• What some MBs are doing with their tax rebates PAGE 30
MBMSI WITNESS & MBBS INTOUCH INSIDE
FIRST WORDS ••• from the editor
"we compartmentalize our life, splitting it up into pigeonholes labeled 'work,' 'family,' 'leisure' and 'spirituality,'" writes Jospeph Allegretti in this month's Leader article, "Spiritual pigeonholing."
When we do this-compartmentalize our faith-we oftentimes end up with a less than dynamic relationship with God. Our faith is comprised of weekly trips to church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, hastily rattled prayers before going to sleep, and a glance at the Bible in between grocery shopping and getting the kids into bed. Eventually, we find ourselves asking, "Is this all there is?"
No, it's not. There is much, much more. The articles in this issue of the Leader give us some ideas on how to take our faith out of its labeled compartment and let it begin to flow through the rest of our life.
First, Eddy Hall challenges us to stop looking at the Bible as a handbook for our faith and start looking at it as a window through which God is revealing himself, inviting us to see the world through his eyes instead our own. Then Joseph Allegretti explores how we can start integrating our faith into the rest of our lives-particularly our work day. Wayne Warner takes a look at what happens when a decompartmentalized faith encounters the world. When we walk what we talk about, lives are affected-and saved. Greg Smith adds to that by reminding us that we need to have a larger, more integrated view of faith when we are talking with those who are seeking a relationship with God.
In People Profile, Winnie Bartel is a good example of integrating faith and life. And BodyLife is full of stories and examples of Christians seeking to find ways to live out their faith. Some are struggles and others triumphs, but all are examples of people trying to find ways to make Jesus and his call to be disciples central to their lives.
God bless. -CA
COMING
• SEPTEMBER 28-30-North Carolina District Conference Convention, Laytown MB Church, Lenoir, N.C.
• OCTOBER 25-27-Spiritual Warfare Study Conference, Calgary, Alta
• OCTOBER 26-28--Central District Conference Convention, Lincoln Hills Bible Church, Sioux Falls, S.D.
• NOVEMBER 9-10-Pacific District Conference Convention, Reedley MB Church, Reedley, Calif.
WAYNE M . WARNER
OF COM M
The Christian Leader (ISSN 0009 5149) is published monthly by the U S Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, 315 S Lincoln, Hi llsboro, KS 67063 The Christi an Leader seeks to inform Mennonite Brethren members and churches of the events, activities, decisions and issues of the ir denomination, and to instruct, inspire and initiate dialogue so members w i ll asp i re to be faithful d isciples of Christ as understood in the evangelical/Anabaptist theological tradition However, the views expressed in th is publi· cat i on do not necessari Iy repre sent the position of the Christian Leader, the Board of Communications or the Mennonite Brethren Church
The ed i tors inv i te free-lance article submissions, essays to Forum and letters to the editor. Forum is open to members or attendees of Mennonite Brethren churches The essays can addre ss any issue of relevance and i nterest to f!litb and life of the Mennonite Brethren Church and should be no longer than 800 words and include the home church and occupation of the writer A SASE must accompany articles and forum essays
The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ editors
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-ehe
jill and _he
In recen. years, I'we come .0 see .he Bjltle jn a much djHeren. and much more excj.jna way.han as a handltook for .he Chrjs.jan Ijfe.
LOVE THE BIBLE. It amazes me how some preachers (not all, l1leans) can take the most exciting book in the world and make it boring, or how some Sunday school teachers (just some, mind you) can present Scripture in such a way that you wonder if Sunday school doss will ever end . Making the Bible boring ought to be a crime.
Not that I've always felt this way When I was in junior high, I accepted my pastor's challenge to read the Bible through in a year by reading three chapters on weekdays and five on Sundays Two years in a row I did this . I was a fast reader, so I zipped through my three chapters of King James English in, oh, about 14 minutes a day. Not that I got much out of it. But I had been-ond this was the point, I thought-a "good Christian" by doing my Bible reading
And perhaps there is the due . If I approoch Bible reading as my "Christian duty," as something I do because that's what good Christians are supposed to do, I suspect I miss the point. Because I'm looking at it the wrong way, I fail to see what there is to see, and so it's boring
A handbook lor •••• n.
When I was in college, I set out on an ambitious Bible study project I set up a notebook that I alphabetized by topic. As I went through the Bible, whenever I came across something that I could apply, I recorded that Scripture under the relevant topic. My goal was to do this with the whole Bible. When I was done, I would have collected all the Bible had to say about each topic. So, if I wanted to know what the Bible said about lawsuits, for example, I could turn to the L's in my notebook, read those Scriptures, and by following those guidelines, be confident that I was responding to a lawsuit in the way good Christians were supposed to At least that was my theory Somewhere along the way, my project lost steam and I never finished it Today I know that even if I had finish e d it, that notebook would more than likely be colle cting dust somewhere Because, even though a topi cal listing of Scriptures might be useful for some purposes, I now realize that as a handbook
for daily life, that kind of notebook almost completely misses the point. That's partly because I've learned that Scriptures, to be rightly understood, have to be read in context, and my study method uprooted every Scripture passage from its context . But there's an even more fundamental problem with the way I was going about my Bible study A problem rooted in the fact that I misunderstood the main purpose of Scripture.
Lucy's p.ci:ure
In recent years, I've come to see the Bible in a much different and much more exciting way than as a handbook for the Christian life The first chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, opens in little Lucy 's bedroom. She and her brother Edmund and their cousin Eustace are looking at Lucy's favorite picture, a framed painting of a Narnian ship As they look at the picture, the water and the ship begin to move
The Book Is priceless precisely because It is a window through which weare invited to see, then enter, to get to know the Person. If we reduce the Bible to a rule book, we've missed the point.
and before long the three children go through the picture frame and enter the land of Narnia
I think the Bible is a lot like that painting We tend to spend a lot of time looking at the Bible, studying it, analyzing it, treasuring it, even applying it. But so long as it remains lifeless, I've come to believe we're not really seeing it. The Bible does not exist primarily to be studied, mastered, even obeyed. The Bible is a window into the spiritual realm. It is a window through which God reveals himself to us.
As I sit in my study today, I can look at my window and notice the raindrops, some dust, a cobweb. But so long as I just study my window, the window is not serving its purpose The window is not there to be the focus of my attention; it is there to let me see what is happening on the other side.
So it is with the Bible The Bible doesn't exist to be the focus of our devotion. God has given us the Bible as a window through which he is revealing himself to us. Through the Bible, God opens up to us the whole spiritual realm. He invites us to see the world and life, not through just physical eyes, but through spiritual eyes, from his point of view. And then he invites us to step through the picture frame into that other realm and join him in his kingdom adventure.
,.he old and new coyenanCs
These two vastly different ways of coming to SCripture-as a handbook of rules and as a window through which God reveals himself to us--(:orrespond to the two covenants. The new covenant, Paul writes, "is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6, NLl). It is all too possible to approach the Gospel as a system of written laws. Perhaps laws with the provision of grace for when I fail, but as a system of laws nonetheless. That's exactly what I was doing in my college-days Bible study project But, Paul says, that path ends in spiritual death.
This was how the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees of Jesus' day came to Scripture. These were the Bible scholars, the theologians. They devoted their lives to memorizing and meticulously applying the Scripture-and the rules they had derived from it-to their daily lives, and trying to get others to do the same (Matt. 23:15). Sounds pretty spiritual, doesn't it?
Yet it was to these Bible scholars that Jesus said, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don 't know the power of God" (Matt. 22:29). How could this be? Many of these men could probably quote as much Scripture as Jesus could
They had devoted their lives to Scripture. Yet Jesus said they didn't know the Scripture.
Their problem was that they were reading the SCripture the wrong way-primarily as a rule book, rather than as a window through which to see God. As a result, they didn't truly know the SCripture nor did they know God or experience his power in their lives.
Now, this is not to say that the rules don't matter at all. It is to say that they're not the main thing, however Jesus affirmed the Pharisees for keeping the rules. Then he scorched them for making the rules rather than God's purposes their focus (Matt 23:23-24).
The Christian life, you see, is not a relationship with a Book. It is a relationship with a Person. The Book is priceless preCisely because it is a window through which we are invited to see, then enter, to get to know the Person. If we reduce the Bible to a rule book, we've missed the point.
Christians sometimes refer to the Bible as the "ultimate authority" in our lives. This is, no doubt, well-intended, but it's simply not biblical. The Bible is authoritative because it is inspired by and because it reveals the One who is the Ultimate Authority in our lives If I consider the Bible my ultimate authority, I am at grave risk of relating to the Bible as the Pharisees did-!lS little more than aruJeJ;>ook. The Bible only becomes God's Word to me wh-en the Spirit gives it life, when it becomes a window on the eternal through which God is revealing himself and his purposes and his perspectives to me.
Can you see .he
Don't settle for a lifeless Bible Ask the Holy Spirit to bring it alive for you, to open up for you through the Scripture what he wants to show you of himself, his heart , his way of seeing things.
Keep asking until the picture comes to life, until you can see the ship moving, until you can feel the spray of salt water on your face and taste it on your tongue. When that happens, you'll know that you're no longer looking at the window; you're looking through the window into the universe on the other side
Then, if you dare, step through the picture frame into that other world Then you will truly be getting into the Word.•
Eddy Hall of Goessel, Kan., is a senior consultant with Living Stones Associates (www.livingstones com) , a church conSUlting team that works with churches to enhance health and ministry effectiveness through equipping leaders and through integrated planning of ministries, staffing, facilities and finances.
by Joseph a.
,alleare ••
,How can we integrate our faith and spirituality with our livesespecially our work? There's never enough time for the soul if it's just one more compartment in a cluttered life.
N E OBS TACLE to developing . a spiritua lity of ';ork is the human tendency-a tendency encouraged by our society-to divide life into separate compartments or spheres. We compartmentalize our lives, splitting it up into pigeonholes labeled "work," "family," "leisure" and "spirituality." Each inhabits its own world with its own rules .
The result is that we relegate spirituality to weekends, holidays and a few minutes in the early morning or the late evening. Maybe we go to church on Sunday Maybe we meditate for a few minutes before breakfast, do yoga twice a week, keep a journal or say a prayer before going to bed.
A little soulfulness in life is better than none, but this spiritual pigeonholing makes it impossible to live an integrated life The most important things in life are off-limits when you're at work Forget about your deepest dreams and desires . Forget about your needs for self-expression, creativity, service and friendship. Forget about morals, too; morals are for the home and for the church, not for the office and the factory At work you must be tough, efficient, amoral.
Many people live a rigidly compartmentalized life They're good neighbors, kind to their children, respectful of the environment. They are little league coaches, ushers at church, volunteers at soup kitchens. But when they get to work, everything changes There the dog-eat-dog mentality and the I'm-only-following-the-rules excuses hold sway . They quarantine their soul, imprisoning it in a tiny comer of life, never allowing it to exert any influence upon their work.
Most of us don't go to such extremes, but we're all tempted to live a compartmentalized life. We're all tempted to be one person at home and a different person at work. Our spiritual life suffers whenever we treat it as divorced from the rest of our life, as something different , something extra
Time won't let me
To get a better sense of the problem, consider a typical workday of mine I rise early, take a shower and dress. I get my sons ready for school and make sure they eat their breakfast I gulp down a bowl of cereal and grab a cup of coffee I jump in the car and drive to work. I spend my day making phone calls, preparing for classes, meeting with students, attending meetings (yuck) and squeezing in a few moments for writing . Sometimes I take an hour and go to lunch, but usually I eat a sandwich at my desk or run errands . When I get home from wor k , there's dinner to be made, dishes to be cleaned, the kitche n floor to be swept. Dirty clothes must be The kids need help with their homework. Then
there are the daily chores to fit in somewhere : shopping for food and for sneakers, picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, trying to fix a balky vacuum cleaner, paying the bills and balancing (more-orless) the checkbook. Often I spend an hour in the evening reading an article or a memo that I didn't get to at the office.
Finally the kids are in bed, the house is tidied up and I collapse onto the sofa My wife and I spend a few minutes catching up on each other's day. I may read a book, listen to music or watch lV, but soon my eyes grow heavy and I catch myself dozing off. It isn't long before I give up the battle and tum in for the night .
Time for the sou l ?
How do I fit my spiritual life into all this confusion and clutter? How do I find time for my soul? The answer is I can't
There's just not enough time for the soul, not enough hours in the day. As long as I approach my spiritual life as a separate compartment, as one more responsibility, I'll always be playing catch-up , always running behind , always feeling guilty because I'm not doing as much as I know I should There's not enough time for the soul when the soul is one more job to do , one more chore to complete . What's the cure for compartmentalization? Since the problem lies in our view of life, the cure will be found there as well. We have to stop seeing our life as a b unch of u n connected parts We have to knock down those high walls that divide our life into s epa-
FAITH AND LIFE
rate compartments. The soul, the spirit, God-this spiritual force is active in all of life, including work, home and leisure The religious doctrine of the incarnation expresses this fundamental truth-by becoming a human being like us, God broke down the barriers between the sacred and the profane so that what takes place outside of church is just as important as what takes place inside.
If all of life is sacred, then we need to wake up to the holiness of the office, the factory, the kitchen table, the movie theater and the bedroom. No one place is holier than another
A spirituality of the ordinary
A spirituality of work is a spirituality of the ordinary. It's a spirituality alert to the subtle workings of the sacred-those little moments of grace, inklings of the eternal, rumors of angels and hints of the miraculous that are present each and every day if we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. God is in the details, say the theologians.
An example may help. As a teacher, I spend a lot of time talking to students. Many times a student will come to my office and begin talking about a class aSSignment or an upcoming exam, only to open up gradually and reveal a deeper problem or a Cri!iis,_nagging doubts about self:identity I'm embarrassed to admit I often catch myself sneaking a peek at my watch or pretending to listen while I wonder how I'm ever going to get my "real" work done-preparation for class, writing an article-if I spend so much time with this student.
How easy it is for me to overlook the spiritual opportunities staring me in the face. At this moment, with this student, I can bring together my spirituality and my work. I can live an integrated life. But too often I find myself living in the past or worrying about the future while ignoring the present
There's nothing mysterious or dramatic about a spirituality of the ordinary. It asks for the most ordinary of actions on our part-a kind word, an attentive ear, a smile or a laugh. When we make time and space for others, we're making time and space for our own soul, for the soul is fed by companionship and relationship
Spirituality of competence
A spirituality of the ordinary also includes a commitment to excellence To act diligently and competently is to act spiritually. When we do good work, we're engaged in a spiritual diSCipline When we do shoddy work, we're being untrue to our own creativity.
You can begin to cultivate a spirituality of the
ordinary by reminding yourself.to slow down and look around. Focus on the present Ask yourse1f often: What.am I doing at this moment? How-canI live creatiVely and compassionately at this moment? How can I bring my spiQ,tuality and my work together at this moment?
No matter what kind of work you do, you have opportunity to develop a sl?irituality that honors the ordinary, the everyday, the here-and-now:
• A construction worker building a house on my street asked if he could usl!'my garden hose to cool off As we chatted for a few m()ments , he told me, "I try to picture the People who 'll be living in the house I'm building. It gives me a sense of pride in what I do ."
• A banker said to me, "I try to remember that the person sitting in front of me applying for a home loan is nervous and needs my help The whole process of buying a house is scary; I do what I can to make it a little easier."
• A friend of mine works for an airline company on a ground crew. He says, "When I service a plane, I'm making sure it's safe to fly. So I'm helping the passengers. But I think more about the people I work with The whole crew is depending upon me to do my job That keeps me focused on doing good work."
• A colleague of mine takes her phone off the hook the moment anyone enters her office . It's her way of saying, in effect, "I'm here . I'm here with you . I'm here for you."
God is everywhere, say the mystics, or God is nowhere. The spiritual life, too, is lived everywhere, or it's lived nowhere. The soul reveals itself in everything, if it reveals itself in anything. The ordinary life is the spiritual life.
As the Gospel of John reminds us , the spirit-the same word that means "wind" in Greek-blows where it wills Gohn 3:8). But the Spirit cannot blow freely if we put obstacles in its path-if we divide our life into compartments and build high walls between them The spirit blows where it wills, but only if we tear down the walls, dismantle the compartments and get out of the way.•
COMMON BUZZ WORD these days is "cocooning"-individuals protecting their anonymity and avoiding unwanted personal relationships while living behind locked doors in our high-tech society. How do we as Christians witness effectively to a society that increos-ingly devalues personal relationships?
BUil cf:t.tationshIPS
In c5n¢littric Circles o£ oncernuOsca'r Tbompson-a preacher and seminary professor l:>efore his death- r"ates a story ofa Right he took to San Francisco. He sot next to a passenger busy writing on a laptop computer.
When the man was done working, up and asked Thompson, 'What do you do?"
"I am a teacher/' Thompson conceded insteQd of saying he was a Baptist preacher. HetJidn't want to squelch the conversatiop.
"What do yev
III{1feresting yoo ask,II 'Thompson continued, again purposefully not telling1he mon h' iOugh'tlNangeliSl¥l"Ot c seminary. 'What I basically teach is .that the I'llOst importbnt word in the EngUsh language is ' relationship ' If we can solve the relationshiJ$ ptoblems in th is world, we have solved domestic problems, neighbor problems, city problems and internationat problems."
With that, the man-a Hollywood that his life was messed up and that he had prayed that very morning f9 r God to send SQmeone to help him sort it out. Acknowledging God might ttbve sent Thomp son nis way, he began making his life right by receiving Christ into his Irfe beforeJandlng at the San Francisco airport.
Thompson understood that people who make a difference in other people's lives eventually discover the power of witnessing depends more on the relationships you can build than the words by which you inform .
Live Christ
A 14-year-old high achiever also demonstrated this as he faced a pre-World War II world filled with fear, hatred and hostility.
A young Dietrich Bonhoeffer had both wealth and social standing, but he encountered an unexpectedly serious problem while preparing to become a theologian In his Bible studies, the young Bonhoeffer chanced to meet jesus. As a consequence of that encounter, he determined to spend the rest of his life "living jesus" rather than talking about himmuch to the chagrin of his troubled countrymen.
"Living]esus" led him to resist the unscrupulous paperhanger politician who thumbed his nose at the world while conquering Europe-Adolph Hitler. While the German church slowly succumbed to Hitler's radical changes, young Bonhoeffer focused his life on the person and teachings of jesus.
This resistance brought him into conflict with the Nazi party and eventually won him a six-by-nine prison cell. Following his release, he escaped to America but knew he could not remain here long
and retain his credibility in Germany. So, he returned home to share life with his people
Bonhoeffer rallied faint-hearted Christians and modeled life "in Christ" for the church and nation he loved. The authorities finally took him into custody and imprisoned him again in 1945 at Buchenwald, to execute him at Flossenberg.
Preparing a final service for fellow prisoners, Bonhoeffer delivered a meditation from Isa. 53:5, ''With his stripes we are healed." The guards interrupted the service when they came and led the 39-year old prisoner away, hanging him early the next morning within hearing of General Patton's advancing cannons.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's last recorded words, witnessed to English friend Bishop Bell, were, "This is the end-for me, the beginning of life."
Foster reconciliation
In 1995, Wayne Messmer did what most of his friends thought impOSSible-he returned to sing the National Anthem for the Chicago Blackhawks. Someone shot the popular Chicago singer-well-
Eight things _ken need fire.. you
UKE STEPPING TO the free-throw line with the game point in your hands, there can be the same stomach· churning anxiety when it comes to sharing the gospel. Perhaps for months or even years you've been praying for the opportunity to talk to a friend about Christ. and then without warning, God opens the window of opportunity For once the convef$8tlon isn't about work, sports, home improvements or politics You two are talkin, about the real stuff of Itle. Maybe your friend Is living through a trl9edyor has a difficult decision to.mal<e, and his or her heart is exposed before you . You know what you want from th'"opportunity: to lead your friend to Christ. But what does your friepd want from yOU AI a
"seeker.· what Is he or she looking for in this conversation?
Typically a seekef needs the following from you:
R ct. Mayb,11e left his wife for another woman, alienated his kids and_eyed over th.«hicalline in his bUsln even if you don't re.spect his
How do we as Christians effectively witness to a society that Increasingly devalues personal relationships!
BY
past choices. can you respect him? Can you empathize with his situation? 'Can you love the sinner but not the 5i.,?lf your friend thinks you're talking dqwn to him you've just lost the right to discuss spiritual things In th;s lifesaving CMversatlon, your friend needs to experience respect.
Chrlstl _
I Maybe your friend has had a bad church and is tumed off by hypocrisy or overiy aggressive o\ltreach tac;tics. Mat'" 5he struggles with the dark sid, of church history orlhe current televangelist and wants nothing to do with that religion. If you deny the shortcomin,s of the church, she Will think you are dishonest or out of
Witnessing
requires modeling
-In our relationships and how we live our IIveswhat we might otherwise Juat talk
known for singing the National Anthem for sports teams-for unknown reasons. The bullet narrowly missed his vocal cords , leaving him with a career in question, as well as a decision of how he would face life and respond to its rough edges.
Messmer's misfortune, however, became his personal discovery of an empowering grace that would allow him to successfully confront both his situation and his assailant. After learning the circumstances of his heretofore unknown attacker, he chose to visit the man who was already serving time for his crime
you But if you do not forgive your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Matt. 6: 14 NASV).
More than words
Oscar Thompson avoided squelching a conversation through unwise words, focusing instead on building a relationship. Although Dietrich Bonhoeffer went to a premature death, he went purposefully, his heart filled a peace that delivered a Christian witness that remains unexcelled. Wayne Messmer is now back to doing that which he loves best, singing. Far more importantly, he has discovered a whole new outlook on life with a whole new relationship to the people who surround him. out.
Eventually, Messmer became his friend, and in time he gifted his new friend with forgiveness. In taking this action, Messmer experienced the most significant event of his life. When interviewed on WGN radio, the popular Chicagoan described in detail the three F's on which he had come to base his life : faith , family and friends.
"The ball and chain," which he admitted was attached to his own foot, "was released." He was free.
Witnessing effectively within an unrelating society of highly individualized cocoons will require more than words. It may mean actually avoiding certain words or phrases, "living]esus" without depending on words, demonstrating forgiveness and fostering reconciliation. It requires modeling-in our relationships and how we live our lives-what we might otherwise just talk about • Fotgiveness is an essential word in maintaining pets,gpal relationships, because it overcomes the hindrances of human imperfeCtion Moreover,]esus underscored thiS, saying, "If you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive
Wayne Warner is afreelance writer who lives in Battlecreek, Mid;.
life. Most people find that praying the sinners prayer does not fix all of their problems but instead introduces a whole new set of challenges. Accepting Christ won't fix a bad marriage, restore relationships with angry children, make a boss more understanding or change lifetime habits. In fact, loyalty to Christ may make some of these conflicts more complicated But Jesus promises his followers his help Describe for your friend the times Jesus has been there with you in the middle of the real -life messes
• Aldlaeldicity Share your spiritual journey- the true story about your struggles and doubts and problems Give practical examples of how Christ has made changes in your life. Allow your friend to see that the only real difference between the two of you is what Jesus has done for you by grace•
• Cultural relevance God doesn't dwell only in church sanctuaries and religious bookstores Be a mis-
sionary-speak your friend's language and refer to things that interest him. Your conversation should be filled with illustrations and references to current and familiar movies, music, sports and books.
• F Most people are curious about spirituality and open to talking about God What tums them off is the claim that in order to know God they have to join your church, your denomination, attend meetings, give money and generally begin to look more and more like you They consider that attitude arrogant. It is Seekers are seeking God, not membership in a clique, club or cult Your friend does not want to hear about the human strings attached to God's grace For now, it's enough to give her Jesus, an invitation to church and room to maneuver.
• The choice to res Way too often Christians get people right up to the line of faith ••. and then don't try to bring them across it. Don't
be afraid to give your friend an opportunity to ask Christ into his heart If you don't know how to ask the question or lead someone through such a prayer, then learn the tools this week
• Hope Christ is in the business of changing lives-billlons so far and counting He changed mine and, I hope, yours, and we know he can change your friend's Above all. leave your friend with a sense of genuine hope that the God who is "making everything new" (Rev 21 :5) wants to renew. refresh and recreate your friend too (2 Cor. 5:17)
Are you ready for a lifesaving conversationl Your friend could be ready, and it could be now or never •
This article is reprinted with permission from The Banner a biweekly publication of the Christian Reformed Church Smith is director of reCreation Arts, an evangelism training ministry located in Holland, Mich
Anyway You Look At It,
It's A Win-Win Proposition!
The Charitable Gift Annuity
Ask anyone who has signed a legal agreement, and they will likely tell you that the ideal contract is one in which both parties win. And that is exactly the case with the Charitable Gift Annuity.
The Gift Annuity is a legal agreement between you and a qualified charity like Mennonite Brethren Foundation. In simple terms, it is part gift and part annuity. The annuity portion provides you a high rate of return on cash or certain assets for as long as you live. And the gift comes into play when, upon your death, the value of the agreement becomes a charitable contribution.
Charitable Gift Annuity rates are based on your age, with annuity payments as high as 12% for more senior persons. In addition to this attractive rate, the agreement carries a number of attractive tax benefits.
Variations on the Gift Annuity make it extremely attractive as a part of retirement planning.
For details on this and other planning options, call or write our office. All communication and correspondence is treated in complete confidence.
Mennonite Brethren Foundation P.o. Box V Hillsboro, KS 67063 (800) 551-1547
Fax (620) 947-3266 email: mbfound@southwind.net
* This offer is void where prohibited by state law.
HAT ADERS AY
Youth and elders
I wanted to thank you for printing "reinvent your life at any age" by Katie Funk Wiebe (June 2001) I appreciated the balanced way in which she wrote about retirees as well as young people. As someone who has spent the past 18 years working with teenagers I want to add my "amen" to her challenge that discipleship is an invitation to all age groups.
I did want to comment on two points she makes. The first is her assumption that older adults will dominate the 21st century. Actually recent statistics as reported by Don Tapscott in his book, Growing up Digital, show that children born between 1977 and 1997 make up 30 percent of the the U.S. population according to Census Bureau information. To put this figure into perspective, the Baby Boom generation that, as Wiebe points out, created our "youth culture" makes up 29 percent of the population In the next few million young people will be on the scene, influencing and shaping our culture The potential for ministry is staggering
My second thought came after reading her comment that in her research elders weren' t welcome in youth ministry. I work for Youth for Christ and I recently worked at a national event alongside a man who has been working with YFC for the past 53 years. Bill still works on a high school campus and is still impacting kids What is noticeable about him is the "youthfulness" of his attitude, the way he is still learning and his passion for lost young people. I have to say, "I want to be like him when I'm in my 70s."
Also as a former MB youth pastor, I would have loved to have had older
The Christian Leader welcomes brief letters on topics relevant to the Mennonite Brethren Church. All letters must be signed and will be edited for clarity and length. Send letters to Christian Leader, 101 N. Capitol Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36107 (e-mail: chleader@jps net)
adults like Bill in the church who offered to help disciple teenagers I agree with Wiebe that to do this you need to be able to handle different styles of worship and a more revolutionary view of the gospel Given the need and the sheer numbers of young people who will be hitting our high schools and middle schools in the next few years , we need everyone to help with the task of reaching them with the Good News of Jesus Christ .
Rick
Bartlett
Tacoma, Wash.
TV is my shepherd
My wife and I were reading in the Christian Leader about the pros and cons of watching 1V (July 2001). The next morning this came in my e-mail. I am copying it here, but the original URL is www.debsfunpages.com/ 23rdGhannel-;-htm Enjoy!
The 1V is my Shepherd;
I shall not want
It makes me lie down on the sofa. It leads me away from the Scriptures It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the paths of sex and violence,
For the sponsor's sake
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities, There will be no interruptions; For the 1V is with me.
Its cable and its remote controlThey comfort me
It prepares a commercial before me, In the presence of my worldliness. It anoints my head with humanism
My coveting runneth over Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house
Watching 1Vforever
Sending food to Russia
I recently returned from some volunteer activity at Slavic Gospel Church in Bellingham, Wash. This congregation is one that has affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren and is in the process of building a new sanctuary. While there, I met and worked with a number of our Ukrainian brethren, coming away with a new appreciation for their spirituality and work ethic.
Are you aware that this congregation is involved in regularly sending food to families still in the Ukraine? I had no idea that such an effort existed-perhaps in a small way similar to what was accomplished by the Mennonite Central Committee in the early 1900s I learned of this in a rather roundabout fashion. One morning, Oleg had volunteered to help me pick up some donated material at Mt. Baker Plywood in Bellingham Shortly after I arrived at his shop, he drove in and apologized for being late. He went on to mention that he had been picking up some donated food to be packaged for shipment to the Ukraine Curiosity aroused, I pressed him for additional infumration . In aself-aepre-cating manner he explained that he and Paul, another young person in the congregation, picked up donated surplus food It was then delivered to a location where others in the congregation sorted it for shipment. There are a number of restrictions on content and packaging that must be observed, and items that cannot be shipped are given to the food bank for local distribution
It seemed to me that if others in our constituency were made aware of this locally-sponsored effort, they might wish to participate. You can contact Walter Uyin, pastor of this congregation, for appropriate details His address is 1044 Geneva St., Bellingham, WA 98226.
Kenneth W. Pannabecker SanJose, Calif.
WesBartell Morgan Hill,
Calif.
A doorway to heaven
ABOUT 80 YEARS AGO, a lonely house was built in the then little farming town of Reedley, Calif. The original purpose of the home was to raise chickens, but God's greater purpose was laid in its foundation, its structure and even its doorway long before Reedley ever existed. God's heavenly purpose for this home was manifested almost immediately by the original proprietors, Lizzie and Archie Clark, a couple who were willing to pour out their lives sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others.
While the Reedley of the 1920s was quite different in many ways from its present form, it was also quite similar. The farming fields still needed laborers but the shoes of those laborers were mainly filled by American migrant farm workers fleeing the anguish of the Great Depression
As today, the lives of those fleeing poverty to find work are often filled with despair and insufficiency. There were others who just may have lost their way and found themselves in similar circumstances-alone, destitute and needy.
Lizzie Clark opened her home and her heart to those in need. Through the frame of her narrow doorway, they entered to fiU their stomachs and calm their bodies. However, Lizzie's mission was so much more than that-her mission was to fiU the hearts of the poor with God's love and calm their spirits with God's grace.
Eighty years later, three men-Pastor
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 home and vocation, and include a clear photo of themselves
BY PHILLIP RANALLO
Melvin Harrel, Horacio Aleman Sr. and Mark Harkins-have teamed up to continue Lizzie's mission of God through that very same house on 11th Street, now aptly named House of Hope. Through the very same doors, paupers of spirit, finance, drugs, gangs and alcohol pass again. But within the walls of this home the ultimate healer and ful-
filler dwells, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only one who can truly fill these men with what they need.
The mission of House of Hope is to offer a place to those who feel helpless . I can't think of a more ideal place to preach and fulfill God's word of salvation. Matt. 5:3 states, "Blessed are the poor in spirit " How, you may ask, can one suffering the anguish of poverty be blessed in spirit? Simply because a pauper does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty. The fact is that the underlying foundation of Jesus Christ's Kingdom is poverty, not possessions. We-rich, poor and inbetween-need to have an absolute sense of futility so that we may finally admit, "Lord, I can do nothing; I am
nothing without you " Then Jesus may say, "Blessed are you" (Matt. 5:11). Like the fruit the paupers pick in the fields, the destitute dwelling in the House of Hope are ripe to be picked for God.
Maybe we all need to make a spiritual entrance through Lizzie Clark's door, a doorway that signifies our knowledge of our absolute poverty without God's love and grace . Once we've entered the doorway of acknowledgement of our own poverty, it is then that Jesus Christ has us in the proper place to accomplish his work.
While House of Hope and other Christian organizations of similar origin continue to open their doors to the needy and destitute, there is also a need for Christian workers who have entered the doorway that acknowledges their ultimate poverty without Jesus Christ Once the "comfortable Christians" of this modem age realize that they too ate destitute without God, organizations such as the House of Hope, Cruising for Jesus, Habitat for Humanity, Mennonite Central Committee and all the mission fields of this world will lack nothing-not workers, funds or, most importantly, plenty of doorways to salvation. •
Phillip Ranallo attends EI Faro MB Church in California and serves as public relations liaison between House of Hope and the Reedley community. House of Hope is a venture of Cruising for Jesus, a ministry that is focused on bringing the Word of God to street people and gang members using car shows, music and motivational speaking. Horacio Aleman Sr , president and founder of Cruising for Jesus and one of the founders of House of Hope, worked for many years with EI Faro MB Church as a translator before founding Cruising for Jesus in 1996 Reedley MB Church and EI Faro support House of Hope both financially and with services
THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS movement has been an easy target for critics and conservatives who think the country is sinking in a mire of mushy liberal thinking, I understand the problems people have with PC and its tendency towards relativistic values, But I've never been a strong critic of the movement, and actually believe some good has come out of it , The latest point scored in favor of PC, at least in my book, is the rising tide against dodgeball,
Many of us remember dodgeball as the old P,E. game in which two teams line up in the gym and try to pound each other with ferociously thrown volleyballs, These days a number of school districts in various states are outlawing dodgeball-to the chagrin of folks like the author of the conservative political cartoon Mallard Fillmore and Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, both of whom have hurled recent criticisms against the dodgeball banning trend. Getting rid of dodgeball, according to Reilly, shows that "America is going softer than left-out butter "
Though I find Reilly to be witty and insightful most of the time, in this case I think he's, well, dropped the ball. My own reaction to the outlawing of dodgeball is: it's about time, I never liked that game , Nor did the vast majority of my classmates , Our general reaction upon learning P E. that day would be dedicated to dodgeball was, and I quote , "groooan " It seemed to us it's what we reverted too when the coaches were too lazy to think up anything better to do, Doubly galling at my Southern California high school was that we had superb athletic facilities and great winter weather. Too many days when we could have been using
BY PHILIP WIEBE
PC or not PC?
the pool or tennis courts or sports fields for a myriad of activities, we'd instead file into the gym to mindlessly fire balls at innocent classmates.
That's what politically correct people don't like about dodgeball: it's a game with human targets. The people who don't like politically correct people scoff and say, what's wrong with that? It doesn't take a genius to look around in our culture and conclude, there's plenty wrong with that. So I say getting rid of dodgeball is an example of PC gone right.
The thing about political correctness is that it's easy to skewer its excesses, while taking entirely for granted its advances. Someone in a graduate class I was taking once complained to our professor, wasn't it confusing and silly that cultural groups always wanted to be called something new, like Indians becoming "Native Americans" and then "First Peoples?" The professor, a sensible man, replied, "I don't see anything wrong with it. Would you want to be known by a name with an erroneous and horribly stereotyped past?" That statement really changed my thinking about PC. Of course a people would rather not be called something misguided explorers tagged them with (it wasn't India they found) and later settlers hated them for (the only good Indian is well, you know the rest). Anyone who's had an embarraSSing or derisive nickname thrust upon them in childhood knows what it means to want to bury that deeply in the past.
The church has its own PC controversies, particularly in the area of gender exclusive language. Some seem to feel that all references to God as "the Father" and the generic use of "man" or "men" should be entirely banned. Others argue that gender language
\ shouldn't be an issue, since that's how the Bible was written, and those who don't like "men" should keep quiet and learn to live with it.
Really, I understand where both sides are coming from. Wholesale changes to the Bible's male pronouns, for instance, understandably strikes some as a slippery slope. When you start altering Scripture translation to fit cultural tastes, where does it end? Too many modern believers seem more than willing to modify or even eliminate the parts of the Bible they don't particularly like.
On the other side, the broadening of male pronouns to be gender inclusive when the Scripture writers obviously meant everybody really doesn't bother me. For instance, I don't see how translating Jesus' call in Matthew 5:16 to shine your light before "others" rather than "men" compromises the Bible in any way. Yet it seems to me I heard that plans to release a gender inclusive NIV Bible in the U.S were once scrapped because of the revolt from many American Christians. No wonder I find myself reading the New Living Translation more, a gender inclusive version that quietly came out in 1996.
Nor do I mind that some advocate a less frequent and more judiciOUS use of "Father" for God. I like "Father" (as Jesus did, for obvious reasons) and don't plan on banning it from my prayer language. But obviously God is not that stereotyped man with a long white beard and booming voice. God encompasses both male and female and so much more. If PC helps remind us of that, even irritatingly at times, then I say it deserves another point in its favor.•
INQUIRING MINDS
BY MARVIN HEIN
Questions about faith and life
Praying lik eJabez and more on capital punishm ent -
QWho in the Bible Is Jabez and what makes his prayer currently so popular? Is his prayer really such a good model for us? (Kansas)
A1be Prayer ofjabez is a tiny beige and sepia book authored byevangelist Bruce Wtlkinson who is most known by his Walk 1brough the Bible ministry. More than 6.6 million copies of this book based on an obscure little prayer found in 1 Chron. 4:9 -10 have been sold. Wilkinson says he has prayed this prayer every day for 30 years and this has been the secret of his success. The prayer goes like this: "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain. So God granted liim w.fiat 'ne requested."
I read the book recently while soaring 35,000 feet in the skies. I thought perhaps I would get a more heavenly view of the goodness of this book. During my reading, repeatedly I found myself thinking: "Yes, that's right, but . . .." Upon further investigation I found other people saying essentially ''yes, but "
While some have grumbled about the book, Andree Seu advises the grumps to chill. She sees the book as a call to ask boldly for great things from a great, redemptive God, rather than a grifter's formula for tricking the Almighty out of his riches. Her words came as the result of another'S description of Wilkinson's view of God as "cosmic beUhop."
Another person is even more cruel in saying that the whole Jabez phenomenon is indeed gold, but fools' gold scattered over our land 3,000 miles wide and an inch deep .
Yes God no doubt is far more generous than most of us ever imagine Yes
the prayer of Jabez has gotten many people to reading the Bible and they have found their "territory" enlarged. Yes while some may have called the repetition of the prayer a Christian "mantra," how many of us pray anything enough to be guilty of using a mantra. Yes God wants us to have an abundant life and we should trust him to supply the power. Yes ... often we have not because we ask not.
But . . .do you pray for "things" (which Wilkinson espouses), or do you "seek first the kingdom of God" and then allow these "things" to be added to us?
But can we really say that this prayer is "a daring prayer that God always answers" and "the key to a life of extraordinary favor with God?" But is this the only prayer we pray? lf prayer really "works," as Wtlkinson suggests, does "work" include flogging, stoning, shipwreck, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, cold and nakedness (2 Cor. 11), perplexity, pressure, persecution (2 Cor. 4), insult (1 Thess. 1) and dying daily?
Yes we can praise God for those who have prospered spiritually (and materially?) from reading the book and praying the prayer. But . .. does the Bible present a tame God who responds like a butler with good things when we recite certain words and phrases? Yes . . . many who understand the purpose of the book are finding help in their Christian lives But ... will praying this prayer daily spare us "from the grief and pain that evil brings?" But yes ... Jabez did leave it up to God as to how to bless him
So is this prayer a good model for our praying? Read the book! Profit from it if you can. Don't be too critical of those who are blessed by it. But don't be fearful about asking questions about your prayer life
Have a question about a Bible passage, doctrine, conference policy, or other spiritual issue? E-mail Marvin at mheinl @fresno edu or send your question to "Inquiring Minds, c/o Marvin Hein , 4812 E Butler, Fresno, CA 93727
QWould you be Interested In more information on capital punishment? (Nebraska)
AWhile there were responses both pro and con to the July column on the death penalty, an insightful article was sent me by this reader. The article was written by Andrew Shih, a Christian assistant public defender in Cook County, Illinois
Shih's thesis is that those who contend that the law of God in the Old Testament that instituted capital punishment should be aware of the biblical procedures to be followed for anyone to be convicted of any crime. In Deut. 19: 16-19 Moses declares that a witness against an accused person assumes very serious responsibilities. If the testimony gf the- witness turns out to be false (liar), that person is to be punished with the same sentence intended for the accused. The law is very specific and is intended to prevent perjurers from giving false testimony.
It would seem that God's value judgment here is that it is much better for the guilty to go free than for the innocent to be wrongfully convicted An illustration might be God's response when Abraham asked if it would be right for God to destroy Sodom if 10 innocent people were found therein. God's response was that he would rather leave an entire city of sinners unpunished than punish the innocent along with the rest (Gen 18).
There are too many proven instances where innocent persons were eliminated who were not guilty. Capital punishment may take a different tack if you acknowledge that you cannot follow the law of God on criminal sentencing and then not follow the law of God on crim, inal procedure •
BY ROSE BUSCHMAN
Doing "donkey work"
Donkey work is the backbone of ki ngdom work
RECENTL Y MY HUSBAND AND I were weeding some foundation plantings around the entrance to our church. It was a very hot Saturday afternoon and I had to frequently duck into the shade to get a break from the blazing sun. "This is what I call donkey work," I said while sweat trickled down my cheeks.
Not long ago I asked some visiting out-of-state friends about their current involvement in their church. They replied, "We go every Thursday evening and check to make sure the sanctuary is ready for Sunday-offering envelopes, pencils, registration cards and Bibles in the pews and the furniture properly arranged ." They are doing donkey work.
I first heard the term "donkey work" used in a Palm !iermon last _ spring in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea. One of the missionaries, Neil Anderson, was giving the sermon and among other things he referred to Jesus' words in Mark 11:3 where he gives his disciples instructions to get the donkey he will later ride into Jerusalem. When asked why they are taking the animal, Jesus tells them to say, "The Lord needs it and will return it shortly " Anderson pointed out that only Mark's gospel mentions the return of the donkey We don't know who returned the animal but we can be assured that someone did because Jesus said he would. Anderson called it donkey work. While not considered important enough to be mentioned by the other gospel writers, it was crucial to the events of that day. In his application Anderson pointed out that much of what is done in the kingdom of God is "donkey work."
I've thought a lot about this since my return home. To me, donkey work is the kind of work that no one really notices unless it doesn't get done. Furthermore, it is vital work even though it may not be recognized as such.
My heroes in the realm of donkey work are the auto mechanics at Ukarumpa. If it wasn't for these dedicated men and their families, the work of Bible translation in that area would grind to a halt, or at least a slow trickle. The roads leading to this miSSionary base are so bad that when new people arrive they have to Sign up for "driving school" no matter what their previous driving experience is The old-timers take the newcomers out for intense road hazard instruction. We mission team members were amazed that it was possible to keep vehicles functioning on those roads The donkey work these men do is the lifeline of the mission work there.
What I found even more amazing was that these missionary families had churches and supporterswho believed in what they were doing and provided them with financial support so they could perform their important work.
Donkey work is the backbone of kingdom work. Unfortunately, many believers don't recognize this.
When I saw the list of teachers needed at the school for missionary children at Ukarumpa, I wondered how in the world they would be able to rul all the vacant pOSitions for the coming year. I was told of one teacher and his family who were going home this summer. They wanted to stay and the school desperately needed them, but their church at home had decided that their work was not important enough to continue supporting them. It wasn't "real" missionary work. What these people back home didn't realize was that when there aren't enough teachers to keep the school functiOning, then Bible translators are called in from their areas and asked to teach until adequate replacements can be found. The "real" missionary work grinds to a halt until the missionary children are provided for.
I do donkey work myself-washing dishes, weeding the garden, washing the tea towels after a dinner at church. By the time this column is published, Lord willing, I will be on my way to the South Pacific for a new donkey work assignment . I have been asked to substitute for six weeks at a high school for missionary children while their math teacher needs to be gone.
Many people do donkey work. Without it our homes and our churches could not function Our Sunday morning services proceed normally if the sound system people do their work. We don't notice it unless it quits or starts to crackle. How long would we continue to attend church if the buildings and grounds were not neat, clean and kept up? How many families with young children would come to-churchifwe-didn't provide a nursery with dedicated workers to care for them? How many crusades would Billy Graham preach if it wasn't for all the other people who make things happen-advance arrangers, prayer supporters, set-up crews, lighting and sound system experts? The list of "anonymous" people is long but without them the preaching, singing and altar calls could not occur.
Our jobs may often be donkey work as well. For years I taught beginning or remedial math courses. Sometimes I found myself asking "Why do I have to do this?" Algebra I teachers aren't exactly the most popular teachers around. But-and this is a big "but"-without a solid algebra foundation my students could not go on to succeed in more advanced math classes which their chosen careers required. My work was absolutely essential but it often felt like donkey work.
It takes all of us working together, whether we are those in the limelight or those working behind the scenes, to further the kingdom of God Donkey work is kingdom work. •
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A call to speak for all women
Winnie Bartel is making headlines as she challenges the church to look at women's issues-from abuse and injustice to uniting Christian women globally
BY SARA CO O K
As a young child , Winnie Bartel had a vision-a vision of the Lord calling her, saying, "I've chosen you I have my hand on you and I want you to follow me for this task " At the time , Bartel didn't know what her task was
Now she does. Today her life is consumed with addressing women's issues. Her commitment to women's concerns has led her all over the country-and the world
Born and raised in the San Joaquin
Valley of Central California, Bartel lived on a farm and developed a strict work ethic. She also learned firsthand of the injustices some women endure When Bartel was young, a teacher who was a member of her church abused her
"God used that," says Bartel, "because it taught me [in) the need of my immense pain to seek help "
At the age of 16, Bartel sought professional help and then realized she wanted to help others through psychology and counseling
Because of what she had experi-
enced, she also became passionate about women ' s concerns, especially abuse and injustice She has been an advocate for women in international settings, on Capitol Hill and in other venues .
So how exactly did a young farm girl from Central California begin to make headlines around the world?
"The first time they asked me to teach Sunday school, I said yes The first time they asked me to chair a woman's group in my church, I said yes The first time I was asked to speak at a woman's meeting, I said yes God opens doors and when you say yes to him and allow him to work through you, then he gives you more
"The doors opened for me immensely working with women ' s issues from the time I got involved in 1976 with the Ladies Aid for Retarded Citizens," says Bartel. "Then I was elected to the PacifI ic District Conference women's board and became chair It just went on and on and I got more involved with women's issues in the national arena and eventually in the global arena."
In 1996, Bartel was elected chair of the women's commission for World Evangelical Fellowship, an umbrella organization whose purpose is to unite the evangelical community around the world. Topping heF agenda was addressing abuse and injustice against women
"Throughout the 25 to 30 years I had been in ministry, I had known of hundreds and hundreds of women in leadership and in churches who were victims of abuse by their husbands or church leaders or their Sunday school teachers," says Bartel.
So in 1997 she assembled an international task force on abuse against women Over the past two years, this task force has performed and analyzed global research on abuse and injustice As chair of the task force , Bartel shared their research last year at a global WEF gathering in Cyprus .
Bartel has also spoken on Capitol Hill twice-<>pportunities, she says, that have brought positive attention not only to women's issues but also to Mennonites in general. She says government officials are surprised to see her-a member of Shafter (Calif ) MB Church-involved in governmental affairs She also served as chaplain for the a team from the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Washington, D C., to the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
Now Bartel is putting the finishing touches on the Global Celebration for Women, a worldwide effort to unite all Christian women, sponsored by 13 international women's organizations and hundreds of national and regional organizations to be held at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
The celebration , which will be held Sept. 19-21, will feature six sessions with speakers Anne Graham Lotz, founder of AnGeL Ministries and daughter of evangelist Billy Graham; Elizabeth Dole, former president of the American Red Cross; May Feng, Christian radio and 1V talk show host in Taiwan; Jane Hansen, president of Aglow International; Retired General Eva Burrows, the former world leader of the Salvation Army; and Judy Mbugua, founder of the Pan-African Christian Women's Association Author Beth Moore will also be present for one of the 40 workshops, as well worship leader Alicia Williamson, who has ministered at both Women of Faith conferences and Billy Graham crusades .
"We want to make a difference," Bartel says. "That is our earnest prayerthat it's a wake-up call to the church to rise up and meet the immense needs of women around the world. It's a time to raise awareness and educate and assist women who are suffering so in abuse and injustice. We are also looking at it as a way to continue the legacy of strong, capable godly women to inspire role models and examples."
The purpose of this first-of-a-kind conference is to bring together the global church to discuss global issues. Eventually, says Bartel, the message of the conference will infiltrate down into the women of local churches.
Women in attendance , says Bartel, will celebrate who God is and what he has done for women, rejoice in women's contributions to the kingdom, motivate, encourage and challenge women, raise awareness of suffering women and the need for Christian response, and will excite and equip them to touch the world for Jesus.
Yet beneath the seriousness of the conference lies a celebration-a time for women to come together and acknowledge the contributions that women have made to God 's work on earth
"I saw and felt and experienced the hand of God," she says. "I have seen the healing of God in the lives of women and how God has been so good to
women through history. We just need to celebrate."
The celebration will not only be ministering to women but also to the men present. A special men's luncheon is planned for day two
Bartel believes that because women are relational, God has called them to carry out God's work, including evangelizing and church planting-which Bartel herself did at Butler Ave (MB) Church, Fresno , Calif., and North Fresno MB Church.
"I have no doubt that the anointing is on women-not that it's been removed from men, not at all," she says. "I think it's Joel 2 days where the anointing is on men and women, and that women are rising up."
Despite the progress women have made in both church and society, women's issues are continually being pushed to the background. Bartel says that she runs into opposition everywhere she goes, even within WEF.
"I get e-mails from people who believe that women should be silent and not speak. It 's a misunderstanding of Scripture . It's also false teaching of Scripture and it's heredity. Our forefathers taught that the male macho image should be the boss, the leader."
Bartel has and read about numerous women who have been abused within the church and encourages pastors to speak out against it
"We found where pastors have been willing to speak on it, women have come out of the woodwork and shared how they have been abused Even if a church takes one Sunday out a year to address the issue and speak on proper relationships, women [speak] out and the church begins to realize that there are problems. There 's just an endless way the church can address the issue of abuse if they're willing to."
And Bartel has definitely been addressing the issue. She appeared on the 700 Club August 13, garnering national attention to the celebration That may not be the only national platform, though. She has been contacted about appearing on Oprah although nothing has been finalized.
Being in the limelight is something Bartel struggles with constantly
"My prayer chain is praying immensely to get me through thiS," she says. "I realize that my job is to be a hope-giver to the world The hope that
I found in Jesus Christ, I want to share because I travel all around the world."
Besides the work she performs with various organizations, she also stays connected with her church For the past two years, she has been leading a women's Bible study in a local restaurant as well as playing the organ and singing in the choir She and her husband Erwin have also served as youth leaders for 23 years
Despite the busy schedule she has kept for the past three-and-a-half years planning for the Global Celebration, Bartel still finds time to counsel those in need under Women in Touch Ministries, an organization she founded She currently serves on the National Association of Evangelicals board of directors, is a board member of Mission America and its affiliate Christian Women United and Ministry WIVes Network International. She is also a member of the Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society.
This past year, Bartel addressed the 11th General Assembly of WEF in Malaysia regarding the completed work of the task force on abuse . She presented their written report, No Place for Abuse, making international headlines-including an article in Christianity Today-and a resolution adopted unanimously by WQrld leaders ofWEF. (To order a copy of the report, write to WEF-CWC Task Force on Abuse, PO Box 362, Shafter, CA 93263, or visit www abuseofwomen.org )
"I'm humbled by God that he chose me," she says. "I feel so inadequate, but my adequacy comes from him, and I realize that it keeps me on my knees."
Claiming John 15:16 as her life verse, Bartel finds herself returning to the reassuring words time and time again. "It's been an incredible life journey of faith-of walking by faith-not by Sight It's been a crisis of belief from day one," she says.
''When [God] calls, it's a higher calling than men's calling," says Bartel. ''That gave me great comfort when I was told I shouldn't be where I am or I shouldn't be doing this. God called me. I go back to that verse thousands and thousands of times I live by the word of God ."
And by living out God's word, Bartel is fulfilling the vision that one day women's issues will be discussed and confronted. Until that day happens, Bartel will continue to speak out-not only for herself, but for women around the world •
Merger brings joy and sorrow
Decision by the two largest u.s.
Mennonite denominations to form one national denomination has implications for Mennonite Brethren
BY CONNIE FABER WIlli REPORTS FROM MENNONITE WEEKLY REVIEW AND THE MENNONITE
In surprisingly overwhelming fashion, Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church delegates took the final steps of an 18-year process to transform their denominations into Mennonite Church USA at the joint MC-GC convention in Nashville, Tenn., July 2-7.
In the first of two actions needed to complete the merger, 90 percent of GC delegates and 89 percent of MC delegates adopted the much-debated membership guidelines the morning ofJuly 5. In the afternoon, 96 percent of GC delegates and 95 percent of MC delegates approved the plan of merger, which covers the legal aspects of the move
The actions write the final chapters for the General Conference Mennonite Church, founded in 1860, and the Mennonite Church, organized in 1898, and their decades of cooperation Mennonite Church USA was incorporated Aug 31, and the bylaws will go into effect Feb. 1,2002
Their decision has implications for the u.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Thanks to the formation of Mennonite Church USA, the u.S. Conference , with a membership of 21,400, is now the second-rather than third-largest Mennonite denomination in the U S More importantly, the merger may prompt numeric growth for u.S. Mennonite Brethren as congregations who choose not to join Mennonite Church USA look for other denominational homes.
"If a congregation believes it wants to identify with the theology of the U S MB Conference, we will be open to begin dialogue," says David Reimer, U S. Conference moderator of Reedley, Calif.
In early July, the u.S. Conference office in Hillsboro, Kan., was contacted by one Missouri congregation looking for another Mennonite denomination with which to affiliate.
ference minister of Wichita, Kan , when he has been contacted by individuals in leadership of Mennonite Church USA congregations. "Our policy is that we do not court or initiate such calls, " says Reimer. "However, when inquiries come, we respond in a cordial manner I and treat them in the same manner as inquiries from others who (wish) to get acquainted or to consider affiliation."
Reimer says he answers questions and provides information. "My intent is to I 'do unto others as you would have oth; ers do, '" he says. The Hillsboro confer, ence office , as well as regional denominational offices, has brochures available describing the ministries of the U.S. Conference as well as materials that provide doctrinal information, such as the M B. Confession of Faith This information has been sent to Mennonite Church USA congregations who have requested it, says Donna Sullivan, secretary of the U.S. Conference Hillsboro office.
David Reimer notes that in the past, and for a variety of reasons, individual congregations have switched their affiliation from one Anabaptist group to another. He also recognizes that the decisions made this summer in Nashville have been "emotional for many people and for many reasons."
"If a congregation believes it wants to identify with
the Mennonite Church USA denominational leaders recognize that in the end, the merger decision was not welcomed by all congregations.
moderator of Reedley, Calif. "... (We) will not solicit inquiries, but will handle inquiries as they occur. II
theology of the u.s. MB Conference, we will be open to begin dialogue, II says David Reimer, u.S. Conference ''We rejoice with those who rejoice, and we hurt with those who are hurting," said Ruth Naylor of the Nashville con-
U S Conference leaders have received other inquiries as well, says Reimer. "We have been contacted. The contacts have been small in number and informal in tone, " he says "[The Board of Church Ministries I has discussed the situation and concluded that (we) will not solicit inquiries, but will handle inquiries as they occur "
That has been the approach of Roland Reimer, Southern District Con-
vention listening committee in their report to the delegates ''We want to respect their obedience to conscience and pray that we can continue to love each other even though we go our separate ways "
Two issues had emerged during the past decade as potential roadblocks to the merger: homosexuality and denominational membership Mennonite Church USA membership guidelines pre-
sented to Nashville delegates reiterated the denominational position that homosexual practice is a sin. The guidelines describe the process for dealing with the conflict that has arisen when a congregation is disciplined by one area conference but not by another because of the congregation's stance on homosexuality It also forbids pastors from performing same-sex covenant ceremonies.
Some Nashville delegates advocated for greater acceptance of non-celibate homosexuals in the church, while other delegates called for a stronger denominational position against homosexuality. Still others expressed concern that the membership guidelines' controversial third section focused too much on homosexuality to the exclusion of other sins.
While discussions on issues of homosexuality and membership began with MCs and GCs separate, the majority of the business sessions were held in table groups with six GCs and three MCs at each table Convention goers credited the merger's success not only to a growing trust in denominational leadership and the groundwork laid by a Constituency Leaders Council, but also to the delegates' table discussion.
Despite their differences, Nashville delegates repeatedly said that they were ready to go forward with the work of the church. After Mennonite Church USA moderator Lee Snider announced the results of the membership guidelines vote, the 1,300 people in the convention hall sat in what one observer described as a poignant silence
"So overwhelming was the vote margin in favor of forming a new church that delegates sat in awe as the enormity of the moment washed through the room," writes Everett). Thomas, editor
of tbe Mennonite in the July 17 issue of the magazine which serves the new denomination.
Since the two denominations first started talking about uniting in 1983, strong votes of affirmation among both groups have marked the process, as they did in Nashville . The MC/GC transformation process officially began in 1989 when 87 percent of the GC delegates and 86 percent of the MC delegates voted to "deliberately explore" a merger. In 1999, 90 percent of GC delegates and 89 percent of MC delegates
approved measures calling for the creation of Mennonite Church USA
In spite of the unexpected margins with which the delegates accepted the 2001 membership guidelines, the outcome of the merger actions will result in membership losses among conservative sections of the new church. Those prospects generated concerns for the future of Mennonite Church USA.
"With the very strong vote [for the merger] at 90 percent, we may have silenced the other 10 percent in our midst," said GC delegate Peter Wiebe from Glendale, Ariz. "How can we encourage them to be part of us?"
Myron Augsburger, MC delegate from the Virginia Conference, urged the new church to "be as fair to the people on the right as we seem to be to the people on the left."
All current GC and MC congregations will have opportunity to vote on the merger Because the GC assembly is composed of delegates, all GC congregations automatically become members of Mennonite Church USA unless they decide otherwise. Because the MC assembly is composed of area conference delegates, MC conferences will need to take separate action with the congregational delegates to their area conference assemblies. MC conferences have until Feb. 1, 2002, to choose to become charter members of Mennonite Church USA. Otherwise they will automatically become provisional members for as long as five years, until they decide to either join or withdraw from the new denomination. Eight MC conferences have already chosen to become charter members while two have opted for provisional membership.
The merger of the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church, with a potential membership of 116,000, has created the largest Mennonite denomination in the world. The second largest denomination is Com-
munaute Mennonite au Congo with an estimated 85,000 members, according to Mennonite World Conference. The next largest is the Mennonite Brethren national conference in Congo, Communaute des Eglises de Freres Mennonites au Congo with 77,000 members
Mennonite Church USA is also larger than its Canadian counterpart Mennonite Church Canada, formed in 1999 as part of the GC/MC merger process. With 37,000 members, Mennonite Church Canada is the largest Canadian group, followed by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches with 33,000.
Business sessions following the merger decisions allowed delegates to dream of the church's future. While Mennonite Church USA is certainly bigger than others in the Mennonite community, MCUSA leaders, delegates and guest speakers spoke of their hope to make bigger also better-not only for the denomination but its peers.
"As the largest Mennonite group in North America, we will be tempted to work unilaterally and independently," said John Lapp of Akron, Pa., one of two "sages" who were called upon the day of the merger vote to share their reflections on the decision. "We should resist this.
"Even with our size, we are not the complete church We are only one part of the Mennonite family," said Lapp.
Delegates shared this hope and spoke of not losing perspective and overlooking the Mennonite ! Brethren, Evangelical Mennonite church and others. "We'd like to preserve the awareness of other Mennonite churches that are not part of Mennonite Church
USA," said an MC delegate from the Central Plains Conference . "Why should Mennonite Church USA connect to others?" asked Pakisa Tshimika, director of MWC's Global
Gifts Sharing Project and a Mennonite Brethren from Fresno, Calif. "Because we are family It is not a question of choice but of obedience "
The desire to be a missional church that witnesses to Christ both locally and globally was a concept that excited many
delegates. Delegates also discussed including more people of color in the new denOmination, lamented the I absence of Canadian delegates who were absent due to the formation of Mennonite Church Canada in 1999 and encouraged the development of resources on peace and peace theology. The delegates also passed three resolutions focused on various forms of violence.
Daily worship services exhibited a variety of styles, from four-part hymn singing to spirited, charismatic worship along with liturgical dance and drama. Convention-goers attended over 100 seminars, plus Bible studies, plays, concerts,
reunions and recreational activities
The Grand Ole Opry House was the site of a night of music featuring a variety of Mennonite performers including a southern gospel quartet, the Liberian A Cappella ChOir, and a trio that takes
I elements from South American and Caribbean folk music and performs in English and Spanish.
The program was attended by 4,000, including 1,000 tourists and community members who had learned about the concert through ads placed in the local newspaper and on the radio . Convention representatives handed out copies of the brochure "Who are the Mennonites?" to visitors
The purpose of the evening was to launch the new Mennonite Church USA mission agency, Mennonite Mission Network. An offering of more than $16,000 was given for its mission work. About 270 children in grades one through six enjoyed a series of workshops, daily worship and music and special activities held on site at Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. Mennonite youth and sponsors held their own, simultaneous convention at the hotel, which had 6,012 registered. The junior high convention, attended by 255 participants, was held 25 miles east of Nashville at Cumberland UniverSity.
More than 4,600 youth and adults took part in servant projects in Nashville throughout the week. They volunteered in nursing homes, rehab centers, children's homes, community centers, a .food bank, a hospital and schools. Convention-goers gave an estimated 500 pints of blood during the week One of the exhibitors at the convention, Ten Thousand Villages, which sells crafts from workers overseas, donated its income from the week-about
$20,000-toward the development of a , local store
Duane Oswald, Fresno, Calif., was acclaimed moderator-elect for Mennonite Church USA, while Ervin Stutzman, Harrisonburg, Va., moves from I moderator-elect to moderator
Nashville 2001, the final joint convention of the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church, was the largest gathering ever of U S Mennonites The event drew 9,203 registrants for adult, youth, junior high and children's activities The first convention of the new Mennonite Church USA will be held in Atlanta, Ga , in 2003 •
Building more than facilities
USERV brings MBs together to build churches." and break barriers
Before joining a Mennonite Brethren building project in North Carolina, Don and Joyce Martens hadn't been exposed to AfricanAmerican communities.
But after the Oklahoma couple joined the program called Utilizing Skills and Energies of Ready Volunteers, or USERY, to help build a new meetinghouse for Darby MB Church in Ferguson, N.C., they discovered that cross-cultural friendships help build God's kingdom.
While serving in 1990 with the program sponsored by the u.S. MB Conference, the Martens became close friends with Darby members Roger and Shirley Hendrix, an African-American couple.
They have continued to foster their friendship by visiting each other's homes, writing letters and calling A short-term project of drywalling and insulating turned into a long-term friendship of sharing and caring.
"I never dreamt it would turn out like it did, with us getting so close to
people, " says Don Martens, a member , of Fairview (Okla ) MB Church with his I wife,Joyce, also a USERVvolunteer
"I thought we would just go down there to do our job and then come home But instead, we got very involved with the people on a personal basis.
"We sat down and visited and ate meals together We found out that they are no different than we are. They have the same wants, desires and the same problems and heartaches," says Martens
"They are wonderful people," says Martens. "People who showed that they ! wanted to love us, and people whom we could love back."
Many other volunteers and church members have built cross-cultural friendships since USERY began in 1988, says Loyal Funk, U.S . conference minister, who directs the grassroots program funded by its volunteers
Funk, with Lynford Becker, vice president of planned giving and constituency relations with MB Foundation , launched USERY when many MB
church plants sprouted and ethnic and immigrant groups sought help.
USERY works in partnership with those MB churches and related ministries by providing labor and some material resources . But it also mines the riches found in cross-cultural relating, Becker says.
Many recipient churches are in African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Slavic communities, while many volunteers are white North Americans, he says.
"Not only is this good for the churches , but it's also good for the volunteers," he says. "It's a real plus for the workers, when they can learn to know people from other cultures.
"The value of this program lies far beyond building projects," says Becker "The real value lies in lasting relationships that develop."
Relationships often begin with Ted , Thiesen, a Pacific District volunteer from Bakersfield, Calif., who coordinates the program at his own cost from home He runs a volunteer database that matches volunteers-many of them i retired farmers and business people or school teachers who have summers free-with projects
Since 1988, the program has matched 2,000 volunteers-many of those returnees-with about 60 projects that usually run for two or three weeks .
Thiesen, a Pacific Bell retiree and a member of Rosedale Bible Church in Bakersfield, also joins many of the projects. Relationships that developed within Slavic Gospel Church, a fastgrowing immigrant congregation in Bellingham, Wash., have been especially meaningful for him
Thiesen, who with other volunteers i and church members began constructing a new 1,000-seat meetinghouse for Slavic Gospel Church last August, says people's commitment to Christ and hard work impressed him.
"I talked with a group of young people who didn't profess to know Christ as Savior in Russia," he says . "If they
from everything, a job, school opportunities I even met someone who had been in prison for his faith.
"Since they've come here , many of them have accepted Christ, or more openly professed him, and now whole families worship together in this church."
Immigrants often work three minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet, but they still volunteer to work on the church.
"They'd work on the church on weekends until midnight and then go back to their regular jobs," Thiesen says.
The Hispanic people's generosity and gratefulness impresses Rosedale Bible member Jim Dick, a USERY volunteer for more than a decade .
"It' s really amazing to see how appreciative people are," Dick says . "Many times they're living in complete poverty and yet they recognize God's grace And they go out of theil' way to make sure you are comfortable."
In all the projects, members of congregations serve at least one meal to volunteers each day
"It's the kind of experience you can get nowhere else," he says. "You find out there are really no barriers, even with language differences, to praying and worshiping with the people and sharing in all the gospel does for us.
"You discover that in any culture, the gospel is the same, and that it brings people together. "
USERV's outward fruit is newer and better buildings, while its inward fruit is spiritual and emotional encouragement.
"It's like when Paul in the New Testament went around encouraging churches," Thiesen says. "A lot of that happens when people see volunteers come to their community
"They're amazed when they see volunteers bring their own resources to help, to know that someone cares enough to come alongside when they're struggling." -by Laurie Oswald. This article has been reprinted with permission.from Mennonite Weekly Review
Stories give a face
to AIDS crisis
on AIDS fact-finding trip .to . ,.
Africa
Sometimes big numbers can be overwhelming. When it comes to HIV/AIDS, infection rates and deaths in the millions are hard to grasp. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 25 million people are HIV positive. Two and one-half million people there have died from AIDS. Millions of children have lost parents to the disease.
Listening to the stories of Stan and Delores Friesen, Mennonite Brethren from Fresno, Calif., who recently visited Africa for Mennonite Central Committee (a Christian world relief and development agency), one begins to get a sense of the human scale of this everwidening tragedy.
More than 300 street children, orphaned by AIDS, live under a bridge in Lusaka, Zambia. At night the girls and youngest boys sleep in the middle for safety Bigger children look out for the smaller ones
Sam, a retired Ugandan man concerned fa street children, began taking
boys into his home Soon a group of girls arrived and asked for help Today, with the help of a small grant from MCC's Global Family Program, he is caring for 74 children
A woman named Maggie told the Friesens she chose to remain single because of the risk of infection, an unusual choice in Africa, but one becoming more common "I can only be sure of my own behavior," she explained "I cannot be sure of anyone else's." Earlier in life she wanted a husband and children but has now decided to take that need for love and use it to help others who are suffering. Maggie now works in the dietary department of a mission hospital
The Friesens, both teachers and pastoral counselors , traveled to 10 African countries this spring on an AIDS information gathering trip for MCC. They visited churches, hospitals, non-governmental organizations and families gathering information on needs related to HIV/AIDS and possibilities for further MCC involvement.
Despite the enormous toll of HN/AIDS in Africa, the devastation isn't visible everywhere, say the Friesens. ''You have to look in the cemeteries--at row on row of new graves with birth dates in the 1960s, 1970s and more recent ones," says Delores. "In Kampala [Uganda] a whole street of carpenters is making caskets. In Botswana huge funeral parlors are being built."
As in the West, AIDS has forced churches in Africa to deal with theological issues of sexuality, death and suffering. Church communities and families are stressed. Most diseases affect the weak, Delores notes, but AIDS takes the strongest and most productive first, the people of working and childbearing years, age 15 to 40. Older people and children must then carry on with the farming or other work. Grandparents often care for orphaned children, but their eventual death leaves children without support.
Africa's health crisis has ripple effects-it is also a moral, ethical and socioeconomic crisis, the Friesens point out. Loss of income, coupled with medical and funeral expenses, destroy family and community resources for the future. Like their counterparts in North America, many African churches find it hard to respond to the crisis, partly because frank discussions of sexual issues are difficult.
But African churches are also the strongest source of hope, say the
Friesens. "Many people are finding a new kind of wholeness within the life of the church though they have the disease," says Delores. lhrough the church, people find strength in their faith or come to faith. The church's structure , resources and ability to work across generations , give it a unique power to help those in need, Stan says.
This is a moment for Christians , around the world to become one family I of God, says Delores "Every life is precious." When visiting dying people in their homes, Friesens found Muslims, Christians and people who practice traditional religion were equally grateful for someone to visit and pray with them or read Scripture. "Tell God I've suffered enough," a Muslim man told them.
Stan notes the difference between the AIDS crisis and the January earthquake in Gujarat, India. "This earthquake [AIDS] will be rumbling for years. The challenge for the church will be responding with endurance, compassion and vision for the long haul."
The Friesens believe MCC and Mennonite mission boards can work together to respond Church leaders and church partners in Africa are asking for training for counseling on bereavement, shame, reconciliation and forgiveness--"this is a tremendous pastoral challenge," says Stan. Individuals and churches elsewhere can ! contribute, too, the Friesens say. While
i much discussion centers on drug availability, simple things like plastic gloves are out of reach for many people providing home care for patients. Economic effects of AIDS mean that more and more children are , receiving no education. If every family in a church made a long-term commitment to contribute to a child's education through sponsorship programs like MCC's Global Family Program, the overall effect would be great, Delores says African churches are responding simply yet effectively. In one area, churches help AIDS sufferers to plant two fruit trees, which will provide food, underscore the importance of good nutrition, show care and also provide for the patient's family after death. In another church, every member brings a cup of any food staple purchased during the week-salt, rice, oil-for distribution to the hungry. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if North American churches could do something similar?" asks Delores.
Delores Friesen is a professor of pastoral counseling at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif., and a licensed therapist specializing in grief, sexuality, and marriage and family issues. J. Stanley Friesen is a pastor and director of theological education at Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries. The Friesens previously spent 13 years in Ghana and Nigeria with Mennonite Board of Missions.Ardell Stauffer, MCC news service
Stories of strength in atime of crisis
IN THE FACE of desperate circumstances caused by AIDS, many African Christians are choosing to be God's light. report Stan and Delores Friesen, who retently returned from a three-month trip to Africa for Mennonite Central Committee, where they gathered information on responses to HIV/AIDS Florence. a counselor In South Africa, told of her life's changes. She grew up in abusive clrcuh\Stah(eS with an aunt a"c1 unde. btcam. pregnant while at university, then disCovered she was HIV poSitiv4t ltet baby died of AIDS in less than two years She found a healing community in the church and trained as a (ounselor to work with AIDS sufferers. was able to forgive me, but it was hard to forgive myself," she says "What I needed from the church was acceptance, love and hope, not judgment."
In Zimbabwe an articulate mother living with HIV told Friesen, she used to be shy Her husband brought AIDS to the family, and anger kept her from caring for him while he was dying "1 was angry at my husband, myself, God," Between the anger and disease her health deteriorated WIth, help from her and church family. she was able to forgive her dead husband and come to restored faith In God Her health was restored, though she remains Infected She says she decided to live hop. fully and "as long as I have the gift of life, to -speak of God's grace and mefey " -by Ardell Stauffer
Bom Lil L
A school in your back pocket
MBMSI educator returns to u.s. from Anabaptist ". seminary that is equipping students for ministry
uanJose Chinchilla, a pastor from Honduras, took 14 years to complete a four-year bachelor of arts degree. But his professors at SEMILLA, the Anabaptist seminary of Central America, were not dismayed at his progress-in fact, they were quite pleased.
The average student at the school takes at least nine years to complete a degree, according to outgoing SEMILIA president Juan Martinez. Unlike traditional Western schools , SEMILIA follows a distance learning model geared toward people who are already involved in church ministry.
Martinez and his wife, Olga, have spent the past eight years in Guatemala City as missionaries sent through MBMS Interna. tional, the cross-cultural mission agency of Mennonite Brethren churches in Canada and the U.S. In that time, they have seen firsthand the unique nature of Christian education in Latin America
"The reality of Central America is that people are usually called to ministry before they have training," says Martinez. "Students come to the seminary to receive theological education It ' s not about completion-it's about equipping for ministry."
SEMILIA is what Martinez calls "a school you put in your back pocket and take with you." Although the headquarters are in Guatemala City, there are study centers in major centers across
Central America. Students, many of whom are bi-vocational pastors, come together for one-week periods of study six times per year. At the end of the week, they receive the reading and
asSignment materials for the next term.
"One reason SEMILLA works well is the Willingness of Anabaptist and Mennonite groups to work together in Central America," says Martinez. The school is owned by 10 national church conferences made up of 450 congregations, most of which are made of people from the working class.
The school offers a bachelor of arts degree as well as a Bible Institute program. The degree program currently has 110 students, and about 170 students are anticipated for next year. Five professors teach full-time, along with 15 adjunct faculty who are primarily from Central America and teach for sev-
eral weeks at a time Martinez sees elements of Central American Anabaptism from which North Americans could learn. "In North America, our church reality seems to be that we can't be Anabaptist, evangelical and charismatic at the same time," he says. "This is something many Central American Mennonites are very serious about. Their churches exemplify strong evangelistic outreach, strong peace and justice stance, and charismatic worship ."
Over the years, Martinez has seen SEMILLA gain influence in the wider Christian community. "A growing number of students are non-Mennonite," he says "They are attracted to the Anabaptist perspective and SEMILLA's education model."
The Martinez family left Guatemala in May and have ended their service as MBMSI missionaries. In July, Martinez took on the role of director of the Hispanic Church Studies Department at Fuller Theological Seminaries in Pasadena, Calif. The program addresses pastoral and theological issues from a Hispanic perspective. The Fuller model is in many ways similar to that of SEMILLA, providing master' s level training for Hispanic pastors, most of whom are already in ministry.
"We're delighted to see Juan bring his expertise to Fuller," says Harold Ens, MBMSI general director. "In their eight years in Guatemala, he and Olga have helped SEMILIA make major strides in equipping church leaders for more effective service. That expertise will be invaluable among Hispanics in North America as well "
Martinez joins fellow Mennonite Brethren educator Howard Loewen as a new Fuller faculty member. -MBMSI
WHnTED-Web Site Hduisory Committee members
A national web site for the u.s. Conference of MB Churches and our ministries will soon be online. We are looking for people to provide technical expertise and/or leadership in the continuing development and oversight of the site. Terms will be either one or two years, and all communication and meetings will be held online or by telephone. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Carmen Andres at chleader@jps net
ISunday services were in full swing and small groups met during the week.
While God touched people's lives through BHCC, it became clear that after two years of ministry, BHCC had not developed into a viable congregation: numeric growth was slow, a strong core group had not formed, the group was in financial debt and denominational funding was scheduled to decline Cochrane, in consultation with the PDC Home Mission Board and MUSA, resigned in early June and is pursuing other pastoral ministry work.
"Starting a church is always a risky venture without any guarentees of success," says Steve Reimer, MUSA board chair "Our committment is to continue planting churches, though. It is still the best strategy for reaching lost people. Situations like Barkley hurt, but we can't give up doing what Jesus called us to do ."
In a letter to his congregation about the developments at Barkley Hills, Steve Schroeder, pastor of Community
Washington church plant closes
Bellingham, Wash., church plant discontinues ". services after a two-year effort
Barkley Hills Community Church, a two-year-old church plant in Bellingham, Wash., sponsored by the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA (the U.S . Conference church planting and renewal ministry), has discontinued Sunday morning worship services.
The church plant had its beginnings in the summer of 1999 when church planter Kelly Cochrane and his fumily moved to the Barkley Village area of Bellingham. The Cochrane fumily worshiped with Community Bible Fellowship, also of Bellingham, for several months as they established a ministry base in the Barkley neighborhood . CBF served as a mother church for the emerging congregation and a number of CBF fumilies joined the Cochranes in their ministry
In January 2000, a building was leased and, with the help of USERV (a volunteer ministry) teams, the building was renovated The congregation had its first public
worship service May 14,2000, with 26 people in attendance By September 2000, the renovations were completed,
Agood steward
... The cOlrunitlnent of
! Bible Fellowship, encouraged his congregation to pray for the people of BHCC who have labored in this ministry and for the Barkley community.
"We can't put a price on the lives that were touched and changed," writes Schroeder. "I'm confident that God will use the money we've all invested for his purposes I'm praying that God would somehow continue to fan the flame of their vision to reach the Barkley neighborhood for Jesus Christ." -Leader
a lifetiIne
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Sa ve or redi rect your tax reb at e
MBs are challenged by ch urc h lea ders t o reconsider what they'll do with their t ax rebat e
US. Mennonite Brethren are being challenged to consider how they spend their portion of the approximately $100 million tax rebate received by Americans last month
The rebate checks of $300 (single) and $600 (married filing jointly) were sent as refunds based on tax payments for the year 2000 In theory, the rebate s represent a return of a portion of the sur plus tax revenues this year.
"Research shows that this rebate will imp rove our economy," says Jon Wiebe, president of MB Foundation, th e U.S denominational stewardship m inistry "Leading experts have concluded that the rebates are small e nough to be taken lightly and large enough to have an impact when spent Therefore, most rebates will be spent on consumable goods as opposed to saved and invested."
Wiebe asks, "Is our money being returned to us, or is God's money being returned to us for his purposes?" Wiebe suggests that MBs see their rebates as an opportunity to "speak loudly and clearly of our relationship to Jesus Christ. Perhaps this is a God-given opportunity to increase in our generosity or to finance his kingdom work," he says.
District and local church leade rs have issued a similar challenge
The Southern District Conference Stewardship Commission challenged delegates to the district convention Aug. 36, to forward 100 percent of their tax
rebate to their local church Churches were then asked to forward 50 percent of the rebate to conference ministries.
"Place these dollars in a place that will honor God," said Ted Goertzen, SDC steward ship chair. "This money could give a great financial boost to your church and to conference ministries "
College Community Church of Clovis, Calif , is encouraging its members to pool t h eir tax rebate money for humanitarian causes that do not receive government support
The congregation's Outreach Commission has suggested that contributions made to the tax rebate redirect not
Pontius' Puddle
HOWARD
LOEWE N M O V ES TO F U LLER THEOLOCICAL SEMINARY
FPU provost resign s to become Fuller dean
Aleadershi P position at the largest evangelical seminary in the world has changed hands from one Mennonite to another
Howard]. Loewen replaced David W Augsburger July 1 as dean of the School of Theology at Fuller Theological Semi n ary in Pasadena, Calif. Fuller has 3 ,000 students from more than 100 denominatio n s , including a "strong corps of MennoniteAnabaptist students," says Augsburger. Loewen comes from Fresno Pacific University, where he was provost FPU is a Mennonite Brethren institution located in Central California. Loewen joined the FPU administration in 1995 , first as academic vice president and then as provost in 1999. He previously
was academic dean at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno. His scholarly activity includes participation in the International Catholic-Mennonite Dialogue He played a key role in FPU's transition from college to university in 1997.
Augsburger, who was interim dean for the past academic year, is returning to his position as professor of pastoral care and counseling in the School of Theology, where he has served since 1990 He was honored at Fuller's commencement in June with the Weyerhauser award for excellence in teaching and scholarship. In addition to Loewen, Mennonite Brethren faculty at Fuller include Alvin Dueck in psychology and Juan Martinez in leadership and Hispanic studies. -FIS
VOLUNTEERS PAINT OLD SANCTUARY
USERVteam
Bellingham
AJUly USERY project took a team of five men to Bellingham, Wash., home to Community Bible Church pastored by Steve Schroeder
• In
Ore , and David Gale of Lynden, Wash. In his report, T hiese n describes the project that involved painting the old sanctuary built in 1926
The work crew included Don and Marion Loewen, Bob Fiser and Pacific District Conference coordinator Ted Thiesen , all of Bakersfield, Calif , Walt Willems of Salem, and recently converted to a social hall. "The very old cracked and peeling p a int on the s ocial hall had to b e removed with a siding sander, " writes T hiese n "We painte d
the social hall with a commercial airless spray rig. The weather was conducive (about 70 degrees and sunny each day) for the painting project Painting the tall bell tower pushed the team to their maximum height tolerance while working from a ladder."
Thiesen, says, "The USERY experience provides an opportunity for retire es to do something significant for a church with limited resources and to provide fellowship opportunities " - USERV
Build ing cha
Maki n g c h aracte r and Ivic ('C' t ion a part o f eve ryday'f r f, IUt:· tors, s t u dent s , pare nts II ( ('omm fl' ties w as the aim of th f r "CH'< t ' ' Effective Cit ize ns : the , It of Ame ri ca " conte ene Juh 1 at Fresno Pa cific Un iversity_
Gen eral se ssio ns drew from '" tC'> 120 participants. Smaller focused on everything from studt'nt rights of re ligi ous liberty in public schools to t eaching thro ugh mm'll i' art programs Speakers includec'1 ""'11 ' sentati ves from Fresno Count) Voult Service Council and Office of fdu Tulare Cou nty Office of Educatiol Visalia Unified School Di strict, free' Forum First Am endme nt Center '-lr( ( ffomla State University Fresl 0 <If; we f as teachers and princi pals. II even f w as sponsored by FPU , the r esno County OffIce of Educat ion, C ' aUfo ' ii 3Rs (Rights, Res ponsibilitic!3 liesJ- ''''(' )
Prog ram and th e National Council 10 the Social Studies FPU is a 1\11 univ', s tty located in Central Cal ifornia. I ! 'l'
R LA Fa (' ,: new hIM! ! , by MlP.nm)!"frt e Bretllte 11 i.l'J'i-Lon rWl/( Wit;, I',; tackling th <;l of 1"",beer rele<JJ<;;'stdi 'til Herald PU'es!> vi' r&"mrD Wiebe's aridgill(;; the
" cha llengl?s to list en t o th e voice of God urging th em t f· "tl:h out and touch one anothe r, w hate ver th <lglP , , make peoplehood a rea li ty ," says a HP I P!;;" release Wiebe Is prof essor eme rita of T iL.1,1· lege In Hills boro, Kan , w here she taugh >:'P1g;Cs , for 2 4 years. A chapte r of Wiebe ' s b 0 re printed in the June issue of the LeadfJI.- (-IP
FPU HOSTS CON
Katie Funk Wiebe Forewuru by Si!rol WI'Ogt.!T
MORE NEWS
New MCC staff
-Kathy Heinrichs Wiest of Kingsburg, Calif., has been hired as staff associate for education by West Coast Mennonite Central Committee. Wiest's responsibilities will include scheduling returning MCC workers for church visits, speaking in church settings and working with recruitment and MCC area gatherings throughout the West. "We are excited to have Kathy on staff," wrote Barb and Bob Buxman, co-directors for West Coast MCC, in an e-mail letter to the Leader. "She brings much enthusiasm for the church and the work of MCC." Wiest and her husband Steve and their family served with MCC in Kentucky. Wiest Is a member of Kingsburg MB Church and serves the U.S. Conference as chair of the Board of Communications and a member of the Board of Church Ministries. MCC is a Christian world relief and development agency. -MCC
Videos for youth
- Mennonite Media, a publishing ministry of Mennonite Church USA, has two new videos available for young people "Bridge to Forgiveness" features professional actors Ted Swartz and Lee Eshleman and singer, pianist and composer Ken Medema. The Bible story of Jacob and Esau is given several modem twists as reenacted by Swartz and Eshleman while Medema performs an original song. The video also features teens and host Regina Shands Stoltzfus offering insights on forgiveness. "Rhythms of Peace Around the World," offers eight to 11year-olds adventures In Cuba, Jamaica and far off Bulgaria. The stories deal with prejudice, leaming about ethnic differences and what daily life is like In other cultures. Lee Eshleman hosts the video that comes with a complete educator's guide, a helpful map, plus free &-Inch rulers for all the kids (up to 25 per order) The two videos can be ordered online at www thlrdway.com/resources. - MM
MCC DONATES COMPUTERS AND CELL PHONES
Rural Uganda joins cyber high way
Why bring computers and cell phones to rural Uganda?
Patrons of the Bukoto Information and Communication Center in southern Uganda give plenty of answers. The year-old center proVides Bukoto and several neighboring villages with computer, cellular phone and library services. Mennonite Central Committee has donated several computers and a solar panel used for backup power.
Nakawe Kaggwa, a vegetable dealer, uses the center to contact buyers about available
produce, making buyers' trips to Bukoto more efficient . Muguwanya Julius has learned to appreciate reading and works with others at the center to produ ce a newspaper that includes local news and announcements. In addi· tion to laptop computers and cellular telephones, BICC boasts a 1,000book library, periodicals rack and daily newspapers, as well as educational CD-ROMs, which are used for adult English classes and by local primary and secondary students. Telephone and mes-
saging services provide a link to persons outside the community. The area has no land line phones and among the 20,000 community residents there may only be 50 cell phones, says MCC worker Jon Miller, most of which are not available for public use MCC is a Christian world relief and development agency. - MCC
MWC PREPARING FOR ASSEMBLY DISCUSSIONS gates received
Looking to 2003
a report on a survey of Mennonite and
MWC chur ches ' witness A Brethren in Mennonite shared beliefs Peace Council Christ confesWor ld Confer- and practices of task force will sions of faith A ence's special peacemaking summarize the vision discerncouncils- the The council responses of ment team has Faith and Life encourages this MWCmember followed the Council and the discussion to groups That ensuing discusPeace Council - t ake p l ace at a summary will sions and proare preparing conference be the basis for posed a statefor discussions l evel, within the discussions mentwhich they will be congregations in the 2003 was accepted holding at o r in other Peace Counci l by the General MWC Assembly forums, wh i ch meet i ng in Zim - Council in 2000 14, to be held may be appro - babwe The statement August 2003 in priate
The MWC includes a sugBulawayo, Zim - Member Faith and Life gested process babwe. groups are also Council has sim - for continuing
The Peace invited to share ilarly begun a discussions on Council has stories that process of iden - faith and life invited MWC demonstrate tifying a con - issues leading churches to par- their church's temporary com - up to the next ticipate in a dis- peace witness mon core of General Council cuss ion that and to reflect Anabaptist - meeting at the will lead to the on the biblical Mennonite con - MWC Assembly creation of a values and victions . During in Zimbabwe in summary state - Scriptures that the 1997 MWC August 2003 ment that will motivate and Assembly in - MWC reflect the empower their Calcutta, dele-
CHURCH NEWS
CHURCH
NEWS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
Baptism/membership
Reedley, Calif.-Stan and Martha Peters were welcomed as members Aug.5
Buhler, Kan.-Jessica Phillips, Audra Reed and M.L. Snellings were baptized and received as members July 15. Susie Snellings was also received as a new member Chelsie and Austin Enns were baptized and received as members July 22.
Capitola. Calif. (ShoreliferMichael Thompson, Frankie Vitale, Amy Cameron, Gregory Cameron and Paul Cameron were baptized July 15. Amy Cameron, Ben Rezentes and Shea Rezentes were welcomed as members.
Uttleton, Colo. (Belleviewr-Jennifer Elbert was baptized July 7 and was received as a new member Scott Elbert was also welcomed into membership
Rapid City, S.D (Bible FellowshipHryson, Mike, Renae and Zach Macy and Scott and Deana Schreter were baptized June 24. Gary Herrington, Frank and Kay Robison, Toni Root and Ron and Lois Ward were welcomed into membership
Ministry
Fresno, Calif. (Northr-MBMSI missi onary Dor is Goertz was commissioned for her service in Japan July 15. Goertz preached at both services
Hillsboro, Kan.-Youth pastoral couple Rod and Lynette JOO led a team of 13 teens on a m ission trip to Mexico City in July to work with MBMSI mi ssionar ies Jon and Juana Pritchard.
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Community Churchr-Kevin Hisey has joined the ministry team as a worship intern. The church plant will begin public worship services Sept. 8
Reedley, Calif.-Two women who participate in the high school girls Bible study felt called of God to serve the families in their church by offering free childcare for preschool children Aug. 11 so that couples could spend time together.
Hesston. Kan.-The congregati on, together with other churches in the city, hosted a citywide outreach rally July 15- 17 with Rick Nielsen, a speaker, magician, juggler and humorist Garden City, Kan. (Garden Val-
leYr-Jenny Unruh, a schoolteacher from the congregation who serves with Network of International Christian Schools in Uijongbo, South Korea, gave a slide presentat ion which was followed by a light supper July 8.
TeachingiNurture
Clovis, Calif. (College Communityr-During the month of August, as part of the adult education program, artists in the congregation shared an autobiographical story The group heard from Janice Leppke, Larry Warkentin and Tom Hiebert about how their art evolved and how it intersects with faith The congregation had a combined morning worship service Aug 5 with Mennonite Community Church to worship and celebrate the previous week of joint ministry in vacation Bible school Jonathon Short, youth director from Mennon ite Community Church, was the speaker.
Bakersfield, Calif. (Northwest Community) -Winnie Bartel spoke on the value of a mentoring relationship May 23 at a women's luncheon Pastoral couple Jim and Annette Aiken led a weekend summer retreat focused on the Holy Spirit
Workers
Edmond, Okla (Memorial RoadrA .J. and Tammy Regier have joi ned
the pastoral staff in the area of youth and worship The Regiers are graduates of Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., and recently served as youth workers at Park view MB Church of Hillsboro
Collinsville, Okla. (WestportrDave Froese has resigned as senior pastor He and his wife Susan, who have served the congregation for more than 7 years, have not announced their future plans.
Marshall, Ark (Martin BoxrEarnest and Evelene Weber have accepted the call to serve as pastoral couple. They come from West Milton, Ohio, where they have served a Brethren in Christ congregation for six years.
Sioux Fa lls, S.D. (Uncoln HillsrTony Randall has accepted the call to serve as senior pastor He and his wife Maryann have been serving the Silver Lake MB Church of Freeman, S D
Bakersfield, (Northwest Community) - Summer intern Jennifer Reimer assisted in the areas of children and youth ministries and directed two summer Backyard Bible Clubs. The congregation welcomed Jeff and Meadow Piepho, Tabor College graduates, with a dessert reception July 28 Jeff is serving as praise team leader
Bellingham. Wash. (Community Bibler-Bob and Wanda Kroeker served the congregation during $ «
New church to reflect "face
A dream came true June 10 when 60 people committed themselves to membership in Grace Community Church, a new congregation in Sanger, Calif , formed when First Christian Church and Sanger MB Church merged to expand their ministry to the city.
The MB congregation was planted about three years ago when PDC conference leaders Sam and Dora Resendez and Jose and Mary Elizondo began holding home Bible studies in their hometown When the Christian church opened their doors and facilities to the budding Hispanic MB group, a warm relationship developed
August while Pastor Steve Schroeder was away.
Deaths
BAERG, ANNE. of Chilliwack, B.C., was born in Borden, Sask., to Peter and Helena Wiebe Dec 10, 1920, and died March 22, 2001, at the age of SO On Feb. 23, 1941, she was married to Henry R. Baerg and served with him as pastoral couple at MB congregations in Kansas, Nebraska, Manitoba and Oregon In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Don of Berlin, Germany, Eleanor of Chilliwack, Sam and wife Eileen of Salina, Kan., Charity and husband James Peters of Winkler, Man., Paul and wife Kristi of Los Angeles, Calif , and David and wife Lorna of Winnipeg, Man.; one sister, Erna Janzen of Yarrow, B C.; three sisters-in- law, one brother-inlaw and eight grandchildren
FOX. ELVERA OUENBURGER, of Denver, Colo., was born to Edwin and Esther Ollenburger April 8, 1935, near Hooker, Okla , and died June 27, 2001, at the age of 66. On July 22, 1954, she was married to Robert Fox who survives. She is also survi ved by her mother of Hillsboro, Kan.; two sons, Robert, Jr and Ron, both of Charleston, S c.; one daughter, Cheri Iverson of Grimes, Iowa; one sister, Rosalie Nickel of Fresno, Calif., one brother, Ben Ollenburger of Elkhart. Ind., and nine grandchil-
of community"
The new congregation is envisioned as:a nchurch that will reflect the face of the community in its acceptance of diversity In language, ethnicity, culture. immigration status, denominational background _nd worship style.· says Don Enns, PDC director of home missions.
Reedley (calif.) MB Church has partnered with the new congregation for one year in a mother-daughter church relationship t6 provide financial and prayer support. This has allowed Romel and Elia Pumareio to join pastoral couple Don and lydia-8eCket)hauer in ministry. - PDC
dren.
HARMS, TENA, of Reedley, Calif., was born Oct. 26,1909, to Dietrick and Anna Gunther Warkentin and died July 29,2001, at the age of91 On June 14, 1934, she was married to Cornelius Harms, who survives. She is also survived by three sons, Marvin and wife Darlene, Clarence and wife Carol, and Jerry and wife Linda; one daughter, Eileen and husband Harold Hunnicutt; one daughter-in-Iaw, Mary Harms; two brothers, Erwin and wife June Warkentin and Ralph and wife Margie Warkentin; one sister, Dorothy and husband Lavean Patzkowski, 13 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren
HILD, JANET DIAN, of Fresno, Calif., was born Oct. 17, 1944, to John and Gwendolyn Hild of Hanford, Calif., and died July 2,2001, at the age of 56. She is survived by her three sisters, Katherine Hild and Barbara and husband P.J. Stuber, all of Hanford, and Connie and husband Tom Brandt of Bakersfield; six nieces and nephews and six grand nieces and nephews.
KUEWER. OLGA HELEN DICK. of Reedley (Calif.) MB Church, was born June 20, 1912, to John B. and Helen Wiebe Dick and died recently. On Jan. 14, 1949, she was married to Cornelius Kliewer, who survives. She is also survived by her daughter, Jolene and husband Wynn Higley and two grandchildren.
KNOLL MATHILDA "nWE", a member of Vinewood Community Church of Lodi, calif., was born Feb. 6,1904, in Turtle Lake, N.D , and died April 27, 2001 , at the age of 97. In 1925, she was married to August Knoll, who predeceased her. She is survived by her sons, Norman and Delmar, both of Acampa, Calif., four grandchildren and five great grandchildren
LEPP, ESTHER GAEDE, Fresno, Calif., a member of Bethany MB Church of Fresno, was born Feb. 18, 1906, to Abraham and Anna Duerksen Gaede in the Ebenfeld community near Hillsboro, Kan., and died July 3,2001, at the age of 95 On Aug 22,1931, she was married to Henry H Lepp, who predeceased her. She is survived by three daughters, Naomi and husband Ed Wiens of Fresno, Elaine and husband David Karber of Long Beach, Calif., and Lois and husband Curtis Funk of Wheaton, III , nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren
MYERS, AUDREY a member of North Fresno MB Church of Fresno, Calif., was born in Selma, Calif , May 27, 1904, and died recently On June 8,1922, she was married to Herbert Myers, who predeceased her She is survived by a daughter, Sybil Beck of Virginia; a son, Paul Myers, of Cali -
fornia; two brothers, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
PIETSCH, RUBENA, Shafter, Calif , of Shafter MB Church, was born Oct. 18, 1910, to John and Alvina Villock Schultz at Fairview, Okla., and died July 21,2001, at the age of 90 On July 30, 1965, she was married to Paul Pietsch, who predeceased her in 1982. She is survived by three stepsons, Jim, Bill and Bob Pietsch; two daughters, Mary Lehmann and Barbara Cornelson; two sisters, Alvine Warkentin and Mabel Martens; and numerous nieces and nephews.
RAHN, ARTHUR HAROLD, Mountain Lake, Minn., a member of Mountain Lake MB Church, was born Oct 28,1927, in Mountain Lake Township, Cottonwood County, Minn ., and died July 9,2001, at the age of 73 On Feb. 20, 1948, he was married to Olga Peters, who predeceased him in 1976. On Aug 21, 1976, he was married to Elise
Loewens Suderman, who survives. He is also survived by seven children, Lois and husband
Jim Marschinke of St Paul, Minn., Arlene Musselman of Perryville, Ark., Harlan and wife
Joyce Rahn of Grant, Neb., Lee and wife
Geraldine Suderman of Windom, Minn , Kerry and wife
Deanne Sudermanof Mountain Lake, Minn., and Laurel and husband
Michael Brown of Fargo, N.D.; 11 grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
NETnE, Lodi, Calif , the oldestmemberof Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, was born Jan 26, 1900 at Wit-
tenberg, S.D., and died April 29, 2001, at the age of 101 She was the last living member of her family but is survived by five generations of nieces and nephews
REMPEL. CLARICE JOAN, Buhler, Kan., a member of Buhler MB Church, was born Oct. 7,1934, to Menno F and Martha Lau Reimer and died July 22,2001 , at the age of 66. On Aug 4,1955, she was married to Nick Rempel and served with him in pastoral ministry in Washington, California and since 1970 in Buhler. She is survived by Nick, two daughters, Valerie of Fresno, calif., and Denise and husband BJ Heizelman of Buhler; three sisters, Elizabeth Fast of Bellingham, Wash., Doreen Bartel and Jean and husband AI Fleming, all of Bakersfield, calif.; one brother, Eldred and wife Kay Reimer of Bellingham, Wash , and two granddaughters.
Soquel, Calif., of ShoreLife Community Church, capitola, Calif., was born, May 3, 1920, at Corn, Okla., to John L. and Sarah Wiens Martin and died July 16, 2001, at the age of 81. On March 20, 1982, she was married to Henry Thomas, who predeceased her. She is survived by three stepsons, Marlin and wife Janice Thomas, Daniel and wife Karen Thomas, and Arthur and wife Nancy Thomas; one sister, Esther and husband Harry Funk, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
WINTER. ELOISE MAE, Lodi, Calif , a member of Vinewood Community Church of Lodi, was born May 4, 1905, at McClusky, N.D., and died June 15, 2001, atthe age of 96 In 1974, she was married to Herbert Joel Winter, who predeceased her. She is survived by her brother, Emanuel Haas of Lodi, and her sister, Caroline Heilser of Chula Vista, Calif •
Itinerary and Invitation
CPE, under the sponsorship of MBMS International, invites born-again Christians to serve as volunteers for its evangelism outreach to :
NOTE: Dates may be subject to some changes, pending further confirmation of some campaigns.
• Team up with national Christians and witness for Christ door-to-door.
• Some knowledge of the language of the country is helpful.
• Between 800 and 2800 persons have prayed to accept Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord during a two-week CPE campaign. Come and be part of an enriching spiritual experience-discover what God can do through you.
For further information , contact:
Church Partnership Evangelism office : telephone/fax: 604 -864-3941
Peter Loewen (residence) fax: 604 -853 -6482
Church Partnership Evangelism is a "church -to -church" effort that involves all bornagain Christians in personal evangelism worldwide Your application to participate will be forwarded to the CPE Executive Committee for processing
PETER LOEWEN
CPE Executive Director
HAROLD ENS
MBMS International General Director
THOMAS. SUSIE MAnLDA MARnN,
Clearinghouse
Have a position to fill? Looking for a new employment or ministry opportunity? Have a gathering or celebration to promote? Reach U.S. Mennonite Brethren through a Clearinghouse classified ad. The charge is 46 cents per word, with a $15 minimum. Withhold payment until an invoice is received. MB institutions advertising vacancies or position announcements may be eligible for a no-cost ad. Contact the editor for more information.
EMPLOYMENT--<HURCH
Full time pastor
Turpin Mennonite Church, Turpin, Okla., is seeking a full-time pastor. Applicant would have the opportunity to minister to a congregation of varied ages and denominational backgrounds. Contact Shirley Eggers at (580) 2596437 or Alan Hodges at (580) 778-3315.
Rocky Mountain Mennonite Relief Sale & Auction
The Rocky Mountain Mennonite Relief Sale and Auction will be held Saturday, October 20, at the Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds in Rocky Ford, Colo. The event will include hundreds of quality auction items, dozens of booths, handmade quilts and good food. Activities will include 5k run/walk, auctions, music program and more. All proceeds go directly to meet human needs throughout the world through the work of Mennonite Central Committee. For more information, please call (719) 384-7914 or (719) 384-662. Web site: www.emclj.org/sale.htm
SEEKING INFORMATION
who at one time resided in Reedley,
Herald Press
Tobias of the Amish grew out of Ervin R. Stutzman's loving desire to know his father, an Amish entrepreneur. The quest was daunting, since Tobias died in a car accident when Ervin was three. Through interviewing people in the communities where the family had lived and family members, Ervin paints this fictionalized but true story of Tobias J. Stutzman. In the search process he also learned about his faith heritage and about himself.
"This gripping biographical drama peels off layers of four generations of Amish family and religious life in small midwestern communities _ Tobias of the Amish should inspire each reader to seek meaning in the tangled strands of one's own past." -Carolyn C. Wenger, Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Paper, 352 pages, $13.99; in Canada $20.79
Calif. Peter and Henry are shown in the photo with my father, David C. Voth, in about 1951. It is believed this picture was taken at the time of David's brother's (Isaac) funeral in Chilliwack, B.C. Some of my cousines (Isaac's children) also visited Peter and Henry in the mid-1950s. Peter and Henry were counsins to my father. It is my understanding that their father was Peter Jocob Voth. This Peter was my father's uncle and was the
"sponsor" for the above Isaac Voth when they immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1924. At that time, Peter was living in Oklahoma. Any information from or about these Voth families would be greatly appreciated. Please contact : Elmer & Agnes Regier, 2308 Porter Place SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada T1 B 1E4; (403) 527- 6883 or (403) 526-8600 (work); e-mail earegeier@telusplanet.net.
WHnTEO-Web Site Hduisory Committee members
A national web site for the U.S. Conference of MB Churches and our ministries will soon be online. We are looking for people to provide technical expertise and/or leadership in the continuing development and oversight of the site. Terms will be either one or two years, and all communication and meetings will be held online or by telephone. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Carmen Andres at chleader@jps.net.
Wanted: information about Peter and Henry Voth Agnes (Voth) Regier is seeking information onlfrom the descendents/relatives of Peter and Henry Voth,
The Secret of the Corn Leaf Downpour
Those of us living here in Central Kansas were perplexed in early July when thousands of dried, tan corn leaves between 20 and 30 inches long fluttered from the sky. The corny downpour was concentrated in a relatively small area in Wichita but sightings were reported in other communities. This is odd, thought my husband and I as we stared at a lone com leaf laying in our front yard.
When asked for an explanation, state meteorologists initially had none and admitted that it was a little weird and crazy. Winds at the time were weak so the falling leaves couldn't be attributed to strong winds or thunderstorms in the area, they said.
One diligent newspaper reporter investigated the suggestion that the leaves had been dropped from an airplane But throwing things from airplanes is illegal and no one had applied for permission to drop anything across the city of Wichita, so this option was eliminated. And anyway, the amount of com leaves was too great for most planes to carry.
Within a couple of days, National Weather Service meteorologist Phil Hysell and other experts agreed that whirlwinds caused by rising currents of hot air seemed to be the best explanation. But Hysell also said that in the 10 years he has been a meteorologist in Wichita, he'd never seen anything like this.
As if com leaf showers weren't weird enough, no one knew where the leaves came from. You'd think nearby cornfields could be blamed But county horticultural agent Tim McDonnell cited numerous flaws with that suggestion
Irrigated com plants were still green in early July and the majority of dry-land com crops, while dry, were being chopped into tiny pieces for silage. McDonnell also couldn't explain the sheer number of leaves or their length. And while winds could have sheared the dry leaves off the com stalks, there were no strong winds around to do the job.
So much to my disappointment, "The Secret of the Dry Com Leaf Downpour" remains unsolved. And the ambiguity of the situation is unsettling. After all, any mystery worth its weight in com should be solved.
Solving a mystery is very fulfilling and is one reason educator William Kilpatrick gives for why presidents and other world leaders say reading mystery stories is a favorite pastime.
In fact, the mystery or detective story is one of the most satisfying of all story genres, says Kilpatrick That's because order is restored in a mystery and all of us need to feel like our lives are orderly, not chaotiC, write Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe in Books That Build Character.
But more often than not, real life hands us a mystery that stays that way -a mystery. I bet your family has them. Our family has wondered for years who neatly cut the toes out of several pairs of pantyhose hanging to dry on the wash line behind my parent's farmhouse.
The important unanswered questions in our lives are more serious than falling com leaves and clipped pantyhose The BodyLife section in this issue of the Leader raises its share. Why do some people serve God in relative obscurity while others are thrown into the public spotlight whether they like it or not? Why does a church body make decisions that cause its members pain? Why do our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa have to suffer? Why does one church plant close while another is given a new avenue of ministry?
We Christians want answers to these "why" questions. But I'm seldom comfortable with the answers we give. Some of us say bad things happen because of sin and bleSSings come because of our obedience. But that doesn't ring true as I consider the pain involved in closing a church Some Christians attribute the decisions they make to God ' s hand and call on their lives. But I've never been sure that God deserves as much credit as we give him for the choices we make. Some say every event - good or bad - is part of God's perfect plan while other Christians argue that certain things are out of God's control- they just happen. Neither answer comforts me as I pray for a family member struggling with drug addiction.
May we as Mennonite Brethren individuals, families and entire congregations be known as a people of God content to live between the fatalism of "it just happens" and the idealistic belief that God will keep us from evil just because we ask him to do so Our Anabaptist theology tells us God is present in times of joy and suffering May we be people who are content with mystery because we are confident that God is with us as God -CF
