempted. I can MARVIN HE IN: A long term allows the pastor to see the young and rebellious, and sometimes share a sense of gratification and accomplishment the old and rebellious, develop and mature into with our people because I have been here with productive, happy persons. I'm glad I don't have them through goals we have attempted.

Whatever a

pastor sows he reaps ifhe stays long enough.

6

0

THE

Paul Klassen

Phil Plett

Jim Aiken

Elton Berg

Bob Kroeker

• Edmond (Okla.) MB, 1983·present

• Community Bible, Olathe, Kan., 1982-95

• Bethany, Fresno, Calif., 1983-present

• Bethel MB, Yale, S.D., 1978-1995 (retired this summer from full-time pastoral ministry)

• Madera Ave. Bible, Madera. Calif., 1974-79 and 1986-95 (retired from full-time pastoral ministry this summer)

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

PASTORS

BOB VOGT: It takes several years for people to adjust to a new pastor and for the pastor to adjust to the people. A long term aUowed me to purchase a house and get some equity in it. It helps missionaries from the church have a sense of continuity with the pastor.

PAUL KLASSEN: A long term allows for a deeper trust to develop between pastor and congregation and for relational networks, both within the church as well as in the community, to grow. It also allows for an opportunity to flesh out some of the "enduring qualities" of love.

RON SEIBEL: Longer stays are valuable if one has children. They can have one place they feel is home. You become one with the people, not just a temporary employee who comes and goes and whom the people don't have to take seriously. Peopie of the community develop respect J . for a long-termer. You grow with the children and youth, but also age with the older ones-and come to identify with them more and more.

PHIL PLETT: You have the ability and maturity to resolve conflicts, not to expect perfection, to always look for the good in people, and to offer gratitude freely.

from just switching the inventory around or putting in new window dressing, like introducing new programs, etc. There is time to really think about who we are and how we can, in a natural way, glorify God and make disciples. For example, we can learn together about the difference between confrontation and fighting . We can examine our attitudes toward other races and cultures . In the community we have the opportunity to make non-Christian friends and not just see them as objects of our evangelism.

PAUL KLASSEN: A healthy church family makes a long-term commitment possible. This means a church in which both pastor and people exercise the grace of forgiveness.

WERNER

KROEKER:

Always when I was involved in a structured continuing education program I went back to the church with new energy and anticipation of good things to come. Flying solo doesn't seem to fit the nature of pastoral ministry. I have attempted wherever possible to have peer relationships in which I was held accountable for my life and ministry and could in turn be accountable for others . Having -MARVIN HEIN other pastors or lay friends who understand you, care about you, help you to discern strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and provide a forum for testing ideas and refuse to allow attitudes and actions that diminish effectiveness, can all be enormously helpful.

MARVIN HEIN: If you want to remain a long time in a church, arrange for many funerals and weddings. That's a more serious comment than it sounds. I really think my longevity was largely due to the fact that with about 30 funerals and weddings annually, I got inside the lives of almost every church family in a way you can't do very well otherwise. After 350 funerals, people were able to see I wasn't the unrelational person I often appeared to be when I spoke with a big voice behind a big pulpit in a big church.

RON SEIBEL: A long term is helped by a willingness to compromise some things to fit in .

Also needed is a sense of responsibility for the ongoing life of the congregation.

DENNIS FAST: What has kept me at the same congregation? Signs of change, a few people here and there who grab hold of a new idea, who agi-

I f you want to

remain a long time in a church,

arrange for many funerals and weddings.

CL: What factors in church and community make a long-term pastorate a positive experience for the pastor? for the church?

Our respondents agreed strong supportive lay leaders helped the pastor to consider a long stay.

Other factors tipping the scales in favor of a long stay were a financial commitment that allowed the pastor to adequately care for his family, a supportive, affirming congregation not threatened by the possibility of change. A supportive, even sacrificing, wife and family when financial arrangements are inadequate, makes a long term possible. Opportunities for selfimprovement with financial support, through short or long sabbaticals and continuing education opportunities, are added incentives to stay. "Preaching that meets the people's needs covers a multitude of sins," said one pastor. Having a tradition of long pastorates in a particular congregation means people do not have to be persuaded about the advantages of longevity.

HENRY DICK: A long-term pastorate helps pastor and people to "change their inventory"the way they think about God, themselves, Christians and the community. It keeps the pastor

SEPT E MBER

1995

7

PASTORS

tate for change that turns the church from being inward looking to being outward looking. Also, the joy of a good working partnership with associate staff members, a strong support base of praying encouraging people, a lay leadership that understands-these reflect, or at times compensate, for the pastor's theology/ philosophy and giftedness.

JIM AIKEN: What helps me stay? Honest dialogue with leaders, evaluations, accountability.

PHIL GLANZER: Long terms help the congregation get over the paranoia that pastors only come for brief ministries and that while we are serving a church we are always looking for a greener pasture.

ELTON BERG: Keeping good relationships with the church leadership is the key. They will promote good relationships with the rest of the church by their attitude.

doesn't, or vice versa.

MARVIN HEIN: A pastor may enter a pastorate with ideas of change and be so enamored of those possibilities that he forgets to listen to the people. Impatience probably hinders longevity as much as anything. Too many changes too quickly, before there is credit in the bank, can be fatal. Closely tied to this is an exaggerated sense of "strong leadership" that alienates the pastor from people.

BOB KROEKER: A critical attitude within the congregation, especially the lay leadership.

WERNER KROEKER: A seminary professor warned us students that we must never allow (arbitrary three-year terms and anonymous congregational votes) to influence our approach to ministry because to do so would leave us feeling always on the outside rather than as an integral part of the family of faith.

DENNIS FAST: A barrier to a long term is the status quo oriented church that does not want CL: What are the forces that make it highly change, which opposes any change, no matter unlikely a pastor will stay in the same pastorate how slowly it is instituted or how carefully it is explained. After a few years of straining against a long time? What pitfalls should a new pastor avoid? the status quo, you begin to say, "It must be easiA frequent response was making too many er somewhere else." Of course, that is false hope.

The status quo mentality is present in any conserchanges too soon, developing the idea that the pastor is indispensable. It doesn't help vative church. if a spouse doesn't fit in. Autocratic HENRY DICK: Pitfalls? Lack of communication, insisting the leadership, taking on too many of the administrative duties, ensures ':I' church go your way. Not seeking the stay will not be long. wisdom and patience from God while trying to lead and persuade BOB VOGT: A congregation people. Not allowing the moderahas a history, and as pastor, I tor to be an advocate for the pasmust learn that history. One pittor. Not being willing to apolofall is a lack of patience and the gize, to humble oneself, when the need to bring about immediate situation calls for it. Exhibiting a change . The greatest pitfall is "don't-disagree-with-me" spirit.

PAUL KLASSEN: Power strugnot taking time to relate indepth to the leadership of the gles and unresolved interpersonal struggles. church and building a base of support among the lay leaders.

JIM WEEMS: We get comfortPHIL GLANZER: One pitfall is -PHIL GLANZER able falling into a rut. making specific issues equal to JIM AIKEN: Growing, unreor even bigger than the total solved conflict between pastor ministry to the church. Then, if a congregation and leaders, moral failure, lack of finances or external crises. fails to buy into a specific idea or to make a certain change, the pastor feels defeated and his leadership rejected . It helps to focus on the broader picture of ministry in church and com· CL: How do you know when to leave? munity.

No pastor endorsed the vote of confidence as the best way to know when to exit. Annual evaluaRON SEIBEL: I can see a number of pitfalls: tions seemed a better solution, but knowing when to the unwillingness to accept the ways of the peo· pIe and community, a pastor who feels strongly leave also had to do with the leading of the Spirit and about conference and a congregation that a general feeling that the time had come. Our panel

OnepitFall is

making specific issues equal to or

even bigger than

the total ministry to the church.

a-THE

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

of pastors could give us no precise answer, but here are a few of their responses.

ity is not very strong, it is probably time to think of leaving.

ELTON BERG: By keeping open to people's suggestions, especially the leadership, and by having an evaluation.

RON SEIBEL: For me it hinged on a particular problem of restlessness in the congregations that gave me the sense that this was maybe it. I felt the people took me for granted and I grew slack.

Being a new pastor generates a lot of interest.

CL: Modern trends point to large, one-person kingdoms developing in some pastorates. What Attendance increases in various settings, but keeps you from developing a "king after six to eight years, interest of the castle" complex? wanes. Maybe this is unique to small churches, or maybe small rural churches.

DENNIS FAST: I have been the MARVIN HEIN: In the old only one present at enough prayer meetings, seen Sunday evening serdays the confidence vote, as much as I hated it, was an indivice attendance drop, struggled to cator whether a person should keep a midweek prayer group going it and started enough new Sunday stick it out. I generally took the school classes that didn't grow to view that I was staying until I felt there was good reason to know that just because my name is leave. As long as I was satisfied I attached to something does not was fulfilling my role in the guarantee that people will follow .

These are the things that test your church adequately and the ministry was being received, I would -ELDON BUSENITZ effectiveness, put you on your knees, purify your motives, cause not even consider a move. you to evaluate your call, and let ELDON BUSENITZ: Shortterm pastorates make it easy to run from probyou know you are not the head of this church.

The church belongs to Christ. lems. A long-term pastorate is more demanding JIM HOLM: Prayer. Whenever there is a sucbecause it takes extra commitment to stay fresh cess, you remember that all success, indeed, aU with preparation of sermons and working good things, come from the Lord and not through problems and difficulties.

DENNIS FAST: At some point every year your because of your own efforts. In addition, there frustration over the slow pace of change will are enough failures to keep you humble.

PHIL GLANZER: A strong congregational spirit slam against your dreams and expectations. For in church government. several years, you will deal with the frustration by being optimistic, assuming that just one more ELDON BUSENITZ: To prevent over-attachrace down the runway will give the aircraft ment to the pastor, equip people to do the work of ministry so they are not dependent on a oneenough speed to take off. If that change hapman show. Delegate ministry to others. pens, you stay.

HENRY DICK: I knew it was time to leave BOB VOGT: Have an open relationship with when it really hurt to resign. I left the Shafter other staff members. They and the church council are all leaders. I need lots of help from staff church with a mutual feeling of love, respect and afftrmation. and leadership.

PHIL PLETI: A sense from God, the people PAUL KLASSEN: Making time to attend conferences, workshops and seminars, and to read, and self that "It's time," as well as diminished effectiveness coupled with restlessness. having denominational or community involvePAUL KLASSEN: We simply try to listen to ments that take me outside "my" church. The ongoing demands of life have a way of humbling the people, to the church leadership, to ourselves, and to the Lord's promptings. us and of reminding us of our limitations.

JIM WEEMS: When you've brought or led the MARVIN HEIN: I chose for my life verse the 1 people as far as you can.

Corinthians passage that suggests there is nothBOB VOGT: It is probably time for me to ing we have that we have not been given. think about leaving if I no longer have dreams for RON SEIBEL: Trust others with ministry. Be the church for the next five years. I have also sensitive to the ideas and input of the leaders and members. Don 't think your ideas are the only asked myself "Am I still willing to work hard at pastoring in this place?" When a pastor's credibilworkable ones.

Short-term

pastorates

make easy to runfrom problems.

SEPTEMBER

1995

9

PASTORS

CL: Do long terms necessarily mean repetition of sermon themes and dullness in preaching? How do you keep your preaching fresh?

The most common answer was read, read, read-all kinds of literature, including books on preaching, novels, history, as well as the Bible.

not jealous of pulpit time for guest speakers.

Nothing like two guest speakers in a row to have the people call for the pastor to preach again.

ELTON BERG: Be willing to change when necessary to maintain freshness.

RON SEIBEL: Get out of the office and visit CL: Are pastors ever discouraged? What do you people, share in their daily life. Study. Don't just do when you are discouraged that might help throw words together around an idea that pops others? into your head. Address life Taking time for personal spiritual development was a frequent answer, but taking situations and not just doctime off for other activities was also deemed trinal facts and exegetical detail. Begin sermon prepaimportant. ration early in the week.

Spend time with the Lord BOB VOGT: I'm discouraged nearly apart from study. every Sunday evening or Monday mornMARVIN HEIN: Never ing. I always know I could have done finish a sermon without askbetter. Focusing on my personal relationing "So what?" Speak simply ship with the Lord has brought stability enough so the young person and consistency. I also make sure I can understand. Preach well spend time with friends who can bolster enough so that the intellecmy ego and keep me laughing. tual will listen.

ELDON BUSENITZ: My wife supports, ELDON BUSENITZ: Take a encourages and lifts me up. day a week to get away from PHIL GLANZER: Something good is church-related ministry. usually going on in the life of the church JIM HOLM: Love to or in even one person's life to give reapreach . Realize that hanson to praise God and to be encouraged. dling the Word of God, DENNIS FAST: I get out of the office explaining it to people, is an and into the hospital, retirement home awesome responsibility. or together with someone in need. I end HENRY DICK: Thank God up being blessed. I journal to keep track for sermon preparation inof what God is doing. I pause to evaluate -PAUL KLASSEN terruptions. I was preparing whether I contributed to the lack of a sermon on "The joy of the effectiveness or lack of success through Lord is my strength" when a mother came in poor planning, lack of delegation, or failure to who had just learned her teenager was on drugs. follow up on lay leaders. I collect a list of "confessions of faith" that express my convictions She was crushed. On Sunday morning when I preached on joy, the mother's pain was an about God's authority, sovereignty and dependimportant ingredient in the sermon. ability.

JIM AIKEN: Once you've been in a church for PAUL KLASSEN: I have a fear of being sterile.

I don't believe messages can come alive unless 10 or more years, perspective helps you read the they are conceived within a vital relationship seriousness of a conflict more accurately. with the living Lord.

JIM WEEMS: Talk to a close friend. I mow BOB VOGT: I am constantly on the alert for lawns for other people and work in my garden to new contemporary illustrations, which I think release tension.

PAUL KLASSEN: Sometimes I think discourshould be personal and certainly not from old books of illustrations. I make it a point to listen agement is my middle name. I simply do what to good preachers on Sundays when I am on the psalmist did: Bring my lament to the Lord. I vacation. I discuss my sermon with my associates also have to remind myself that the Lord spells before and after preaching it. "success" by faithfulness and service rather than JIM WEEMS: Have the worship committee and by results.

HENRY DICK: I deal with discouragement by leaders suggest topics or themes for sermons.

DENNIS FAST: Periodically I listen to my being married to a person who doesn't always agree with me and helps me to get off my "idealtapes to evaluate voice, style, flow, content. I am

I

don't believe

messages can come alive unless they are conceived within a vital relationship

with the living Lord.

10

• TH E

C

H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E

R

istic horse" and face reality. One evening I said to my wife, "I would like to excommunicate 90 percent of the members." She responded with a smile, "The problem with that, Henry, is that you would have to be the first to go."

MARVIN HEIN: If results alone were the determining factor in staying or leaving I might have pastored 200 churches. All churches have problems. Most pastors repeat their mistakes after they move. Most churches, unfortunately, repeat their frailties as well.

RON SEIBEL: I am often discouraged because nothing is happening, at least not in terms of numbers being added. The elderly move to nursing homes and eventually die and the youth graduate and leave for good . Decline has come in spite of seeking to be enthusiastic, creative and fresh. In a previous church, what helped me most was an elderly couple who sensed I was down, saw through my smile, and asked, "How are things with you?" I thought, Oh, I'm caught.

I can't hide my discouragement. Yet their personal interest in me beyond surface matters caused things to turn around.

CL: What one piece of advice would you give a beginning pastor?

RON SEIBEL: Start where the people are and not where you wish they were; show them you really love and accept them.

MARVIN HEIN: Always remember that the church belongs first to the Lord, and then to the people. They will be there long after you depart.

You are important to God, but you aren't indispensable. The kingdom will go on in spite of you.

BOB KROEKER: Spend time with your peo· pIe. JIM AIKEN: People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

ELDON BUSENITZ: Major on tending to your own spiritual health, so that your personal growth is evident to all.

JIM HOLM: Get a mentor. Every pastor needs someone to be accountable to, someone to encourage and to give you a well-placed kick. If I had had a mentor sooner, I'd have been a better pastor sooner.

HENRY DICK: Be a leader, plan, implement, review, take corrective action, and re·implement.

Respect Christians and non·Christians.

PAUL KLASSEN: Make sure your family , espe· cially your wife, is fully committed to ministry because ministry places great stress on relation·

ships. It is vital to stand together in the commitment to serve. Pay attention to your family. They are your most important parishioners.

BOB VOGT: Be willing to admit mistakes, especially to your staff members.

JIM WEEMS: Don't take away the leadership of the congregation. Don't worry about who gets the credit. Don't run over people to carry out what you think is God's will. Don't use your message as God's whip.

DENNIS FAST: Be yourself. Don't try to mimic some other popular or successful preach· er. This world doesn't need two Swindolls, Luca· dos, Grahams, Henry Schmidts or Edmund Janzens.

62

We want to hear from you ...

H

ERE ARE SOME question s these long-t erm pastors rai sed and to w hich we would like you, as readers, to respond: • How do church leaders and members feel about a pastor who stays on for decades? Do they prefer pastoral changes every four or five years?

• What is t he effect of multiple pastoral staff on the issue of longevity?

• What is t he wife 's role in the pastorate?

How important is her sense of God's leading in staying or leaving?

• How can we convince church leaders t hat pa stors need at least one week to plan the ir preaching year and do basic resea rch for the series of sermons that w ill be preached?

• What is the greatest need within t he church today ?

• What role does the local church and its leadership play in long pastorates?

• Pastors do not serve to gat her bouquets of appreciation, but w ithout appreciat ion and helpful feedback the gea rs of ministry run dry. What does your congregation do to support the pastor?

Se nd brief respon ses t o any or all of these questions to What Readers Say, Christian Leader, Box V, Hillsboro, KS 67063 . We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length.

S EPTEMB E R

1995

11

F

o R u

M

READER ESSAYS

Fat Man, Little Boy and me

M

BY KATE WENTLAND

y GRANDFATHER fought in

World War 2, Pacific Arena.

It was, he reports, the high point of his life. My father chose to become a pacifist, a Mennonite and a conscientious objector. He died before my birth, so I never had the opportunity to hear his reasons. I've heard my grandfather's often. I am seeking my own.

This year I chose to research and write on the dropping of "Fat Man" and "Little Boy," the two atomic bombs, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I hoped reviewing the historical data could help me form my peace convictions. I received no guidance in that regard from my Mennonite Brethren church or youth group. The peace issue was never discussed and was considered unimportant. I was left to discover for myself where I stood.

Probing the use of the A-bomb on Japan immediately thrusts one into the controversy between two sides.

Those who believe the bomb actually ended the war say it was necessary for Japan's surrender, that the war would have dragged out for several more years. The veterans rejoice in the sparing of American lives, including their own, even though the bombs massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

Those who question the use of the bomb point out that the Japanese were preparing to surrender before the bombings. The war would have lasted only a few more months at worst. En route to Pottsdam, Truman and Secretary of State Byrne themselves wrote, "It is clear that the Japanese are seeking peace."

Many allied leaders suggested a

It anyone is to take his hard words seriously with some integrity, it should be the historic peace churches. Why are we so silent? demonstration with a group of international observers. An A-bomb exploded on an uninhabited New Mexican desert could shock the world with its horror. Japan might surrender and avoid devastation.

The notion of an arrogant military demanding the use of the bomb dissolves upon close inspection. Chief of Staff Adm. William Leahy stated, "the use of this barbarous weapon on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender."

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower said, "Dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary. Japan was already defeated."

W

Forum is a column of opinion and comment on contemporary issues facing the Mennonite Brethren Church. Manuscripts expressing an opinion for Forum should aim for a length of 800 words. Authors must sign articles, identify their church membership and vocation, and include a clear photo of themselves.

hy weren't other options considered? Why did the majority of cabinet members and the Joint Chiefs unanimously demand we use the bomb?

A crescendo of events contributed to the lack of imagination for considering alternative paths. Our fear of the RUSSians, our hopes of defining the post-war peace accelerated us to a nuclear climax. On the eve of the ftrst atomic attack, Truman said of the Soviets, "If it explodes as I think it will, I'll certainly have a hammer on those boys."

The use of atomic weapons was an unprecedented act of war taken with a thin justification, typical of so many decisions made in the heat of war. It reveals how politicians have found it possible to order the deaths of multitudes of anonymous people for their own ends and how willingly we lay aside our own principles. The Christian and Jewish political leaders rationalized their own moral and religious traditions and failed to apply the criteria for a just war which they pro-

12 • THE

LEA D E R

C H R 1ST I A N

fessed. The Jewish concern for justice, the Christian commitment to love the enemy was now irrelevant.

Having reviewed the issues, I have come to believe the burden of proof rests on those who support the use of atomic weapons. Seventy thousand civilian deaths in Hiroshima and 40,000 in Nagasaki immediately resulted from this decision, along with 2,000 in long-term consequence. We Americans deny the awful memory of the bomb just like Germans deny the Holocaust. We dare not forget them, even to ease our national conscience.

"Fat Man" and "Little Boy" not only affected those they killed, it affected the whole world. For 40 years, people lived in fear of the bomb, governments greedily accumulated insane stockpiles of nuclear weapons, and the East and West were divided in a Cold War. Jesus opposed all violence, even to secure safety. We Christians focus on his teachings that ftt our lifestyle, even though nonviolence was one of Christ's most clear words. If anyone is to take his hard words seriously with some integrity, it should be the historic peace churches. Why are we so silent? We have some simple yet crucial things to share with our nation.

Our hope must be in negotiation, not nuclear force, in diplomacy, not death.

Although I've heard my father's convictions only by report, I've come to believe he was right. As Mennonites we are a historic voice of peace in the world. If we don't oppose the desecration of innocent civilians, if we do not call for the stubborn pursuit of peace, who will?

62.

Kate Wentland is a Mennonite Brethren high school student now living in Claremont, Calif.

w

H

Is Forest Gump a hero?

A

T

R

E

A

D

E

R

it is a subtly adapted form of Eastern Finally I got around to viewing religious thOUght.

Satan masquerades as an angel of "Forest Gump," the movie everyone has been talking about. I had looked light. Sex, violence and New Age outforward to seeing the movie event looks on life are all OK so long as they that historians will cite as the moment come from a nice, simple young man when America regained its sense of paraded through the media as our virtue and simple morality. new standard of morality and virtue.

I wonder if that boffo special Simple, certainly. Virtuous, per· haps. But, oh how I found myself effects team could insert a couple of tiny horns on some of those scenes? wishing it lasted only moment.

Brad Kunkel I expected a cinematic statement of America's intention to return to the Fresno, Calif. virtue and morality that our country was purportedly founded on-which Living by law or grace? the Hollywood culture has, by all Jim Holm's July column, "Condiaccounts, done so much to destroy. tional forgiveness," underscores that Perhaps, I thought, Hollywood had wrong premises lead to wrong conclubegun to atone for its sins by produc- sions. If we approach the Christian ing this icon of simple selflessness for life from a "works of the law" premise, naturally we will come to us to emulate.

What I discovered, though, was the Holm's conclusion. But approaching appropriate thing to do when faced the Christian life from the new with the problem of violence and covenant, the gospel of grace, leads to abuse against a friend: beat the snot the opposite conclusion.

I would ask Holm to reexamine out of the responsible party. But that's OK. This is Forest Gump championing Matthew 18:21-35. If we accept his the underdog with his simple virtue conclusion that God removes forgiveness if we are unforgiving, then we and morality.

I wasn't surprised when 1 found are forced to accept other conclusions that our hero had impregnated his too.

For instance, Ephesians 1:7 -8a girlfriend prior to achieving matrimony. But that's OK. This is Forest Gump makes it clear that forgiveness is part who mostly does the right thing. of the indwelling life of Christ in us. If Sex and violence. Where have I God would have to remove forgiveseen these themes before? Only this ness from me, he would have to time, presented in such a well- remove the life of Christ from me. wrapped package surrounded by This would negate the doctrine of holly and tinsel, they're just little eternal security an. 5:24, 10:28-29; things. Minor slipups. Hardly Arnold Rom. 8:38-39; 1 In. 5:11·12). wasting somebody's army single-handConditional forgiveness also needly or a steamy, gratuitous love gates 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. It negates scene . Surely they're OK, so long as the book of Hebrews, a better most of your life is pretty good. covenant. It negates "all" in 1 John Did I hear somebody say this is 1:9. It negates Christ's fmal words on basically a Christian film with Chris- the cross, "It is finished" On. 19:30). It negates Paul's proclamation to the tian themes? How about this dialogue: "Hey, Forest, have you found Jesus Colossians (Col. 2:13-14). yet?"

Now let's read Matthew 18 through "I didn't know I was supposed to the eyes of the new covenant, the be looking for him ... . But I'm still gospel of grace. First, Jesus tells Peter goin' to heaven." he should forgive others 77 times .

Christian themes? Hmm .... And Then Jesus offers a parable to illus· these are just the superficial elements. trate whether we will follow the law At its core, this movie takes a fatalistic and work for forgiveness or accept view of life that is less Christian than the Father's offer of total and com·

s

s

A

Y

plete forgiveness.

Here are the facts of the parable: A king wanted to settle accounts. A servant owed him several million dollars and had no money to pay it back. The king commanded that the servant, his wife and children be sold, making it clear that he expected the huge debt to be repaid. The servant fell on his knees and told the king he would repay him. How? The passage goes on to tell us: By shaking down other people who owed him money. But the servant got off to a poor start-his debtor owed him only a few dollars.

So the king threw the servant back in prison. Why? Because the servant had refused to accept the king's offer to cancel his debt; he wanted to pay it off through his own efforts.

What's happening here? The king offered to forgive the debt, just like Christ forgave sins "once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous" (1 Pet. 3: 18). But we can refuse to accept Christ's finished work on the crosstotal and complete forgiveness-and try to work out our own forgiveness.

However, if we want to be under the law, then we must fulfill all its requirements. Otherwise, the wages of sin is death. If we accept God's complete provision, then his gift is life that he offers to us (Rom. 5: 10).

Whether God's forgiveness is conditional or unconditional depends on whether we accept the grace of God or live under the law of God. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3:2b-3, "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

I would suggest that Holm offer these words of Paul to unforgiving people who claim the name of Christ.

I need to hear them myself. I must go to my Christian brother who I've failed to forgive and forgive him as Christ has forgiven me. Where does this position take me? That I need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

SEPTEMBER

Charlie Sauerwein Cimarron, Kan. 1995

13

I

N

Q

u

R

I

I

N

G

M

I

N

D

s

B Y MARVIN HEIN

Q

In the midst of talk about the inerrancy of Scripture, I haven't heard anyone discuss whether all the stories in the Bible actually happened. Did jesus or other biblical sources sometimes "make uP" stories to illustrate their teachings? (CALIFORNIA)

A

choice for king then proceeded to tyrannize them.

The whole story is couched in rather ridiculous terms only to make a pOint. I doubt it actually happened.

I've never made a practice of telling stories in sermons that I conjured up in my mind. I always used real experiences. But there is a place for imagination in Christian literature. Such tales can produce a spirit of wonder and point to fundamental truths that underlie reality.

In preaching I think such "fairy tales" should be preceded with a statement about their fictional nature. But I would grant Jesus and others in the biblical record the privilege of using stories that are obviously not historical. But if you want to believe they really happened, go ahead. You have my bleSSing!

The question is a dangerous one to answer in that I could be interpreted as not believing in the Bible. So let me preface my answer with this: I believe the story of Job and his troubles was an actual occurrence. Ditto for Jonah and the whale. I'm even more convinced that Jesus was literally raised from the dead and I have little patience with socalled contemporary theologians who are trying to determine which words in the gospels Jesus really said.

I do believe, however, that it may be entirely possible that Jesus constructed parables for his purposes and they may not have been actual events.

I have a friend who grew up in Since most of those stories were a Christian home where he designed to embolden the Pharisees' heard all the stories of jesus unbelief, I have no problem thinking and sang the appropriate songs, etc. he may well have used stories that He has always believed the stories to were not literally true. Nor do I think be true. Does he have a ticket to that has anything to do with our heaven? He has never doubted them views on inerrancy or the inspiration to be false. (MINNESOTA) of Scriptures.

Perhaps a better case can be made So far as I know, the Bible never for "imagined" stories when we look says that if you've heard all the at the book of the Revelation. I really stories and believed them, you doubt there has ever been a woman shall be saved. I'd like to think that with child standing on the moon and such a person, believing the stories of clothed with the sun, as stated in Rev. Jesus, would respond to the call of 12: 1-2. And I'm not at all certain the Jesus to repent and follow him. And animals with all those heads and tails who am I to say that such a person really existed. It's OK with me if they has not done that? However, simply did, but I can imagine they might be believing the stories sounds a lot like used simply as figures of speech to those of whom James wrote : "You make certain points. believe that there is one God. Good!

David Chilton, writing recently Even the demons believe that-and about one of his favorite biblical pas- shudder" (2:19). sages, suggested it would be rather I'm willing to grant that the setting farfetched to believe Judges 9 :7-15 is a bit different in James. In that was a literal event. That passage tells instance, it was a matter of persons about the trees of the forest gathering saying they had faith but had shown to elect a king. Interestingly enough, no works. Perhaps that is also the test like we sometimes do in a democracy, for the person who has heard and the trees chose the least qualified, the believed all the Jesus stories. Is there a most unproductive candidate . Their life of Christ-like living generated by

Q

A

14

• THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R

Do you have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue?

Send it to "Inquiring Minds, " c/o Marvin Hein, 4812 E. Butler, Fresno, GA 93727. that belief? John 15 suggests that the "proof of the pudding" is in a fruitful life.

Q

jesus, after suggesting his gospel was the new wine, said that "no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better. ,,, Is he contradicting himself? (CALIFORNIA)

A

The verse in question doesn't appear to be a proof text to defend an old version of the Bible, an old method of evangelism, an old form of worship, or anything else that may be a part of the "oldtime religion." Jesus was not necessarily endorsing this statement. He simply said that many people have a preference for the old, established, familiar ways.

A lot of the resistance to Jesus's message was not just hostility. The opposition often came from wellintentioned people who, like many of us today, preferred old, familiar ways and old, proven ideas . Those ways and ideas had stood the tests of time, but they became a barrier.

The preference for the old is not totally regrettable. It can be a safeguard against the tendency to fall for something new just because it is new.

It is certainly not honorable to embrace novelty for novelty's sake.

But when God does a new thing, this most normal response can become a hindrance.

Ultimately, the question to ask about any teaching or practice is not "Is it old?" or "Is it new?" but "Is it true?" Old wine has a goodness of its own, and new wine does too. tf2

BY PHILIP WIEBE

Random thoughts

I

OFTEN CARRY around a notebook to jot down random thoughts and queries-and believe me, many of my thoughts and queries are extremely random. "Why concentrate on one thing," is my motto, "when I can obsess about II?" Take dating services, for instance. Any normal person would correctly wonder why I've been thinking about dating services. My wife is probably wondering right now.

Let me explain. A couple of times lately I've received (or should I say "Occupant" has received) heartfelt letters from matchmaking conglomerates promising to help me, as a single person, find my ideal mate. That I haven't been single for a solid decade clued me in that hey, maybe this was a form letter. Write down random thoughts and queries for awhile, you get pretty smart.

Anyway, it seemed strange to get a directmail offer to help me get a date. Then, after some random thinking, maybe it didn't seem so strange. In a day of musical marriages and revolving live-ins, why not try mass-market matchmaking? For every married person like me, there's probably someone in that hot new demographic category, "between relationships."

Speaking of marriage, in a recent newspaper I read a piece titled "Making Marriage Last."

One of the couples interviewed had been hitched for the unbelievably long period of (gasp) 10 years. It floored me that in the context of the article, 10 years seemed like such an eternity. Kim and I are on the verge of 10, and it seems like we're just getting started. Apparently that's become a rare sentiment.

On the subject of media, I've noticed that various print and broadcast outfits have been coming out with segments on the subject of media responsibility. "Has the media become a circus?" asked one blurb. I don 't know, somehow the media examining their own credibility comes off like senators or baseball players scrutinizing their own salaries. A media mogul saying, "We're dumping sex and violence in favor of wisdom and intelligence," would be just as shocking as a baseball player declaring, "I think I should only make $30,000 a year like normal folks."

Speaking of self-examination, sometimes it seems like everyone is trying to figure out what's wrong with themselves, but nobody really wants to hear what 's wrong with themselves. We analyze ourselves to distraction, but at the slightest criticism from the outside, we

strike back or shut down. Even as media examine their own credibility, for example, they regularly ignore criticism from that lowest of all life forms, the average citizen.

We all can be that way, even in the church.

There's a tendency in today's church to assume that everyone is against us, that every criticism is a form of persecution . Yes, we are called to stand firm against genuine persecution, but never to ignore legitimate criticism. I remember when the pro-life movement was gaining momentum a critic said, "Apparently for Christians the sanctity of life begins at conception and ends at birth." That hurt, but there was truth there. It was and is a reminder that prolife reaches beyond anti-abortion to embrace the poor and oppressed, the sick and neglected, the abused and needy in our world.

On the subject of standing, I wrote in my notebook, "To succeed as a writer, you have to be brilliant, lucky or stubborn." Since I'd never been particularly brilliant or lucky, that left stubborn. Hanging in there. Which, of course, is the key to success in most things. Not getrich-quick success, but quiet, responSible , everyday success . An old literary saying goes, "Everyone wants to be a novelist, but few want to write a novel." In a time when people seem to want everything now, I think it also could be said, "Everyone wants to have a successful life, but few want to live a successful life. " Speaking of success, I recently visited the office of someone with How To Be Successful books, tapes and other materials lining the walls. For years, I reflected, this person's outlook had been, "When this or that happens, when this or that comes together, when this or that pans out, then I'll be successful."

It's frustrating to realize that I often think the same way. That success is "out there" rather than "in here." I once read an encouragement to stop thinking of life as a goal to be gained and start living the life I wanted to live right now. At the time I passed it off as positivethinking drivel , but more and more it makes sense. Rather than dwelling on some great future life that will someday make me happy, I should dwell in the great life I already have.

But contentment doesn't mean entrenchment. Scripture encourages us both to be content with the present and to strive for the prize.

As for how to do that. .. let me jot it down in my notebook and get back to you. $?

SEPTEMBER

A media mogul saying, "We're

dumping sex and violence in

favor of wisdom and intelligence, " would be just as shocking as

a baseball player declaring, "/ think / should

only make $30,000 a year like normal folks."

Philip Wiebe lives in Salem, Ore. 1995

15

p

E

o

p

L

E

PROFILES

Reaping the miracles of summer

BY CONNIE FABER

F

OR ROLANDO and Lucila Mire- family made their 13th trip to Wash- Aid representative traveling through the Grulla area. As the two men were les of Grulla, Texas, summer is a ington to work with migrant children.

God's hand has been in it from the saying good-bye, Schmidt discovered season of miracles. For the past 13 years, the Mireles family has trav- start, they are convinced. The mira- that the Mireles family would be workeled the 3,000 miles from the south- cles began with a housing problem ing near Bellingham, Wash., for part of ern-most tip of Texas to work with that first summer. Rolando chose to the summer. "Lamont gave me a real migrant children and families along work in the Lynden migrant program funny smile and said, 'You're kidding,'" Rolando recalls. the northern border of Schmidt had grown up in Washington State. the Bellingham area and his The investment of time, parents still lived there. energy and resources has Schmidt immediately called paid great dividends-not home and his parents offered only for the migrant chiltheir home for the first three dren and the Mireles family, weeks of the Mireleses' stay but also for the Miereleses' while the Schmidts were on home congregation and a vacation.

Christian Reformed church "The Lord just opened up they've "adopted" in Lynthat door," says Rolando. And den, Wash. then opened another one .

Rolando and Lucila Three days later Rolando eagerly share stories of their received a call from Harold summers in Lynden because Schroeder, pastor of Good they know their family has News Fellowship (MB) Church been led by the hand of in Ferndale. Rolando was surGod. They don't attribute prised by the call because he their experiences to luck or thought Schroeder and his being in the right place at Lucila and Rolando (front) as members of the Estes '95 planning wife, Susan, still lived in Calithe right time. fornia. He also didn't know "Through all these years team: Always ready to serve the church and community. that his two friends, Lamont we know it's of the Lord," Rolando says. "It helps us spiritually. because its location, just five miles and Harold, were cousins and that The Lord uses to reener- from the Canadian border, fit his crite- news of the Texas family's trip to gize us." ria: it was as far away as possible from Washington had spread through the Their trip north offers a break from Grulla, and no one there knew his extended family. The Schroeders were going on vacation after the Schmidts responsibilities in their community family.

Migrant families coming to Lynden returned, so Harold offered his home and from denominational work. Rolando is moderator of the Latin America arrive in mid-June for strawberry sea- to the Mireles family for the remainder MB (LAMB) Conference, a member of son. About two-thirds of the migrant of their stay.

"With three days left before we the Tabor College Board of Directors, students who come are from the Rio a regular on the national youth confer- Grande City schools, where both were to leave, the Lord had provided ence planning team, and a member of Rolando and Lucila teach in the mid- housing for my whole family for the whole summer. Incredible!" Rolando the U.S. Conference Board of Church dle school.

Rolando, hired to teach junior high says.

Ministries.

In 1981, Rolando was one of three math, was put in contact with LynA fter the family rented various teachers from the Rio Grande City den's migrant program director, Steve school system in Texas who toured Langkhaar, who arranged for Lucila to r\..houses for three years, Rolando's Washington State at the invitation of work as a teacher's aide. Housing was principal offered to rent them his the state's migrant worker program. the couple's biggest concern since house in Bellingham while he and his The purpose of their visit was to see they wanted their three young chil- family lived in their Birch Bay summer the schools, migrant camps and fields dren-Rolando Jr., Patricia and Isai-to home. The two families developed a friendship and because their new where the workers from Texas spend accompany them. their time.

Three days before the family was friends have also invited them to stay The next year, Rolando was invited scheduled to leave for Lynden, they in Birch Bay, the Mireles family now to spend four weeks of his summer in still had no place to stay. At the time, enjoys clam digging and crabbing.

The annual trip to Lynden for strawWashington teaching in the migrant Rolando was acting as a translator for program . This summer, the Mireles Lamont Schmidt, a Mennonite Mutual berry season has been an important

16

• THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA 0

E R

P

event in their family life. "For our kids, going to Washington has really enriched their lives," says Lucila.

"They have gotten to know other people their same age who love the Lord.

We live in an area where the kids are a minority as a Christian when they go to high school."

While in Washington, the Mireles family worships at Good News Fellowship, which is currently pastored by Skip Suess. The children have developed friendships there also.

Rolando and Lucila are committed to making the trip only if their children are with them. "We enjoy it so much. But we always wonder how many more years we can go," Rolando says.

Last summer, another miracle enabled them to come back once again. Rolando Jr., a Tabor College freshman, needed to enroll in summer school to meet his academic goals.

With the help of his Tabor advisers, Rolando Jr. was able to take the classes he needed from Western Washington University in Bellingham. It was a convenient arrangement since the university campus is located just five minutes from the Mireleses' summer residence. Rolando Jr. had been helping as a teacher's aide in the Lynden program. Last summer he was able to share the position with his 16-year-old sister, Patricia.

T

heir second summer, Rolando and Lucila were given new assignments which they continue to hold.

Lucila is a kindergarten teacher during the day while Rolando works at night as a counselor in the high school program. This arrangement has allowed their children to be under the care of one parent or the other.

Migrant families from South Texas leave their homes as early as April so children do not receive credit for their courses, Rolando says. Because both parents work in the fields, state and federal programs provide child care for infants as well as educational programs for school-age children during the day. Since high school students work in the fields during the day, they complete their school credits through night-school programs. Rolando's job involves enrolling students in the appropriate courses and helping with administration.

E

0

P

L

E

Members of the Lynden youth group painting the Grulla church in April.

Through Rolando's job in the high school, he and program director Steve Langkhaar developed a close friendship based on their teaching bond and mutual love for the Lord. The friendship has extended to their families.

Three years ago, the Langkhaar family spent their spring break in Grulla with the Mireles family. When he visited the Grulla MB Church, Langkhaar fell in love with it, says Rolando. A youth worker at Second Christian Reformed Church in Lynden, Langkhaar began pursuing the idea of having his high school youth group travel to South Texas to help with various maintenance projects.

That summer the Lynden congregation approved Langkhaar's idea and the first trip south was made in spring 1993. Langkhaar hoped to bring a dozen teenagers to South Texas .

When almost 40 people signed up to make the trip, the task of hosting such a large group seemed formidable. "We were scared," Rolando admits. "What were we going to do now?"

The Washington youth group began raiSing funds for their trip south. "The Lord answered prayers for them," says Lucila. In the end, the group raised significantly more than expected.

While the Lynden church raised funds, the Grulla congregation began making a list of maintenance projects.

One of the projects involved purchasing and preparing an additional parking area for the Grulla church. After the Grulla pastor negotiated with the landowner to reduce the asking price from $20,000 to $7,000, the generous Christian Reformed congregation

raised the entire amount.

The Washington group worked hard during their week in Grulla, Rolando says. By the time they were done, the church had been repainted, new carpet had been laid, the new parking area was cemented, and play equipment and a basketball court were ready for use.

T

he Lynden youth, their 15 host families and church members gathered for a final evening together in the newly painted sanctuary. Lynden sponsors and youth shed tears as they recounted their experiences.

"Something has happened," said Langkhaar to Mireles in amazement at the response.

"The frosting on the cake was that when they returned to Washington, four of their kids accepted Christ because of their experience in our homes," Mireles says.

This spring a group of 41 youth and sponsors returned to South Texas. They helped build a two-story building that will house a social room and nine classrooms for the Grulla MB Church.

Fourteen years ago, Mireles wondered what the Lord had in mind for him and his family as they made their first trip to Lynden. Today, when he reviews their experiences, he is amazed.

"It's been a beautiful experience for us," he says. Not only have the lives of their family been changed, but the relationships Rolando and his family have developed with people in Washington now extend to their church family too. ef2.

SEPTEMBER

1995

17

o{{usings

BY JIM

HOLM

Scratching on the itch

E

VERYONE KNOWS the importance of scratching on the itch. When the mosquito bites, or the wound heals, we have this itching sensation. We want to scratch where it itches. It doesn 't do any good to scratch someplace else. The only way the itch is relieved is to scratch right on it. The same is true in dealing with the needs of people. People in our church's neigborhood have all kinds of needs, which are like itches that drive a person to satisfy them. In the church we believe everybody has an itch for Jesus, even if they don't always know that is why they are itching.

One of our goals as a church is to scratch people where they itch. We don't put it in those terms in our mission statements-we talk about being evangelistic, or sharing the good news, or making disciples. We use a variety of terms, but what we really mean is to scratch people where they itch. The Apostle Paul had something like that in mind in 1 Corinthians 9 when he said. "I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible .... I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some" (19, 22).

We must be aware of two fundamental principles. First, every church is responsible to reach its community. When Jesus talked to his disciples on the Mount of Olives and informed them they would be his witnesses, he told them they would begin in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). They would touch their home community first.

Second, corporate and personal outreach must go together. Personal outreach refers to our individual attempts to forge relationships with colleagues at work or with neighbors on our street. Corporate outreach means the church as a whole develops ministries that help to bring the good news of Jesus to itching people.

Those two principles can be stated in another way. First, believers must go out to meet unbelievers; second, unbelievers must come into the church. In the past, these two principles worked together fairly well. But today neither of them is very operational in many churches. For one thing, believers are kept so busy with church work they don't take time to meet unbelievers. Whenever I have a night off, I like to go for a long walk with my wife, or read a good book, or rent a movie , or pay bills and balance checkbooks . The last thing I want to do on a night off is have contact with more people.

18

•

THE

C H R 1ST I A N

The church needs to face this problem There is no squarely. It is time for us to say that a person should not come to a church-related meeting excuse for the directed primarily to Christians more than once or twice a week. If someone attends a Sunday church to keep morning service, and goes to choir practice, people so that should be enough. They should not also serve on a board or be involved in youth min- busy with istry. Or, if youth ministry is more vital to the church than choir practice, they should choose important that instead. But we need to come to the point, now, where we free people from expected things that attendance at lots of church meetings. There is they can't do no excuse for the church to keep people so busy with important things that they can't do the essential the essential thing that Jesus told us to do: be witnesses. thing that The second principle is that unbelievers must come into the church. In the past this hap- Jesus told us pened in revivals and special evangelistic meetings. Those things no longer work well in our to do: be churches. When we have revivals, Christians witnesses. come, but they don't bring their friends. I think at the root we are embarrassed by what our friends would think of our revival meetings, so we don't invite them. But we still have to find ways to attract unbelievers to the life of the church.

We're trying some new things at our church.

One of the tools that God has raised up for reaching unchurched people at the end of the 20th century is for a congregation to go to multiple worship services. For years our congregation has had one worship service for everybody, sort of one size fits all. But we have come to realize that while that service is comfortable for us, it isn't comfortable for unchurched people. So we are trying, as an experiment, to go to multiple services, to add a contemporary form of worship to our traditional style . Our goal is to reach unchurched people.

In our world people are used to looking for options. Whether buying a car, a dishwasher, a color TV, or a bottle of aspirin, we seemingly have an endless variety of options from which to choose. The time has come for our churches to recognize that to fulfill Jesus 's Great Commission, we have to provide choices.

These changes are troubling for us. As someone said, "Everyone is in favor of progress. It's change we don't like." But we are trying to reach people. We 're trying to scratch on the itch. It Jim Holm is from doesn't work to scratch anyplace else. f§2 Reedley, Calif.

LEA D E R

B

o

D

MENNONITE

y

L

I

F E

BRETHREN

NEWS

A way station in Western Kansas

BY JOYCE PARKER

CHURCHGOING IN THE '90s

• North Oak Community Church is a spiritual haven in a diverse community "

G

ETIING ourselves together ...to give ourselves away" has become the commit· ment of believers at North Oak Community Church (NOCC) in Hays, Kan. Hays is located in a valley of northwestern Kansas alongside 1-70, which connects Kansas City to Denver.

Sandwiched among the billowing wheatfields are the breadbasket communities that support Hays as a trade center for the area.

In addition to the flow of interstate traffic, the agribusiness interests, and a growing industrial market, the economy is stabilized by Fort Hays State University.

Ken Ediger, North Oak's pastor since 1988, came from Grace Baptist Church in Manhattan, Kan. NOCC's Christ-centered interview process affirmed for him that this position was God's call.

Few traditions as yet North Oak's congregation has seen steady growth since its inception 17 years ago. Given the diverse population around Hays and a constant influx of new groups and cultures, the demographics within the church community have experienced ongoing change. Of the original North Oak family, 20 families remain. Many former members have scattered to new jobs, but NOCC continues to reach out.

NOCC provides a spiritual haven for business people, professionals, the farming community and students. The number of lder adults and university students has grown the most since 1990. Families with school-age children are the largest steadily growing group within the past year.

Average Sunday morning atten -

Ken and Rita Kofoid, Korinna Parker, Jenny Walker and Jamie Kofield enjoy the fellowship at NOCC's 15th anniversary celebration. Friendliness is a hallmark of NOCC's ministry.

dance is 200. Of these, about 1 per- relational evangelism is the essential cent are of the traditional Low Ger- focus at North Oak. " man Mennonite Brethren ethnicity and 5 percent come from other Takers and Bakers Many North Oak attendees appear Anabaptist traditions. Ediger supposes the rest to be "evangelical Anabaptist to have grasped this vision. Networking through community hybrids" and unchurched friendships, ministering to seekers. needs both in the communiNOCC has a reputation for ty and the church body, friendliness and leans toward NOCC's congregation is vislifestyle, or relational, evangeiting, inviting and giving. lism, rooted firmly in the Persons who attend worgospel of Jesus Christ. ship at NOCC for the first Ediger says, "We accept time receive a short apprecipeople and place a strong ation visit from one of the emphasis on biblical truth rel- Ken Ediger: "We evant to life. Our strength is accept people and church's Takers, a loaf of that we have few traditions. place a strong bread or other baked item Our joy and satisfaction is in emphasis on bib- from the Bakers, and a packseeing someone come to lical truth relevant et of information about to life."

North Oak from a "new Christ. What holds us together is our common mission of making friend in Christ ." Such readiness to Christ known to the community and serve is the yeast bringing growth to NOCC. the world.

For Sunday worship services, the "We are not a political organization ; the kingdom of God is bigger worship committee, with the pastor, than America. America is not the king- plans a "concert of praise" to God that dom," he says. "Proclaiming Jesus and includes group interaction. The goal of a saving knowledge of him through the service is to create a comfortable SEPTEMBER

1995

19

BODYLIFE

response that draws people into participation, and above all, to make the service relevant to the worshipers.

Reaching out The congregation ministers in the church and the community through support groups (for example, alcohol addiction and divorce). "In some ways," Ediger admits, "this is how we get people through the front door."

The Wednesday afternoon Pioneer Club program is designed to introduce children (ages 4 to 10) to God through games and stories . Ediger believes this program "establishes a network to which the unchurched family can relate comfortably." Summers find many North Oakers investing their time and energy in the vacation Bible school program as well.

North Oak members ministering at the Fort Hays State University campus have fostered an international Sunday school class at the church and parachurch Bible studies in homes.

Ediger admits he has prayed for the North Oak congregation to develop a heart for missions and to identify missionaries willing to go to other countries.

Missions opportunities are exploding at North Oak. Within the past several years, several young people and adults have participated in short-term missions. These ventures, in turn, have encouraged fmancial and prayer support for missions in the church body. Eleven percent of the church offering is given to support conference work.

Thirteen of NOCC's young people participated in Estes '95. NOCC's goal is to send at least one new person to each Southern District Conference convention and a full delegation to the U.S. Conference convention.

The church encourages members to attend General Conference conventions, but the distance serves as a deterrent for some.

June Zhou and her daughter, Jamie, were guests at a baby shower hosted last year by Noee women. The shower was one of several ministries to international students.

In his opinion, the least effective tool of evangelism is bringing people to the church without continuing the people connection. He does not give an invitation at the end of his message very often; it is his experience that the invitation itself is not an effective evangelistic tool. It generally draws those who have already made a conscious decision as a result of relational evangelism.

During the 17 years NOCC has served the high plains, it' has seen only one pastoral change. Steve Fast, the first pastor served for 10 years.

His father, Chester Fast, and Gary Wiebe, both from Hillsboro, Kan., alternately shared the responsibility of interim pastor until Ken Ediger joined the staff.

Team evangelism North Oak's most effective form of reaching others is what Ediger calls "team evangelism." He believes most non-Christians coming into meaningful contact with five or six Christians are more likely to move toward a decision for Christ than if they have only one contact.

Multiple-cell congregation After Ediger's arrival and months of praying and discussion, he and the elders drafted statements of NOCC's mission and strategy, the expected commitments, and the goals to be reached incrementally. Last fall, North Oak added an associate pastor, Pat Coyle, to its staff. During his first year, Coyle's primary mission has been to facilitate small-group ministries.

Says Ediger, "North Oak has grown from a single-cell to a multiple-cell congregation. If we have a growth mindset, growth is not mechanical, but planned and provided for under God's direction."

Change sometimes comes with adversity. NOCC experienced a period when significant health problems affected members of the church family. Within a short time, three persons

20 • THE

LEA 0

C H R 1ST I A N

E R

found themselves fighting serious illnesses. The church family united to carry the burdens of these families through caring and prayer.

Though the church has no membership classes at present, the pastoral staff and leaders guide seekers toward membership. A membership committee meets with those who have expressed interest in joining North Oak Community Church and hears their testimonies.

Ediger says, "I don't stress membership in the church organization, though I believe in it, but I do emphasize the importance of becoming a member of God's family. I am wary of putting ritual or ceremony above the real decision of the heart. I am more interested in sealing a commitment to Christ."

In his sermons, Ediger tries to deliver a biblical concept from the Scripture text "applied to myself first, then to listeners. The purpose of my preaching is to persuade others to align themselves with God's truth and respond appropriately."

Why is he in the ministry? "Because I was called. 1 try to practice what I preach and God equips. God's fingerprints on my life clearly indicate that pastoral ministry is where I should be."

If he were to change anything at North Oak, it would be "to see more testimonies in services that affirm the application of God's Word to hearts and lives. Real life should show conversion." He would like "more people to develop a desire to minister to peers, have a greater awareness of mission, a passion for world evangelism and a desire to pray for both.

"North Oak's strength has been a willingness to work through conflicts within the body," Ediger says. "I have an appreciation for this congregation and the stand they take on issues regarding the Bible and their personal commitment to Christ. Social issues are not pivotal in this church."

As a way station in western Kansas, the North Oak Community Church is "believers together ... reaching out," offering the Bread of Life.

joyce Parker is a former teacher of English as a Second Language at Fort Hays State. She enjoys working with international students.

BODYLIFE

MISSIONS

Strong fiscal year aids planning for MBMjS strategy • Board meets to set major goals for 1995/96 year

W

ITH A STRONG fiscal year in the books, the Board of MB Missions/Services met July 5-6 near Fresno, Calif., to outline major goals and plans for 1995/96.

After four years of income shortages, the mission began the new year with $196,000 remaining from 1994/ 95-about a two-week head start on annual operating expenses. At this time last year, MBM/S was looking at a shortfall of more than $500,000.

New initiatives The board initiated the following new ventures and policies: • Appointed Werner and Elsie Ann Kroeker, an experienced pastoral couple, to serve as MBM/ S representatives to the India MB Conference . The Kroekers, who ministered in India for several months in 1993, will seek to foster understanding, fellowship and partnership with the conference.

• Approved exploring opportunities to cooperate in church planting in Burundi and Rwanda with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, the Zaire MB Church, the Mennonite Church of Zaire and the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Zaire.

• Authorized a subsidy to the churches of northern Peru for the purpose of engaging a Peruvian couple, Julio and Amparo Sanchez, to begin church planting in the city of Trujillo, subject to approval of and partial support from the Peruvian churches.

• Reassigned Jim and MarHou Nightingale, who have served in Brazil since 1989, to the church-planting team in Portugal, effective January 1996. Manual and Anne Franco will be tenninating service at the end of their current furlough.

• Committed MBM/S to work toward placing a Youth Mission International team in Zaire in 1996 and organizing an African choir tour in

1997 that will begin in India at the Mennonite World Conference and include Japan, Europe and North America.

• Recommended to the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches that 1997 be designated as a year of global mission emphaSiS, with maximum exposure of the Zairian choir in the churches.

Strategy in the former U.S.S.R. The board also adopted a comprehensive strategy for ministry in the former Soviet Union, with long-range financial implications.

Developing leaders through theological education is the priority, especially in partnership with St. Petersburg Christian University. These involvements will eventually cost $80,000 to $100,000 per year.

Outlays of $15,000 to $25,000 will eventually be allocated to support for indigenous evangelists and church planters in Kyrgyzstan and possibly Russia and other republics.

The long-range strategy also includes possible participation with other Mennonite agencies in a Mennonite center in Moscow. The board also committed MBM/S to explore the potential to assist for three years in developing a leadership training center through Christian Camping International/Russia.

Couples reappointed Steve and Bobbie Friesen, church planters in Komaki, Japan, were reappointed to a three-year term of service through August 1999. They have served with MBM/S since 1978 and in Komaki since 1993. The Friesens are the MBM/S Japan team leaders.

The board also reappointed Ron and Fran Penner to a three-year term as resource personnel involved in mentoring and developing leadership in the Mexico border churches. From 1981 to 1992, the Penners ministered in Spain as church planters. They began their Mexico assignment in 1993 based in California, a few miles north of the border. The Penners will locate in Tijuana for their next term.

Social ministries reafflrmed Due to cancellation of $360,000 in project subsidies by the Canadian International Development Agency

(CIDA), the board grappled with funding needs of past and present development projects in Zaire, Panama, Colombia and Peru.

It went on record to commit to the continuation of a strong social ministries program, despite the reduction in CIDA funding. The action entails an effort to "(a) minimize the pain of the CIDA cutbacks for our partners, and (b) do a thorough review concerning the nature of social ministries that MBM/S ought to pursue."

In order to pay for last year's programs, $360,000 was borrowed from another account. Beginning June 1, the internal loan will be repaid at the rate of $3,000 per month for the next 10 years. If additional funds become available, it will be repaid sooner.

Zaire medical supplies raised Pakisa Tshimika, regional secretary for Africa, reported that after a news release concerning the Ebola virus epidemic, two MB physicians from Wichita began to network with colleagues.

Through the church, with 12 medical professionals contributing, Jason Trego and Bill Loewen collected equipment for distribution In Zaire.

Within 48 hours, $75,000 worth of medical supplies was collected and soon shipped, personally accompanied by Trego. Within four days of arrival, the cargo was in the hands of Mennonite Brethren in Zaire.

Personnel recognized Fred Epp, who retires as director of finance in February, was recognized for almost 37 years of service. Epp and his wife, Irma, were missionaries in Zaire for 16 years before he moved into administration 21 years ago.

His pending retirement has prompted a search for a director of support services to administer the financial and personnel functions of the mission. According to Harold Ens, general director, the search continues, and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. The position will be based in the Fresno office.

Ernie Friesen, a 10-year veteran of the board and chairman for the past five years, also received a vote of thanks as he concluded his tenure .

Later, as a result of appointment, he returned to the board as the representative of Mission USA. -MBM/S

S E PTE M B E R

1 995

•

21

BODYLIFE

IN BRIEF • The f orthcomi ng merger of the two larg est Mennonite group s in North America wo n't have much impact on Mennonite Breth ren, acco rd ing t o Marvin Hein, executive sec retary of the General Conference of MB Churches. Delegates from th e Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church voted in July to merge their conferences at a date yet to be decided . When united, the new entity w ill ha ve in excess of 150,000 members. " The sad truth is that most Mennonite Bret hren aren't eve n awa re there was a move toward integration by the M Cs and GCs," Hein says. Mennonit e Brethren ha ve about 4 5,000 mem b ers in North America , w hich makes them the third largest Mennonite body. Until the merger is form alized , Mennonite Brethren remain the larg est wo rld wide body, with about 212,000 members. (Meetinghouse) • Fresno Pacific College is the recipient of a maj o r land gi ft , appra ised at $1.86 m illion . The property, donated by loca l land developer Charles Ashley and his wife, JoAnn, is the largest si ngle donation ever give n to the college. President Richard Kriegbaum said the gift, 11 acres located near the Fresno airport, w ill be used t o fund future ca mpus fa cilities and bu ild the college's endowment . The land may be sold or leased for commercial development , or it may be use d t o house adjunct college program s. Last year, the Ashleys donated a five-acre plot to th e co ll ege, appraised at $1 milli on, w hich was the largest single donation the colleg e had received. (FPC)

• Danny Wedel , 17, Ing alls, Kan., received $500 as a bronze award w inner in an essay contest sponso red by Mennonite Mutual Aid . Wedel, a member of Garden Valley MB Church in Garden City, Kan ., was one of nine students selected for awa rd s. As part of MMA's 50th an nive rsary cele brat ion, high school students we re invited to submit essays w ritten on the theme, "Using M oney Responsibly." The firstplace essay w ill be printed in the winter issue of Sharing magazine w hich is sent to all MMA members. (MMA)

22-

THE

C HRISTIAN

TRAINING

New B.C. Centre marks new era for seminary • Satellite program first of several envisioned

A DIFFERENT p aradigm for teachseminary students is evolving at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. The B.C. Centre, a future-oriented graduate-level church leadership training program, is beginning classes in September.

Located in Abbotsford, the B.C .

Centre is a satellite program of MBBS. According to Ron Geddert, director, this is the first of such centers MBBS plans to establish. "Other centers envisioned include Winnipeg, Wichita, and Los Angeles," he says.

The B.C. Centre program, which will lead to a 90-unit (three-year) master of divinity degree, includes several unique features . Reflecting the seminary's partnership with the B.C. Conference of MB Churches, the churchbased program will combine classroom instruction with a rigorous supervised ministry component in the churches.

"Students will receive a significant portion of their credits through ministry assignments under the supervision of a qualified and trained senior pastoral mentor, " Geddert says_ "This aspect will make it possible for persons already in pastoral ministry to earn their M.Div. while serving their churches. " The program combines the strengths of two other seminaries, says Geddert. Students will be able to earn one-third of their credits from the ACTS consortium in Langley, B.c. , or Regent College in Vancouver.

Another third of the credits will be earned through the supervised ministry component and MBBS courses taught in various Mennonite Brethren churches. Professors, drawn from both the local area and MBBS faculty, will concentrate their courses into short time blocks rather thim the traditional 15-week sequence. The final third of the credit units will be a residential component in Fresno.

Henry Schmidt, MBBS preSide nt, says the program is in step with the direction seen for the seminary of the future . "Today's church leaders must be fixed in their theology but very flexible in their methodology, " he says. "The bottom line is a new partnership with the seminary and the church_" -from a news release by

Ron Geddert

RELIEF

MCC responds to need in Bosnia, Croatia "We don't know where to go, nor how to go on. We don't have anything to go back to either, because everything has been destroyed," says Snezana Harambasic, pictured here_ She, her two young children, Bozidor (right) and Bojor (on lap), and her husband fled fighting in Croatia, arriving in Serbia with just one suitcase_This refugee family, as well as some 1,500 others, received food, clothing and other assistance from Bread of Life, one of Mennonite Central Committee's main partners in the former Yugoslavia. MCC is sending canned beef and chicken, layette kits, school kits, soap, detergent and bath towels to another partner agency, Duhovna Stvarnost, based on Zagreb, Croatia .

Duhovna workers will truck the supplies, worth $100,000, to recently displaced people in Bosnia's Tuzla area_ Working with a United Methodist relief organization, M CC will also airlift 10 tons of clothing and 3,500 pounds of school supplies to the Zenica region of Bosnia. Kevin King, MCC staff person, says requests for material resources are "overwhelming ...coming in much faster than expected." The summer heat has not wilted MCC supporters' generosity, however. The Mennonite constituency is responding enthusiastically to MCC's requests for soap and school kits. (MCC) L EAD E R

BODYLIFE

MINISTRY

Rwanda's hunger tied to conflict • Groups send $5.5 million for refugee assistance

L

AST SPRING and summer as many as 1 million people lost their lives during the civil war in Rwanda . In mid-July 1994, more than 1 million more fled to neigboring Zaire. If the world learned one thing from last year's tragedy in Rwanda, it's that conflict causes hunger.

"The connection between war and hunger really came home for people," says Eric Olfert, who directs Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) programs in Africa. "The need to include peace and reconciliation as part of food relief efforts was made very clear."

Beginning with its first shipment of food in May 1994, MCC has worked with other church partners in North America and Africa to help provide assistance worth $ 5 . 5 million to Rwandan refugees, including food, clothing, blankets, seeds and funds.

One complexity facing groups like MCC was how to deliver food relief in a way that didn't add to the likelihood of further conflict. Olfert says that MCC struggled with this dilemma from the earliest stages of the Rwandan emergency. "We worried whether

Rwandan orphans scrounge for food in Zaire.

we were only stabilizing the refugee situation in order to make more conflict possible. But what were we supposed to do? We couldn't let women and children starve because some soldiers might launch an attack."

One way MCC dealt with the issue was by working in small camps. "The smaller camps were more humane and manageable," says Olfert of the combined efforts of MCC, Zairian Mennonite and local churches in creating and hosting four camps of around 1,500 persons each in Bukavu, Zaire.

"The small camps were generally not worth the efforts for the militia/military organizations to try to exploit," Olfert says. "We are not aware of any real security problems in these camps. I don't think they will be launching pads for attacks against the new government in Rwanda."

This isn't to say that there aren't people in those camps who committed atrocities, he adds. "It's not the perfect solution, but the world is full of imperfect choices. We did what we felt we had to do , and we did not make the choices easily or naively."

As for how long the refugees will be in the camps, Olfert says, "It will be a while before they feel it is safe to go back to Rwanda." This poses a problem for Zaire, where the large number of refugees is putting strain on the government and stretching the hospitality of ordinary Zairians.

Olfert hopes that North Americans won 't forget people in Rwanda, but adds that Christians in the U.S. and Canada need to see their work as part of a global church response.

In the past, Olfert says, relief efforts such as the one that occurred in Rwanda were viewed as something North Americans did and owned. Quoting Zairian Mennonite Brethren missiologist Nzash Lumeya, Olfert says, "We need to harness ourselves together as Christians from around the world to do God's mission ."-john

IN BRIEF • Two Mennonite organizations working in Lesotho have merged programs.

Afri ca Inter-Mennonite Mission and Menn onit e Ce ntral Co mm ittee, w ho have long worked cooperatively, now will function as one organization called Mennonite Min istries Lesoth o. " It is good to be under the same organizat ional umbrella in service to the people of Lesotho and ou r Lord and Savio r Jesus Ch rist," says Garry Prieb, AIMM executive secretary. AIMM's wo rk in Lesotho, a nation of fewer than 2 million people and surrounded by South Africa, has focused on Bible t eaching and development of African Independent Chu rches. MCC in Lesotho ha s had an ec um eni cal empha sis w ith M CCers in vo lved in educati o n and peace an d ju sti ce work. Menn o nite Mi ssions Botswana, jointly admini st ered by AIMM and MCC since 1982, has served as a model in setting up the new structu re. (A IMMjMCC)

• Maricela Bejar and Nathan Elizondo of Orange Grove, Calif ., and Maribel Ramirez of Reedley, Calif ., we re among six Menn onite Brethren w ho participated in the Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Summer Service Program th is sum mer. Scott Buller of Dinuba , Calif ., Nelly Silva of Reedl ey, Ca lif ., and Goshu Tadese of Fresno, Ca lif ., also part of the program, were men t io ned in t he A ugu st iss ue of Christian Leader. The program enables young people to work with a church or service agency in t heir home communities for 10 weeks. Bejar and Elizondo wo r ke d at Igl esia Buen Pas t o r in Orange Grove, while Ramirez served at the West Coast MCC office in Reedley.

• The 1995 annual convention of the Menn on ite Medica l Association and the Mennonite Nurses Association was held at t he University of Southern illinois, Carbonda le, June 15- 18. At the convention, Willard Krabill announced he w ill resign as MMA executive secretary, eff ective Jun e 1996 . Jep and Joyce Hostetler, Co lum bus, Ohi o, were appointed as the next executive secretary and associate executive secretary, respect ively. (MMA)

Longhurts, M CC S E P TE M B E R

I

995

23

BODYLIFE

GROWTH

Central District welcomes first Slavic church • Russian-speaking group includes about 250 persons

T

Leaders of the Russian Evangelical Church pose with leaders of the Central District and U.S. conferences. The congregation met for a brief time in the facilities of New Hope MB Church.

HE RUSSIAN Evangelical Church (REe) of Minneapolis, Minn., was

provisionally accepted as a member of the Central District Conference July 29. The Russian-speaking congregation, with about 250 persons, including 100 children and youth, is the 13th Slavic group to affiliate with the Mennonite Brethren since 1992. It is the first in the Central District.

Twelve members of the REC met July 29 with five members of the Central District Ministries Council in Minneapolis to process the congregation's request for membership. With

the help of a translator, both sides exchanged questions and information.

Loyal Funk, U.S. director of church planting and liaison between the Slavic churches and the conference, was on hand to help facilitate discussion.

The Ministries Council's recommendation to receive the church into the district will be presented for ratification at the annual convention in late October. The provisional action by district leaders, though, allows the U.S. Conference and MB Foundation to help the congregation secure a per-

Power Tools for Your Resource Library And ATime to Die

by Frances Bontrager Greaser "I have exposed my soul in this book," says Greaser, Christian author of this moving a((ount of confronting first the shock of learning her son has AIDS and is a homosexual, then the grief of life fading into death. "I speak of very intimate and tender moments, hurts and pleasures, in this intimate love story about my son David."

Ana A nme to Die tells of anguish. Yet the images which finally triumph are those of hope and faith, life and resurrection.

Paper, 160 pages, S9.95; in Canada SI4.20.

Global Gods:

Exploring the Role of Religions in Modern Societies

by David W. Shenk Global Gods is a fresh approach to comparative religions. It is a substantial contribution to the developing literature and widespread interest concerning the role of religion in human society. In an increasingly pluralistic world, the global issues explored are not only theoretical but have practical urgency.

Paper, 392 pages, SI6.95; in Canada S24.25.

Available through your local bookstore or by calling I 800759-4447; in Canada call 519 746-2872 (Provident Bookstores-Me, Visa, Discover). If ordering by mail, please include 10% for shipping-minimum S2.50.

Canadian customers, add 7% of total for GST. 616 Walnut Avenue Scondale, PA 15683-1999 HERALD PRESS 24·

THE

CHRISTIAN

490 Dunon Drive Waterloo, ON N2L 6H7

LEADER

manent meeting place by Sept. 1.

The people of the REC come from different parts of the former Soviet Union, according to Ron Seibel, CDC chair. Some came five years ago, while others have arrived within the past few weeks. The church officially began in January 1995.

The group has been meeting on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. "If they had their own facility, they would meet more often," Seibel says. "They are also eager to evangelize other Russian immigrants and have the desire one day to send some of their youth back to Russia as missionaries. " Pastor Vladimir Sharikov was ordained by the congregation during a two-hour service July 30. The congregation presented Sharikov and his wife, Dina, a picture, a candelabrum of three candles and a bouquet of gladiolus. Seibel and Clint Grenz, district minister, participated in the service.from a report by Ron Seibel

AN INVITATION TO CELEBRATE The New Hope Church of Minneapolis will be observing its 85th year of ministry and 40th year of service as an organized church Oct . 14-15. The work began in 1910 as the first city mission effort of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America and was called the South Side Mission . In 1955 a charter membership was opened and a meetinghouse was built in the suburb of New Hope.

Those interested in attending the celebration or anyone with photos, information or personal reflections relating to the ministry of the mission of church are encouraged to contact Phil Glanzer, 4217 Boone Ave . N., New Hope MN 55428; (612) 533-2994.

BODYLIFE

TESTIMONY

Couple 'smitten' with MDS spirit • Clymers appointed as codirectors for California Jim and Elaine Clymer have contracted an infectious condition: excitement for the work of Mennonite Disaster Service. The Clymers recently were appointed MDS California unit co directors. Jim recently described their experience in their home church newsletter, College Community Church, Clovis, Calif.

I

CAME HOME from the 1994 annual all-unit Mennonite Disaster Service meeting in Homestead, Fla., tremendously inspired and challenged. I also came home with a sense of "calling" and told Elaine I wanted to get more involved with MOS. She was mildly interested (and amused) to see me so excited.

Elaine began going with me to regional MOS meetings and predictably started to get excited herself.

In 1995 we both attended the annual meeting in Saskatoon. I must say she was totally smitten by the infectious MDS spirit and she too left the meeting feeling a "calling."

While in Saskatoon we met as a region to discuss the ongoing search for a new California unit director. Several persons had been contacted and had declined. Suddenly everyone in the room was looking at me and I was "encouraged" to give the appointment serious consideration.

Elaine and I met with the regional director and the MOS executive coordinator and also talked, prayed and talked some more. During our discussions the concept of "codirectors" emerged. This concept proved agreeable to everyone and this February, Elaine and I were approved as the new California unit directors.

We have a few visions for MOS California. We would like to revitalize MOS awareness at the congregational level. We hope to get youth groups excited about MOS and we believe this excitement will spread through the congregation.

• Want to secure your future while helping to advance the gospel?

• Want to make a portion of your investment dollars available, at a reasonable rate of return, for churches and institutions to build necessary facilities via our loan program?

• Want to provide, from your estate, maximum tax-wise benefits for your family while also benefitting a cause or ministry you value?

If your answer is "YES" to any of the above, please call

MENNONITE BRETHREN FOUNDATION Call toll-free 1-800-551-1547 or mail the response form and request information about any of the subjects listed. Mennonite Brethren Foundation staff have the experience and training to serve you. Please call or write today.

Mennonite Brethren Foundation is your agency for: • Managing endowment funds • Managing church/institution loan programs • Providing tax-wise planned-giving programs • Providing estate planning educational services • Encouraging faithful biblical stewardship

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MBF'S SERVICES Please send me injonnation about the jollowing: _ _ The Charitable Gift Annuity The Charitable Remainder Unitrust _ _ The Ministry Investment Fund _ _ The Estate Planning Educational Services _ _ Giving Securities _ _ Giving Real Estate Other

MennonHe Brethren Foundation • PO. Box V • Hillsboro, KS 67063 Call today! 1-800-551-1547 S E PTE M B E R

1 995

•

25

BODYLIFE

OUTREACH

Bethany youth lead 'boot camp' • Group focuses on local ministry this summer

A T 0 :900 HOURS, soldiers aged .l"l..three to senior citizens, gathered to do battle at Bethany MB Church in Fresno, Calif., June 19-23. They infiltrated the area-gathering at the baseball diamond, rappelling from the church balcony, competing in the tugof-war zone and singing the victory chant in surrounding neighborhoods.

Boot camp, a.k.a. vacation Bible school, focused on training 150 children to put on God's armor and resist the devil's schemes.

In late March, the Bethany high school youth group came back from Estes '95 motivated to share Christ with others. Realizing that Fresno Pacific College would not offer the usual Baja missions trip, they looked for other avenues, according to Brenda Davis, youth ministry intern at Bethany.

"If they weren't able to run a VBS for children in Baja, Mexico, why couldn't they organize a local VBS right here in Fresno?" she says . So they put together Bethany Mission Outreach, an in-town outreach to churched and unchurched families.

The high school students camped out the entire week at the church.

Mornings included boot camp briefings-quiet time devotions, boot camp training-VBS, and afternoon recreation.

"In the evenings, the high school troops were back on the battlefield, involved in inner-city ministry throughout Fresno," Davis says_ "You could find them anywhere, from serving dinner to the homeless at Poverel10 House to leading another VBS ministry at Storyland Inn motel where poverty-stricken families live in tiny motel rooms."

Still others took a prayer tour of inner-city Fresno.

"As a result of the body working together, 13 children accepted Christ as their personal savior," Davis says.

"God is good! " The Bethany congregation supported the high school students' efforts by baking cookies, praying, contacting

NEW PUBLICATION

Autobiography of J.B. Toews

unchurched families and assisting in boot camp. "Even the high school students noted how God used people of all ages within the church to proclaim his gospel and were so thankful for the intergenerational ministry that was possible," Davis says.-from a report

by Brenda Davis

. CHURCH NOTES • Baptisms/membership GRANT, Neb. (New Life)-John and Lau· ren King, Jerry and Sand Velte, and Terry Wendell were received as new members June 15.

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (Village Com· munity)-Tom Ahrens and son Ryan, and Marian Davies were baptized July 16. Tom and Marian Ahrens, Tony and Julie Daugherty, Treasure Winkler and Lucinda Parks gave testimonies and were received as members Aug. 13.

BUHLER, Kan.-Jessica Boswell and Grady Wray were baptized July 9.

REEDLEY, Calif.-Welcomed as members July 16 were Mark and Judy Jost, who were baptized. Also received as members were Russ and Sherri Hajik, Gerhard and Susan Kroeker, Scott and Lori McClatchey, and Greg and Lynnette Rhames.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (Garden Valley)Cecil Wissink, Harvey Drake, Cheri Van Vleet, Mark Van Vleet, Arlie Hagen, Claudia Wissink, Dixie Drake, Amber Van Vleet, Joshua Van Vleet, Carol Hagen, Vera Schmidt, Mia Allen and Eri Van Vleet recently joined Garden Valley through testimony and transfer.

HILLSBORO, Kan.-Bob and Helen Fenstermacher, Melissa Jost, Christine Crouse and Kim Kirton joined the church through testimony or transfer in July.

GETIYSBURG, S.D. (Grace Bible)-Roxie Ripley and Sandy Fasse, who were baptized, and Linda Urevig were received as members July 23.

ORDER FROM:

Center for M.B. Studies 4824 E. Butler Fresno, CA 93727 (209) 453-2225 $12.95 U.S.

$15. 95 Canadian Including Shipping

26

• THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA 0 E R

• Ministry INMAN, Kan. (Zoar)-Don Willems reported July 23 about his experiences in Ukraine, where he worked with maintenance at a Bible college.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Laurelglen)-An I I-member team traveled to Bucharest , Romania, Aug. 2-14, where they worked at an orphanage. The team presented a VBS program , brought food and medical supplies, and ministered to the orphanage staff. The team, led by Ken McDuff and

BOD

Grace Cabalka, included Carolyn Pearsey, Jini Robie, Marty Chirrick, Sharon Higdon, Karen Siemens , Anita Hapken, Dalton Thomas, Karisa McDuff and Vali Cabalka.

•

Workers

PINE RIDGE, S.D.-A farewell for Earl and Alice Hedlund was held Aug. 13. The Hedlunds, long-term workers on the Pine Ridge Reservation, are moving to Fresno, Calif., where Alice plans to pursue a masters of counseling degree at the MB Biblical Seminary.

YALE, S.D. (Bethel)-A farewell was held July 2 in honor of Elton and Ella Berg, who have retired from full-time pastoral ministry.

LITTLETON, Colo. (Belleview)-Clint Seibel, pastor since 1986, has resigned, effective in August. He and his wife, Evelyn, have not announced their plans ....

Mennonite Central Committee volunteers Isabelle Nussbaumer, who worked at Little Lambs Child Care Center, and Bettina Hildebrandt, who worked at the More for Less store, completed a year's service in July. Ruth Burchy, a participant in the International Visitor Exchange Program from Albisheim, Germany, began working as a program aide at Little Lambs in August.

WICHITA, Kan. (First)- Denise Faul has assumed the role as young adult ministry team leader. She will work with young adults, ages 18-30.

•

Y

L

F E

. DEATHS

wife Rita of Marion; a sister, Lorene Schamber of Freeman; a brother, Clifford Merk of Freeman; and two grandchildren.

BARTEL, ESTHER, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of the Hillsboro MB Church, was born Feb . 10, 1914, to Gerhard H. and Anna Ratzlaff Bartel near Hillsboro and died Aug. 3, 1995, at the age of 81. She is survived by one brother, Henry F. Bartel and wife Anna of Hillsboro, and one sister, Linda R. Dilts of Sedgwick, Kan. BECKER, JEANETTE MERK, Marion, S.D., a member of the Silver Lake MB Church, Freeman, was born June 12, 1925, to Don and Francis Schragg Merk on a farm southeast of Freeman and died July 15, 1995, at the age of 70. On Sept. 24, 1944, she was married to Arthur Becker, who survives.

She is also survived by a son, Rudy and

1895-1995

.

'

. ': ,'

.

FLAMING, JACOB B., Inman, Kan., a member of the Zoar MB Church of Inman, was born Mar. 23 , 1913, to John). and Anna Brandt Flaming near Goessel, Kan., and died Feb. 13, 1995, at the age of 81.

On July 14, 1936, he was married to Sylvia Unrau, who survives. He is also survived by four sons, Kenneth and wife Margaret of Vinita, Okla., Jim and wife Karyl of Houston, Texas, Kermit and wife Jean of Newton, Kan ., and Darrel and wife Terry of Syracuse, Kan.; two daughters, Arlene and husband Melvin Friesen of Omaha, Neb., and Jan and husband Dale Lang of Rockford, Ill.; 20 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.

REJOICE WITH US! CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION of PRAISE OCTOBER 21 & 22, 1995

FAIRVIEW MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH 1600 EAST STATE ROAD - FAIRVIEW OKLAHOMA - 73737 - (405) 227·1730

Youth

INMAN, Kan. (Zoar)-Ammie Carlson, Katrina Hull and Cheryl Rice served with a SOAR Team July 23-Aug. 12. The team worked with World Impact in the inner city of Fresno, Calif.

WICHITA, Kan. (First)-Senior high students performed a musical, "Ants'hillvania, " at Community Bible Church, Olathe, Kan., July 16.

TOURMAGINATION offers New Tour...

ALASKA'96 Enjoy majestic beauty: shimmering glaciers, deep fjords, soaring eagles, thundering caribou, J,OOO-mile cruise and much more with Mennonite friends from all over North America.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (Garden Valley)Puppeteers from the fourth, fUth and sixth grades performed "Fruits of the Spirit" at Garden Valley Retirement Village Aug. 1.. ..

Jeremy Wissink, Aaron Zeller, Nathan Piper, Ty Cook, Matt Lightner, John Daily, Amy Siebert, Olivia Lightner , Hannah Paxon, Miranda Rowden , Shannon Schwindt, and sponsors Mike Adams , Jonathan Lightner and Steve Ensz participated in Mission Mexico this summer.

CIMARRON, Kan. (Valleyview)- Ryan Kopper, Jocelyn Penner, Meghan Davis and Mary Kopper joined the youth group from Garden Valley MB Church, Garden City, Kan., on a service trip to Mexico in July.

Call Today 1-800-565-0451 (US & Canada) for a brochure Ask about our other tours: Mexico, Jamaica, Australia/New Zealand, Vienna, Europe

TOURMAGINATION 22 King St. S., Suite 401, Waterloo, ON N2J 1N8

1011 Cathill Road, Sellersville, PA 18960

Reg.# 1567624

SEPTEMBER

1995

•

27

BODYLIFE

GOOSEN, ARON G., Huron, S.D., a member of the Bethesda MB Church of Huron, was born on Oct. 7, 1899, to Gerhard and Gertrude (Plett) Goosen near Freeman, S.D., and died on April 24, 1995, at the age of 95. On April 26, 1926, he was married to Sara E. Wipf, who survives. He is also survived by four brothers and one sister.

JUST, MARVIN, Reedley, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, was born on Jan. 25, 1909, to Henry M. and Eva Unruh Just at Fairview, Okla., and died June 7, 1995, at the age of 86. On Dec. 19, 1931, he was married to Emma Unruh, who survives. He is also survived by a son, Marvin Jr. and wife Tips of Reedley; three daugh· ters, Carolyn and husband T.e. Moshier of Kingsburg, Calif., Janice and husband Marlin Fridolfs of Dinuba, Calif., and Connie and husband Roger McCahill of Reedley; a sister, Pauline and husband Bill Bartel of Reedley; 12 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

KIRSCHENMANN, IRENE, Lodi, Calif., a member of the Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, was born on Dec . 11, 1920, in Eureka, S.D., and died on June 22, 1995, at the age of 74. On Oct. 26, 1941, she was married to Emmanuel Kirschen-

mann, who survives. She is also survived by a son, Ken of Livermore, Calif.; and two sisters, Doris Schnabel of Lodi and Marge Wacker of Crystal Lake, Ill.; and one grandson.

SUDERMAN, MARTIIA, Hillsboro, Kan., a member of the Hillsboro MB Church, was born Sept. 25, 1896, near Hillsboro and died Aug. 13, 1995, at the age of 98. On Aug. 4, 1918, she was married to Edward Suderman, who preceded her in death.

She is survived by two sons, Leon and wife Ruby and Leslie and wife Rubena, both of Hillsboro; three daughters, Adena and husband Roy Schmidt of Fresno, Calif., Hilda and husband Ira Hein of Hillsboro, and Ruby June and husband James Hefley of Halstead, Kan.; 11 grandchildren, 21 great· grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

THIESEN, HERMAN JOHN, Shafter, Calif., a member of the Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, was born on May 29, 1909, to Jacob and Katherina Fast Thiesen in ReedIey and died June 13, 1995, at the age of 86. On Nov. 2, 1933, he was married to Elizabeth Kliewer, who predeceased him in 1992. He is survived by a son, Ted and wife Marylene of Bakersfield; a daughterin-law, Audrey and husband Jim Sager of

Cupertino, Calif.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

THOMAS, ELMA MABLE UNRUH, Marion, S.D., a member of the Silver Lake MB Church of nearby Freeman, was born Nov. 3, 1913, to Peter and Katie Boese Unruh in Hutchinson County, S.D., and died May 23, 1995, at the age of 81. On June 18, 1937, she was married to Ferdinand E. Thomas, who predeceased her in 1991. She is survived by one son, Arlyn and his wife Jeanine; one daughter, LaDona and her husband Bruce Vincent; two Sisters, Vera and husband Erwin Schmidt and Esther and husband Clifford Wentzel; a brother-in-law, Ed Deckert; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

WARKENTIN, PETE D., ReedIey, Calif., a member of the Reedley MB Church, was born Feb. 14, 1911, to Dietrich and Anna Warkentin in Com, Okla., and died July 4, 1995, at the age of 84. On Dec. 17, 1936, he was married to Marie Janzen, who predeceased him in 1994. He is survived by three children, Ken, Larry and Dona, and their spouses; two brothers and two sisters; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

CLEARINGHOUSE POSITIONS AVAILABLE CAREGIVER NEEDED: Single person or adult couple with primary responsibilities of general household duties and caring for a legally blind person with other limitations. A live-in arrangement preferred. Salary negotiable. If interested, please call (701) 475-2203 for more details.

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE is accepting applications for SelfHelp Crafts media coordinator (Akron, Pa.). This two-year position is available October 1995. Qualifications include a commitment to Christian faith, active church membership and nonviolent peacemaking. Applicants must have working knowledge of MCC and SelfHelp Crafts goals and merchandise, corporate communications training and experience and writing, research, photography, audiovisual and graphic experience. Interested persons should contact Goldie Kuhns, 21 South 12th Street, P.O. Box 500, Akron , PA 17501-0500, phone (717) 859-1151 . Applications due Sept. 22, 1995.

MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE is accepting applications for store manager for the Ephrata, Pa., SelfHelp Crafts corporate store. This two-year position is available November 1995. Qualifications include a commitment to Christian faith, active church membership and nonviolent peacemaking. Applicants must have working knowledge and support of SelfHelp Craft's missions, retail sales and management experience, and experience in merchandise display and store layout. Interested persons should contact Goldie Kuhns, 21 South 12th Street, P.O. Box 500, Akron , PA 17501-0500, phone (717) 859-1151. Applications due Oct. 2, 1995.

MAINTENANCE/CUSTODIAL POSITION - The trustees of the Shafter (Calif.) MB Church are announcing a full or part-time pOSition that can be combined or separated into three positions. They are: repair/maintenance, gardening and custodial . Housing available. For further information on requirements and salary, contact Bob Wiebe, board of trustee chairman, (805) 746-5417.

28-

THE

CHRISTIAN

LEADER

COMMITMENT

Through New Eyes Off the fann, thrust into a complex world.

This 23-minute video shows how North American Mennonites, through Mennonite Central Committee's 75-year history, discovered new answers to the questions, "Who is my neighbor?" and "How can we serve God together?" _ _ Send Through New Eyes for free loan for (date). _ _ Send personru copy for $25 Cdn./$20 U.S. Enclosed $_ __ ___ Send my church a free copy for our church library.

Your name Church/school/organization

O

ur service to others blooms brightest

Legacy Fund provides support for residents who have

.611

Street address

Mennonite Centrel Commlt\fe and MCC u.s.

City, province/state, postal/zip code

when we give of ourselves.

The Palm Village Living

'" Mennonite .. Centra• Committee

21 Soulh 12th Street. PO Box 500. Akron. PA 17501·0500 (717) 859·1151 (717) 859-3889

Mennonite Central Commlt\fe Cenada

Daytime telephone #

134 Plaza Drive. Winnipeg. MB R3T 5K9 (204) 261·6381

----------------------------

outlived their resources.

CHURCH PARTNERSHIP EVANGELISM (CPE) INVITATION

Thanks to your generous

King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., is seeking volunteers for its Church Partnership Evangelism outreach to .. ..

gifts, more than 150 residents receive assistance each year.

For more information, call DAVID REIMER

EXEClITIVE DlRECfOR

(209) 638-6933

PALM VILLAGE RETIREMENT

COMMUNITY

Lie. # 100404809 701 W. HERBERT P.O. BOX 1028 REEDLEY CA 93654-1028

PERU, Chiclayo ............ . ........... . ..... October 3-19, 1995 INDIA, Gadwal area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. November 13-30, 1995 NICARAGUA, Managua .. . ........ . . .. . . ....... January 9-25, 1996 MEXICO, Baja California . ......... . ... February 27 - March 14, 1996 NICARAGUA, Managua ...... . . . ... . ....... April 30 - May 16, 1996 UKRAINE . ............. . ...... . ............... June 10-28,1996 PARAGUAY ......................... . . .. ....... July 2-18,1996 FIJI ISLANDS .. . . .... . .... . . . .... . .... . . July 15 - August 2, 1996 PERU, Trujillo, Chiclayo ................. . .. . .. . August 13-29,1996 • Team up with national Christians and witness for Christ door to door.

• Some knowledge of the country's language is helpful.

• Each participant must raise or contribute half of the cost; the trip to Nicaragua and Peru requires $1,000 for each volunteer, Mexico is $700 per volunteer, and the rest of the trips are $1,500 per volunteer.

• Similar campaigns have resulted in 200 to 400 conversions.

• Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience, discover what GOD can do through you.

For more information, contact: Evelyn Unruh, 604-852-5744 or CPE 604-864-3941 Peter Loewen, 604-853-3173 or FAX 604-853-6482 Peter Loewen Promoter

Peter Huebert Missions Committee President S E PTE M B E R

1 995

•

29

M

I

s c

E

L

L

A

N

E

A

CLIPS AND COMMENTS

-RESEARCH

The evangelical truth A recent Barna Research Group poll found the following to be true regarding evangelical Christianity in America: • Four years ago, 53 percent of the people attending church services on a given weekend were not born-again Christians; that proportion has dropped to 45 percent, suggesting that churches are less effective in reaching people who don't share core Christian beliefs.

• Baby Boomers are the generation most likely to hold to "born again" beliefs. However, they are also increasingly inactive in their faith, demonstrating declining levels of church attendance, Sunday school

participation and Bible reading.

• Although evangelicals get a lot of media attention, they represent only about 6 percent of the adult population; this is a 50 percent decrease in magnitude since 1992.

• Church attendance, which crested at 49 percent per Sunday in 1991, has leveled off at 42 percent, the lowest level since Barna began tracking this in 1985.

• Bible reading during the week is lowest among the Baby Busters generation. Currently under 30 years of age, only 21 percent of the Busters read the Bible during the week, just half the level of people 65 or older.

• Only half of the people who attend church services during the week also read

BIBLE

Wonderful words of life ...

P

EOPLE WHO READ the Bible regularly have a

"higher overall satisfaction with their lives" than

those who never read the Bible, according to a survey commissioned by the American Bible Society. The surveyof 1,212 people in the U.S. found that the average American goes to church about as often as he or she goes out for dinner, and more often than she or he reads fiction, goes to movies or plays sports. The survey also found that Americans are comfortable using Bible quotes to describe their personal values. More than 85 percent of participants found the "Golden Rule" useful. A minority of 26 percent said that the best rule for life was "Iook out for number one." The study found that African-Americans are more frequent Bible readers than either whites or hispanics, and that women read the Bible more often than men. (EP) 30

•

THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA 0

E R

the Bible during the week, other than while they are at church.

• An increasing number of Catholics are born-again Christians. Some 22 percent of those who call themselves Catholic fit the born-again criteria used in Barna's survey .

Barna's survey was conducted among a random sample of 1,006 adults, and has a sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. (EP) ETHOS

Acynical public CyniCism toward government and church leaders is greater among the general public than among media workers, according to a poll conducted by the Times Mirror Center for the People and the Press. The poll found that more than half of national journalists and one-third of local media workers believe that Washington politicians are honest and ethical, compared with just 18 percent of the general public. Religious leaders were described as highly ethical by threefourths of the national press, compared with 55 percent of the public. (EP) ETHICS

Clinic is snuffed Jack Kervorkian's dream of opening an "obitorium"suicide clinic came true in late June, but only until the first customer had been killed. Officials immediately shut down his Margo Janus Mercy Clinic after the death

of 60-year-old Erika Garcellano, a Kansas City woman suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Kervorkian's landlord gave him 30 days to vacate the former hardware store, which he had rented.

Garcellano was the 24th person to commit suicide in the presence of Kevorkian, who advocates physician-related suicide for people who are suffering or dying. (EP) ABORTION

Legacy of loss Russia still leads the world in number of abortions performed every year.

Demographic experts claim that 3.5 million abortions are performed every year, or 98 for every 1,000 women of childbearing age.

Statistics also show that 225 abortions are performed for every 100 births in Russia. (EP) DIVORCE

Parted pastors Pastors are just as likely to be divorced as lay persons, according to a national survey of Protestant clergy conducted in 1993 and 1994 by Hartford Seminary.

The study found that 25 percent of clergywomen and 20 percent of clergymen have been divorced at least once. According to the Census Bureau's most recent figures, 23 percent of women and 22 percent of men nationwide have been divorced.

The study covered a wide range of Protestant denominations. On the high end was the liberal

MISCELLANEA

Unitarian-Universalists, where 47 percent of women and 44 percent of men reported having been divorced. At the low end was the conservative Southern Baptists, where 4 percent of men and 17 percent of women had been divorced. (EP) HEALTH

Sanitary sacraments Individual communion cups are an entrenched practice for most Mennonite Brethren churches, and now a microbiologist offers additional evidence for keeping it so. Anne LaGrange Loving of Felician College in Lodi, N.]., reported to the American Society of Microbiology in May that the use of a common cup is a ritual filled with opportunities for the spread of infectious diseases. Sipping from a common cup can be hazardous for people with cancer or AIDS who have weakened immune systems. Dipping a communion wafer into a common cup is marginally safer, she says. Loving emphasizes that no evidence exists of sickness caused by participating in communion, and that bacteria found in her study are spread many other ways.

Healthy people can handle exposure to common bacteria. (EP) TRANSLATIONS

Sensitive Scriptures Priests for Equality are promoting a New Testament translation they say is "scrupulously faithful to the original Greek texts, yet sensitive to modern sensibilities, scholarly yet eminently readable." The Inclusive New Testament

is intended to be a "nonsexist and non-classist" translation of original Greek Scriptures. A comparison of Colossians 3: 1821, as translated by the New International Version and the Inclusive New Testament: NIV: "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

INT: "You who are in committed relationships, be submissive to each other. This is your duty in Christ Jesus. Partners joined by God, love each other. Avoid any bitterness between you. Children, obey those responsible for you in everything, for this

is what pleases God the most. And if you are responsible for children, don 't nag them, lest they lose heart." (Priests for Equality) APOLOGETICS

Truth in the details Arguments for a scientifically accurate Bible were bolstered this spring by two independent inquiries.

German biologist and theologian Reinhard Junker has verified that rabbits are correctly referred to as "ruminants" in Leviticus. Ruminants digest their food more than once. Rabbits do this by eating part of their excrement, and thus can survive lengthy periods of fasting during bad weather. According to Idea, the news service of the German Evangelical Associa-

tion, Junker contends that because rabbits eat their excrement, they can be correctly identified as remuninants, and therefore zoology supports the biblical claim.

Studies of a part of the male sex chromosome in 38 men from around the world found a surprising lack of genetic variation, suggesting that all modern humans may have descended from a common ancestor, according to a study reported in the May 26 issue of Science. The study appears to provide independent confirmation of the "African Eve" hypothesis, which suggests that modern humans are descended from a common female ancestor. The fmdings appear to refute opposing theory that modern humans simultaneously evolved in different regions of the world. (EP)

MB circles ... by Lorlie Barkman

"STRAIN OUT A GNAT AND SWAllOW A CAMEL".

-. Jesus

Strain out the long hair and lose a teenager.

Strain out the grey hair and lose the wisdom of life.

Strain out the necktie and swallow the jeans.

Strain out the jeans and swallow the suit.

Strain out the drum set and lose the youth.

Strain out the hymn hook and lose the elderly.

Strain out the handelapping and lose the enthusiasm.

Strain out the solemnity and lose the balance.

Strain out everything and lose everybody'

SE P TEM B E R

199<;

31

E

D

I

T

o

R

I

A

L

Identity in the balance

!

wAS ON HAND as an observer when the two largest

rhetoric, we have espoused a wholistic gospel. My Mennonite bodies in North America, the Mennonite hope has been that we Mennonite Brethren could hold Church (MC) and General Conference Mennonite the vertical and horizontal emphases of Anabaptism Church (GC) , voted in late July to work toward integra- together to form a truly biblical faith model.

I am less hopeful these days that we are accomtion. Though this was an historic event for the broader Mennonite community, you wouldn't know it from our plishing that. As an observer at the MC/GC joint convention, I noted our similarities and differences. coverage of it: a brief news note on page 22.

Frankly, their high-proltle attention to peacemaking and Like most periodicals, we editors evaluate a news social-political issues sometimes made me uncomfortevent by the degree to which we feel it impacts and able.

Maybe they overdo it-or maybe we Mennonite interests our readers. While many of us in conference Brethren should admit that we are uncomfortable mostwork value our inter-Mennonite connections and expely because we avoid that domain altogether. riences, frankly it's our sense this action by MCs and We like to revel in worship and major in evangeGCs does not rate highly on the impact or interest but our preaching and teaching pay lism, scales of most Mennonite Brethren little heed to the social implications of congregations and homes.

The candid assessment of Marvin lV7 Jesus's gospel. Kate Wentland's experience Hein, our General Conference execuW e like to revel (Forum, page 12) in a Mennonite Brethren church is, I fear, more the rule than the tive secretary, is mostly accurate: "The in worship and exception. sad truth is that most Mennonite I unapologetically place priority on Brethren aren't even aware there was major in evangelism because I believe God wants a move toward integration." Hein, himabove all else to reconcile sinful people self a veteran of many inter-Mennonite evangelism, but with himself. But biblical evangelism is encounters, would emphasize the word "sad." So do I. The chasm that our preaching and more than saving souls. Conversion from sin must also include a conversion to kingexists between our groups says more dom ethics. Jesus wants to save us from about us than about them. And what it teaching pay little hell, but also to save us for a life of discisays I find disheartening. heed to the social pleship on earth.

The chasm has historical roots .

Biblical evangelism is the ultimate subThe Mennonite Brethren Church was implications of versive activity of a faithful church, particformed in 1860 after renewal erupted ularly in our society. It undermines mindamong Mennonites in Russia. The Jesus's gospel. less loyalty to nations, economic systems "renewed" group saw the rest of the and cultural values. When people truly church as unspiritual and separated from it. The mother church saw the new group as act- give their lives to Christ, the Sermon on the Mount ing "holier than thou" and reacted indignantly. Both supersedes the U.S. Constitution, costly discipleship is camps had good reason to feel the way they did. Those more valued than free enterprise, and servanthood is basic stereotypes have carried through to this day-long more desirable than rugged individualism.

Perhaps we Mennonite Brethren have been too conafter the Mennonite Brethren became institutionalized cerned to establish our uniqueness in the Mennonite and the mother church experienced regeneration.

Today, our history is not irrelevant, but the primary community. Or maybe we have become too enamored reason for the distance between our groups is theologi- of numerical growth. But I fear we have tipped the thecal. Our basic doctrines are almost identical, but Men- ological scales too far. We still mouth the rhetoric, but nonite Brethren, born in a pietist revival, continue to in practice we have embraced a one-sided evangelical emphasize the vertical dimension of our Anabaptist gospel that plays well in the American mainstream, but faith-personal conversion, piety and evangelism. MCs has lost its prophetic edge.

I want to believe we can rediscover balance. To a and GCs generally place more emphasis on the horizonlarge degree, it will take God's initiative to move us. But tal dimension-structural sin, community and peacemakwe can help ourselves by walking toward, not away ing/justice. from, our Anabaptist-Mennonite connections. Yes, we For me, the issue has always been emphasis. I have still have something to offer the broader Mennonite felt good about being Mennonite Brethren because I community.

But in these times we would do far better believed that while we emphasized the vertical dimento learn from it instead.

-DR sion, we also valued the horizontal. At least in our

32.

THE

C H R 1ST I A N

LEA D E R