The Messenger Vol. 42 No. 19 November 3, 2004

Messenger The

EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 42 NUMBER 19 NOVEMBER 3, 2004

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Fish Creek has a passion and a vision!

Though it sounds intolerant

Are the heathen still heathen and are they still lost?

Terrance L. Tiessen

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OLERANCE appears to be the supreme Canadian value these days, and relativism is a popular philosophy.

In this postmodern context, many Christians may be attracted to the proposal of some Christian theologians that we need not bother other people with our evangelistic message, because there are many roads to God. If these people are correct, it would certainly make things easier for the Christians who are risking their lives to tell others the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ.

I presume that this is why I was asked to speak to the question: Are the heathen still heathen and are they still lost? First, we need some definitions. My Oxford dictionary defines heathen as “a person who does not belong to a widelyheld religion (esp. who is not Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those that do.” Since we are Christians, I will use the term to refer to non-Christians.

When we speak of the lost, we mean those who are alienated from God, who live under God’s condemnation until they are “found” and reconciled to God. From the standpoint of the relativistic pluralists, I would expect the following answer to our question: “Non-Christians should not be called ‘heathen’ because that wrongly assumes that Christianity is intrinsically superior to other religions, and they are not necessarily ‘lost’ because all of the religions are means by which people can come into relationship with the ultimate Being whom Christians call God. As long as people are following the demands of their own religion, their destiny is as good as ours.”

This relativistic path is not one that the New Testament will allow us to follow.

However intolerant we may sound to other Canadians, those of us who take

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THE MESSENGER

the Bible seriously must insist that there is only one true and living God, the Triune God who has most fully revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ and gives his Spirit to those who believe in him.

Jesus presented himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6) and the apostle Paul wrote: “There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5–6). Sin came into the world through the disobedience of one man (Adam), but life came into the world through another man, Jesus Christ, so that all who are “in Christ” are made alive (Rom. 5:12–19).

Although this sort of exclusivism seems scandalous in contemporary Canadian society, we must continue to insist that people are alienated from God by sin and that the only way they can be reconciled to God is through the grace of God, by means of the salvation accomplished by Jesus. This has always been true, even before the Word became flesh in history.

Anyone who has ever been in right relationship with God has been saved because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God incarnate. This was true for Adam, Abel, Noah, Job and Abraham and it is true of anyone who is now reconciled to God. Jesus Christ is the world’s only Saviour.

By definition, the heathen are still heathen; that is to say, non-Christians are still non-Christians. But does the New Testament teach us that all non-Christians are also lost? Not all evangelicals or all Mennonites agree about the answer to that question.

My own study of the Bible has led me to conclude that God’s saving work is not restricted to the confines of the Christian church. On the one hand, it is sobering to remember that many “Christians,” even though they are not heathen, are lost, because they do not have the faith that justifies. They have the faith without works that is dead (James 2:14–18).

On the other hand, Scripture does not teach that only those who are Christians are saved. Salvation has always been by the grace of God, through faith, because of Jesus, but the content of that faith varies, depending on the knowledge that God has given people concerning himself.

November 3, 2004

Hebrews 11:6 gives us the bottom line: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

But notice how the means of expressing or demonstrating that faith varied, depending on the ways in which God made himself known to people. Noah “built an ark” (11:7); Abraham “set out, not knowing where he was going” and he “offered up Isaac” (11:8, 17, 19); Moses’ parents hid him for three months and Moses “considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt” (11:26), and Rahab “received the spies in peace” (11:31).

A person’s relationship with God is a matter of the heart and only God knows people’s hearts.

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he principle is clearly stated in Romans 2:12–16. We are judged according to the revelation we receive; those who have the law (the Bible) are judged by it, but “when Gentiles (that is, heathen), who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when…God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secrets of all.”

Unfortunately, people often ignore the context of New Testament texts which speak about people who reject Jesus. For instance, John 3:18 states that “those who believe in [Jesus] are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” Reading this, some have assumed that Jesus was asserting that only those who know the name of Jesus can be saved by him. That takes the text out of its context, which is all about the Son of God having come into the world and having been rejected by people who knew him. The point being clearly made is that everyone who receives Jesus is saved and that everyone who rejects him remains under God’s condemnation. At the most, these texts are silent about people who do not hear about Jesus, and so we must listen to the whole New Testament teaching to obtain the full picture.

Later in John 3, Jesus said: “For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.

But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (3:20–21).

What we see here is that God is doing a saving work in the lives of some people before they learn of Jesus.

The evidence of God’s grace in their lives is seen in the way they live, and when the good news reaches them, they accept it, and it becomes clear that the good lives they had lived before were the

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fruit of God’s grace. They are not saved by their works, but their works give evidence of their faith. As Paul says, God “will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life” (Rom. 2:6–7).

A person’s relationship with God is a matter of the heart and only God knows people’s hearts. Only he knows the ways in which he has been revealing himself to a person and only he knows whether their response to that revelation is of the kind which pleases him or not.

I think, for instance, of the words of a young man in an Irian Jayan village who received joyfully the gospel brought by missionaries and led a people movement to follow Christ.

Speaking of his stepfather, Mugumende, who had died before the missionaries arrived, the young man said: “If Mugumende had been here when the gospel came to our valley, he would have been the first Christian (instead of me).”

This young man had seen in the life of his stepfather an attitude toward God which led him to conclude that God was at work in his life.

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owever rare such people may be, it seems very unlikely to me that people who clearly would have believed had they heard the gospel will be damned because they did not hear. This is not because such people are saved on the ground of what they would have done but because the attitude observed in a man like Mugumende may demonstrate the quality of the faith that is instrumental in justification.

Not all Christians have the sort of faith that pleases God. Some who are not heathen are still lost. But some of the heathen, by God’s grace, have the faith of an Abel, a Rahab, a Noah, an Abimelech, a Ruth, a Rahab or a Naaman, and they will finally gather with us around the throne of the Lamb and rejoice that by his blood, Christ “ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

People sometimes fear that the church’s missionary zeal will be sapped if Christians come to believe that God is able graciously to save some whom we do not reach with the gospel. This need 4

not be so; in fact, no New Testament writer ever cited the idea that the unevangelized cannot be saved as a motivation to evangelism.

Our job is to be faithful to Christ’s commission. Knowing that the gospel is God’s powerful means of bringing people to salvation, we take the good news concerning Jesus to the ends of the earth, in obedience to our Lord. But we must remember the wonderful blessings that we have experienced because we know God in the fullness of his revelation in Christ.

We have the joy that comes from knowing our sins forgiven and we have experienced the blessing of the church as a community united in Christ as his body. God does not simply want people to be saved in the next life, he wants them to enjoy in this life the full benefits of salvation which come only when the gospel is known and lived out within a community of believers.

God has given us the privilege of being his witnesses, and it is exciting to realize that God is already at work in people’s lives before we meet them but that God wants to use our witness to bring people into new or fuller T knowledge of himself. M Terrance L. Thiessen, Ph.D., is professor of systematic theology at Providence Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Man., and a member of Kleefeld EMC.

Moderator writes Prime Minister about missile defence program In a letter dated September 21, 2004, the moderator of the EMC has written Canada’s prime minister Paul Martin to “respectfully caution you against” involvement in the Ballistic Missile Defence program at the invitation of the United States government.

The “technology is both unproven and highly speculative” and its pursuit “increases both nuclear arms tension and the wider arms race,” said Ron Penner.

He went on to say that Canada’s involvement would “compromise our role as a middle power with a strong reputation for peacemaking” and be “seen simply by many nations as a matter of support America in all it does—because it is our closest neighbour and largest trading partner.”

“For the past nearly 480 years as part of the Mennonite Church, we have lived with the conviction that Christ calls us to take radical, non-violent steps in peacemaking. Out of that conviction we have approached you.”

The moderator said, “Thank you for taking the time to hear our concerns. Rest assured of our prayers for the peace of Canada and within the wider international community. May more of the Lord’s kingdom come, and more of his will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).”

Copies of the letter were forwarded to the ministers of national defence and foreign affairs and to the leader of the Official Opposition. The complete text of the letter is available upon request from the national office.

THE MESSENGER

editorials

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Douglas Robert Smith

OUGLAS Robert Smith took over a farm before he was old enough to have it be legally registered in his name. He married young and had children young, and both acts allowed us to have him with us longer.

My older sister describes him as a man who was private, caring, and gentle; Dad was all of this. He was also a hard worker and a good provider.

As his obituary notes, he had mostly hogs for many years and later switched to fish farming. He was a pioneer in the aqua culture field in Alberta; in March 2004 he was given a special award of recognition by his peers.

Dad was a conservationist who turned a beautiful piece of country into a sanctuary for deer and rabbits; it was a place where a child and a senior citizen could catch their first trout.

Anglers came from across Canada—even the

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U.S., England, Scotland, and China. For his conservation efforts, he was recognized by Alberta’s Order of the Bighorn.

Few people who met my father at the fishponds would be aware of a health condition that had kept him on medication for decades and hospitalized him occasionally. On one level, that’s fine.

But knowing his condition makes Dad’s achievements all the more remarkable.

Though he sometimes struggled in his relationships, he never shirked his duty to provide for his family as it grew up.

Dad died on September 25, 2004, at the age of 66 years. Douglas Robert Smith was a remarkable man.

Often people don’t know what to say to those who are grieving. Here’s one suggestion: “Tell me about your Dad.” And T our story is only one. M Terry M. Smith

masthead information

The need for faithful change

INCE August 2004 The Messenger has made further changes.

A four-colour August cover was the only one since 1985, and the four-colour back-page was a first. We anticipate more use of colour in 2005.

Assistant editor Becky Buhler designed the August issue’s 20 pages on computer— a major advance from my cut-and-paste and Marvin Toews’ computer design at Derksen Printers.

Since then, Becky has designed the layout—except for the Tri-Conference issue of Oct. 20, which was a broader collaboration. For that, she deserves recognition and thanks.

In seven years the magazine has moved through the word processing programs of WordPerfect and Microsoft Word to the layout design program of PageMaker; now we are moving to InDesign. A digital camera was purchased this year. Technological changes are happening, pushed partly by changes where the magazine is published and by our readers’ needs.

Though our budget remains modest, we strive to produce a magazine that connects EMCers with Christ, with each other, and November 3, 2004

with the wider Church. We seek to do so in an increasingly attractive way—of which, Becky’s cover design featuring Albert Martens (Oct. 6, 2004) was, to me, a highlight. Your suggestions on design changes are welcome.

Equally, our churches need to change to effectively reach out to Canadians in a shifting society. While the Good News doesn’t change, our way must of relating it to life. Too often, we are pushed by influences around us more than internal choices.

How pastors preach, leaders teach, and churches organize reflects not only the Good News, but structural and cultural expectations that have developed over time. Such expectations, as many Christian thinkers remind us, are sometimes not well suited to respond to people who are not in the Church. By so doing, the Church limits its influence.

May we study both Scripture and society and rely on Christ’s Spirit. Why? So that change, which is inevitable, will be more in line with how are we to live and teach the message of our Lord and Saviour T Jesus Christ. M Terry M. Smith 5

Fish Creek Christian Fellowship

A passion and a vision—even some details

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AITING at the till in Ricky’s restaurant, Conroy Koop chats with a young girl he recognizes from his children’s school.

Then the pastor moves to his truck to head to the next appointment. Except that the vehicle won’t start; the lights were left on. But stranded in a mall parking lot, Conroy isn’t stopped for long. He phones CAA and then walks to Staples to replace a defective laptop computer.

Pausing at a crosswalk, Conroy is greeted by a driver stopped at the intersection—a contact from his six years of ministering in southwest Calgary. The pastor explains that it’s a benefit of longevity; it took a couple of years of ministry before he began to occasionally run into people that he knows.

The service person from CAA arrives, soon the truck is boosted, and Conroy is back on the go.

Having moved from the small community of Chortitz, Sask., six years ago, the 37-year-old pastor seems to have adapted well to urban life—though he admits his family found it lonely at first.

And while Conroy appears to be a go-getter unconcerned with details, his use of a laptop computer, a palm pilot, a cell phone, and a master’s degree in counselling suggests other possibilities.

There’s a passion, a vision that drives both Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (EMC) and Pastor Conroy Koop.

Previous to this, while seated in Ricky’s, Conroy had patiently answered queries about the congregation. Then comes, “What question do you wish I would ask you?” He responds: “What are you passionate about?”

Conroy goes on to say his passion is to “see people come to a revelation of who Jesus is and who they are…we’re struggling people whom the Lord has desired to dwell with.”

He’s unsure of Anabaptism—he’s never taken a course on

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it, he says—but he’s sure of people’s need for the Lord. That shows in a breakfast meeting: He’d arranged for two newer members of Fish Creek to tell their stories.

Donna Gould, who says she orders from the seniors’ menu, was raised Roman Catholic. Urged by a granddaughter Michelle Fehr to attend Fish Creek, she first came about a year ago. She “felt very welcome” and has gotten heavily involved.

Having lost many family members in the past 15 years, “my church family is becoming more and more important all the time, and I crave to be with them,” she says. She was baptized on July 4, 2004. Her husband John attends services.

Time for devotions is difficult to find, but Donna appreciates Wednesday Bible study and the safety to ask questions in Sunday school. She feeds people well at potlucks and Alpha—“that’s what Italian mamas do,” she says—and bakes communion bread.

Trish Isaac and Donna Gould are newer members who have found Fish Creek to be a caring community of believers.

THE MESSENGER

Trish Isaac, 28, became involved about a year ago. A parent struggled after painful experiences, and Trish wasn’t raised within a congregation.

A casual meeting with Conroy’s wife Sheila at an Usborne Books sale (a series of children’s books from the United Kingdom) resulted in her attending a Fish Creek service.

People hugged her, Trish remembers. She was baptized with her husband Lincoln Isaac in May 2004. They have two children, Starlene and Kristopher.

Conroy Koop with children Savannah, Joseph, and Mitchell. Sheila was away for the moment.

Trish is excited to now be a Sunday school teacher from kindergarten to grade two. Scripture and “…the fellowship every Sunday has made a huge difference in my life,” she says.

She considers Sheila Koop to be a second mother.

Both Donna and Trish see Fish Creek as a caring, imperfect body where they can be nurtured in Christ. What can other pastors learn from Conroy? “Well, I believe that they can learn that they really need to be down, you know, in the pews with their parishioners,” says Donna, “and not hold themselves up a little bit higher than their parishioners. Like, he’s our pastor, but he’s a very good friend.”

Does he have any imperfections? “Oh, many,” Donna exclaims, but “just the fact you can say that about him… points to the fact that he is not perfect, but…he’s perfect enough for us.”

Fish Creek Christian Fellowship meets at 464 Woodbine Blvd., in two sections of a strip-mall, sandwiched between Wing’s fine food to go and Hot Spot Pizza and Restaurant.

Rounding out Woodbine Plaza are an Esso with a 7/11, Natalie Esthetic Salon, and Reflections Hair Design.

On Fish Creek’s storefront window, there are seven invitations to the introductory Alpha program—each saying Everyone Welcome—and three invitations to Sunday school. Phone numbers are given to contact Conroy.

Conroy was serving as Mitchell and Joseph challenge Dad to a few shots on net. Even the editor got a youth/associate pastor at Wymark EMC when he involved.

November 3, 2004

was approached to lead a church plant in Calgary.

He and Sheila arrived in Calgary on October 30, 1998; the church was chartered with 17 members on March 14, 1999; and it was received as an EMC member congregation on July 4, 1999 (Messenger reports).

The congregation met initially in one unit in the mall, then retained the space as an office and moved its meetings for two years to a gym at St. Jude’s Catholic School.

When the school’s rental Pastor Conroy Koop with coffee cup at cost increased, the church Ricky’s. A restaurant tends to be his moved back to the mall unofficial office. and expanded into a second unit. The units are rented and a For Sale is posted in a front window, but no one has followed through on purchasing the units.

With building funds available, in early September the congregation began renovating the mall space. Five thousand dollars and many volunteer hours later, there have been major changes. The sanctuary is brighter and now seats 75.

New rug was installed and painting done. Walls, bathroom and storage areas were moved. On September 26, two days after the editor arrived, the congregation celebrated the renovations with a potluck.

On September 25 when Conroy stops at the mall, members are working hard. Trish and Linc Isaac are there with their children. Lincoln is a drywaller, Darrel Penner is a carpenter, Chris Doty (Coach) is an automotive service technician, and Ryan Schapansky is a garage door technician. Conroy is handy himself; he has a small construction business during the warmer months.

The owner of a neighbouring mall unit stops by to chat.

The members and Conroy hang the music screen, install plug-ins, place ceiling tiles, install the sound system, set up chairs, and clean. About 3 p.m. Conroy goes for a light lunch at Dairy Queen, then he drives home for a nap and a bit of street hockey with his sons Joseph and Mitchell; daughter Savannah is content to work with the new laptop.

The Board of Elders met on Saturday night with Peter and Trudy Dueck, codirectors of church planting in Canada, to build toward the congregation’s positive future.

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After six o’clock, Conroy is off to a restaurant meeting with Peter and Trudy Dueck, co-directors of church planting in Canada, and FCCF board members. But en route two phone calls redirect him instead to Foothills Hospital, where he cares for a family in crisis; he excuses himself to get a person’s belongings and returns to the hospital to stay until late in the evening.

The supper meeting and next day’s plans are disrupted, but Conroy is calm. The Lord knows what the plans are “and he hasn’t told me yet,” is all he says. His caring shows.

The dream of a second EMC church in Calgary goes back at least 1995, says Garry Kornelsen, board of elders chairman and adult Sunday school teacher, in a phone interview. He moved to Calgary that year. By then a research organization and Canadian Secretary Don Thiessen had identified a need for a church in south Calgary, and Garry responded to a request for church planters in the city.

He confirmed that people began to meet for services about a month before Koops arrived; early participants came from Abbeydale Christian Fellowship—members and non-members.

Les Martens moved from Manitoba to assist in the plant; minister-in-training Dave Funk helped for six months, though his plans were frustrated by Alberta’s high insurance rates.

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship remains a source of fellowship. The churches join in Easter services, share informal functions, and Abbeydale has assisted with funds for special projects, Garry said.

There is talk of buying land and constructing a building, but it’s an expensive act in the expanding city, Garry confirmed.

Fish Creek’s current attendance is about 50. It is drawn from across Calgary and outside (Airdrie and Okotoks, for instance). One challenge is to draw in more people from Fish Creek area itself (named after a local waterway and park); another is to have the scattered congregation connect with each other beyond Sunday, Conroy said.

The board of elders meets each second month; congregational meetings are held on alternate months. There are three Sunday school classes for children and one adult class. A pastoral intern is to begin serving soon.

The congregation tries to not be over-involved on weeknights. Alpha is held one night and another is held for a membership meeting or a prayer meeting, Conroy said.

The church is named after the local area of Fish Creek, which boasts a provincial park with eye-catching scenery.

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Darrel Penner, Ryan Schapansky, and Chris Doty work at renovations.

In a follow-up phone interview, Conroy said that on September 26 the 9:30 a.m. Sunday school and the 11 a.m. worship service went well, with coffee and fellowship held in between.

During the service Dean and Kaylene Buhler gave their testimonies, Conroy spoke, and communion was held. A potluck followed.

The congregation was pleased with the renovations and excited to be together. The church is enthusiastic and reaching out, Conroy confirmed. And while he basically missed the meeting on Saturday evening with the Fish Creek board and church planting directors Peter and Trudy Dueck, he met with Duecks on Monday to plan for the congregation’s positive future.

Presenting details might not be necessary. After all, it’s possible to ease up on minor matters when you can sense T both the hearts of a church and of its pastoral couple. M Terry M. Smith Editor

(Most Saturday photos by editor; Sunday photos by FCCFers.)

THE MESSENGER

with our missionaries Winnipeg, Man.

Be prepared to give an answer

It had been a long night at the drop-in centre. All that was left for the evening was for us to pray with the children in small groups before eating a snack together.

Other groups were faring better than mine. My children were squirming; it felt more like I was guarding their energy lest they interrupt some other more “spiritual” group’s prayer time.

Frustrated, I raised my voice to be heard, demanding any last prayer requests. I caught two: that one girl’s cat would get better, and that one boy wouldn’t go to hell. I’m ashamed to say, in my rush to “get this over with,” I didn’t catch the plea in the requests. I just grabbed the hands closest to be me in the circle and began to pray. But God speaks amidst the chaos and even in my not-soheartfelt prayer I suddenly understood what I had just missed.

I quickly wrapped up the prayer and let the group run to get their snacks as I scooted over to the boy who had asked that I pray he not go to hell. In the space of three minutes, his eternity was changed forever as he eagerly grasped the truths of the

Bible: of God’s love, his own sin, and Jesus’ redemption and complete forgiveness.

I asked if he wanted me to pray for him—he said he wanted to do it himself and I was completely humbled as this eight-year-old boy, who knew so little about our Lord, unashamedly cried out to God in his own words and was changed.

To see him so excited after he was finished, with the complete assurance that God had indeed kept his promise to him, was beautiful. But God wasn’t done.

Another boy scooted over beside us and quietly whispered, “Me, too!” I wasn’t sure what he meant—did he also want to know about God? He assured me that wasn’t the case. He had listened when I had explained the gospel to his friend, and when his friend had prayed, he also did. He had also given his life to Christ!

This experience happened over a month ago, but I continually go back to it in my thoughts. I was so close to missing a life-changing opportunity for two young men, even though it was as obvious a cry for God as I am ever likely to hear. How often do I miss other, more subtle pleas?

Peter’s words are becoming a constant reminder to me to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). People all around us are crying out for the kind of hope we have in Christ. I pray that I will have my spiritual eyes open and be prepared to seize any opportunity I may have to share that hope.

Kirsten Sandland

Kirsten Sandland (Abbeydale) is coordinator of The Bridge drop-in centre, Inner City Youth Alive.

Mexico

Hillside Gospel Church is blessed with new members The September 12 morning service at Hillside Gospel Church in Campo 306, Los Jagueyes, Chihuahua, Mexico, was a happy occasion. Nine couples took up membership. This brings us to 30 active members.

Many guests attended this special service and were blessed especially as these people shared their powerful testimonies of victory in Christ. The people are from different backgrounds and had different struggles, but they gave glory to God as they shared how the Word of God had transformed their lives.

Pastor Wiebe’s message was taken from selected verses in John 9. God is raising up Hillside Gospel Church as a strong witness for Jesus. He challenged us that everyone can share what God has done in their life: “One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.”

So often our fear in witnessing is, “What if I don’t have all the answers to the question people might ask?” At times the healed man in John 9 had to simply say, “I don’t know.” But he knew what Jesus had

November 3, 2004

done for him: “I was blind and now I can see.” No one can deny what God has done in your life.

We have a weekly Bible study with two couples in Campo 73, a German Mennonite village. These people are so happy to learn new Bible truths, and it is so exciting to see how they apply these truths in their daily lives, recently one man had gone to invite several neighbors to come and join us in

this study; one couple came last week.

These couples are having a tremendous impact for Jesus in their village.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have been so faithful in praying for us. God is faithful in answering your prayers. We are seeing the fruit.

Peter and Anne Wiebe

Ralph and Elisabeth Dueck, their daughter Marcella Dueck, Peter and Anne Wiebe and Maria Reddekop, were active members in the Campo 77 church and were welcome in the Hillside Gospel Church.

Pictured are (back) Peter Wiebe, Marcella Dueck, Ricky and Lisa Kornelsen, Ben and Tina Peters, Elisabeth and Ralph Dueck (middle) Anne Wiebe, Cornie and Anita Dueck, Henry and Eva Froese, Tina and Henry Peters, (front) Maria Reddekop, Lisbeth and Peter Zacharias, Annie and Norman Loewen, Justina and Jacob Kornelsen, Maria and Wilhelm Reimer.

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Mexico

Staff ponders indigenous church planting

Are we really planting indigenous churches? How can we strengthen national leadership? What is being done to work deliberately at phase-out? These are questions that we struggled with at our annual staff retreat. This year the EMC Mexico missionary team met from August 16–20 at the Bible Institute in Steinreich, about 50 kilometers from Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua state.

As in other years, we enjoyed each other’s company—prodding one another to think, play, eat, and pray together. We relaxed in the valley of Sainapuchi, while the clink of horseshoes accompanied the conversation that flowed on all sides. The four days were suddenly over, signalling the end of our summer activity.

We were privileged to have Lester and Darlene Olfert with us. Lester capably served as our speaker on the topic of Planting Indigenous Churches. Passing the Baton, the subject of the last session, was especially relevant—several of our team are retiring shortly.

Maybe we came away with more questions and doubts than answers, somewhat overwhelmed by the complexity of our task, but it was good to emphasize once more our purpose for being in Mexico. In an article, Tom Steffen states, “It takes wise and unselfish missionaries to keep from destroying a church-planting movement. It also takes a nucleus of nationals who desire to be obedient to God’s Word.” Our desire is

to be those wise and unselfish missionaries, building the church and investing our lives in those around us.

During the week, we welcomed Arnold and Tina Thiessen from Braeside into our team. The guesthouse in El Paso will be their ministry involvement. We said good-bye to Elma Janzen who left for La Crete, Alta., after the memorial service for her husband George in Juarez on Friday night.

Sunday noon saw all of us return Missionaries enjoyed each other’s company, participating in home. Fall ministries awaited.

Alvira Friesen recreational activities as well as sessions.

Mexico missionaries gathered to discuss Planting Indigenous Churches.

Youth leaders’ retreat

Ordinary people, an extraordinary God October 16, 2004, was a day of heavy snowfall and difficult travelling in some parts of Manitoba. Meanwhile, at Pinawa, whitetail deer grazed on bare green grass or lay on the lawn outside the Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre.

Perhaps they could hear music coming from inside the building.

Inside, 129 youth pastors and leaders from 27 of EMC’s 52 churches were holding a national retreat. The retreat, held each second year, ran from Friday evening through early Sunday afternoon.

“Thank you for choosing us,” Mo Friesen prayed on Saturday morning. We are “lacking in so many other ways, and yet You choose to work through us, and You called us to…an amazing task of guiding young people towards You.” Mo is a National Youth Committee member and associate pastor at Steinbach EFC. Jim Harms, director of Youth for Christ Steinbach and

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former youth pastor of Steinbach EMC, spoke on Consistent Ministry in Changing Community.

Asked to summarize his messages, Jim said that on Friday evening he “started out with Joshua and Caleb, just in their faith in God, just how that presented the opportunity for them to fearlessly move ahead in the face of adversity, and do great things for God. “And then they were just ordinary things in an ordinary day, but turned out to be amazing things for God.” This

Speaker Jim Harms

THE MESSENGER

Youth leaders gathered for worship and teaching.

led him to say that “way too many people…waste their lives waiting for the spectacular in life,” and they miss both the day-to-day and the spectacular opportunities.

On Saturday evening he would speak on “Joseph and how he put his heart into his service long before he ever got the assignment, and how he moved on and in his…advancement still kept that same heart for God. He wore his coat, told his dream, and just again achieved great things in God’s plan.”

On Sunday morning his focus would shift to “Peter the fisherman, who couldn’t decide what he wanted to be, and how God used him and turned a reed blown by every wind… into a rock. And when Jesus left this earth he was kind of left in charge. He wasn’t left in charge; he just kind of picked up because there was a vacancy. Somebody’s got to fill the gap.

How does that relate? It’s because of how Jim wants the leaders to see themselves and their work: “Just very ordinary youth ministers impacting others and expanding the kingdom.”

“And so that’s…my heart cry,” Harms said, “to see these youth leaders help other kids share the life-changing message of Christ with every Canadian young person, to give them the opportunity to come to Christ.”

There were four seminars held three times each and three bear pit forums, according to Gerald Reimer, Conference Youth Minister.

Tim Gibbons of Braeside EMC and Mo Friesen led a seminar on Contemplative Worship.

Tim said that young people will remember a leader’s relationship more than a Bible study, and they sometimes need help to know how to pray. Mo Rest was one goal of the event, Beth Friesen led participants in Braun said. meditative Scripture reading, and said such reading prepared him to preach on short notice. Handouts were given out on spiritual disciplines such as centering prayer.

Awln Davison, pastor at St. Vital EMC, spoke on Homosexual Issues. Jim Harms had a workshop on Volunteer Training. Irma Janzen, of Fort Garry EMC and MCC Canada, led a seminar on Kids and Depression. She emphasized that society and the church need to view mental illness as “normal,” just as some people have other conditions.

Participants discussed signs of depression. Three role plays illustrated how Christians can hinder or help people struggling with depression. MCC has pamphlets dealing with youth and depression and youth and suicide, and study resources such as Honest Talk About Serious Mental Illness (Presbyterian Church USA) are available, Janzen said.

She encouraged leaders to invite resource people to educate in Sunday school about depression or the pastor could preach on the topic.

“The sessions were truly challenging,” said Nathan Dueck, a leader from Pleasant Valley EMC. Beth Braun, National Youth Committee chairperson and Crestview Fellowship’s youth director, said by phone, “I’m really pleased with how this turned out.”

She said that the committee had two main goals: To provide for leaders a time of teaching and training, and “a time of Sabbath” (a time of rest). “And I think we really accomplished both of those goals.”

Terry M. Smith Editor (photos by editor)

Mo Friesen and Tim Gibbons (top left) led a seminar on Contemplative Worship.

Awln Davison (top right) spoke on Homosexual Issues. Irma Janzen (right) encouraged churches to understand mental illness in Kids and Depression.

November 3, 2004

Joan and Doug Driedger, and Elaine and Sheldon Wiebe are youth leaders at Burns Lake, B.C.

11

with our churches

Family and day camps held Treesbank, Man.: On August 6–8 the Treesbank Community Church held our Annual Family Camp at Spruce Woods Provincial Park. A rain shower on Sunday morning made for close fellowship under the picnic shelter. Erna Plett, who grew up in this church, shared about her many years of experience with EMC missions in Paraguay.

Thirty-six children registered for Day Camp on August 9. It was held in the evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church. Each evening included singing, a humourous skit, Bible story, crafts, woodworking and a snack. On Thursday evening we held the closing program and

Children and helpers work on a craft at Day Camp.

a wiener roast to which all the family and friends were invited.

On September 13 the ladies held our annual birthday party. This year we spent the evening at the home of Janet Hamilton. The ladies enjoyed games led

by Janet and Allison Dresen. The ladies received goody bags and relived some of their childhood by decorating their own cupcake.

In September we started the ALPHA course in evenings at two different homes.

Lucille Penner

VBS and pastoral changes Anola, Man.: The week of July 4 we hosted Vacation Bible School, titled Adventure Week with Uncle Harold. Harold Field presented the gospel clearly through puppet shows, flannel graph, chalk-talks, and ventriloquism. Children and adults alike found Willy to be hilarious.

An average of 63 children came every night, of which less than half attend our regular Sunday school program. What a mission field God has given us! All praise to Him and many thanks to the volunteers—over 30 of them—who made this adventure week possible.

On a different note, Pastor Jack (John) Cosens is taking a sabbatical from pastoral work. He has served our congregation in Anola for 15 and a half years and is looking forward to new opportunities ahead. At our Sunday school picnic we presented Pastor Jack and Brenda with a thank-you gift: A beautiful set of wicker furniture. Pastor Mel Koop of Steinbach is currently serving as interim pastor.

Jessica Wichers

Erna Plett shared about her experiences as a missionary in Paraguay during Treesbank’s Family Camp held August 6–8.

Youth and leaders, mark your calendars!

The “watering trough” has always been well-used at VBS.

Peter Hall demonstrates Uncle Harold and Willy were the use of his pottery wheel special guests at VBS. during craft time.

12

THE MESSENGER

VBS at Swan Plain and Pelly Pelly, Sask.: Pelly Fellowship Chapel sponsored VBS programs in the Swan Plain area August 9–13, and in Pelly August 16–20.

Connie Hamm was director for the Swan Plain program with 14 students, all eager to learn and participate. Being part of the teaching team was a pleasure.

There was time for singing, snacks, games

and learning memory verses. Friday at 1 p.m. was the closing program with a good number of parents and grandparents who came out to hear what the children had to present. Time was spent visiting over refreshments.

Twyla Hamm was director for Pelly.

With 31 children enrolled and 29 that attended regularly, the staff was kept

Twyla Hamm led VBS in Pelly (left photo) and Connie Hamm directed efforts in Swan Plain (left photo).

busy. The snack and craft time each related to the theme of the day. There was lots of lively singing and many children were eager to say the memory verse. A video was shown each day and story time was sometimes done as a drama.

Friday at noon the closing program was presented, followed by a hot dog lunch for all those attending.

Twyla and Connie each did a super job directing and were very appreciative of all the helpers.

On Sunday, August 22, Murray Vader, a former pastor in our church, presented the work of Avant Ministries. Murray and his family are currently living in St.Paul, Alta., where they are preparing to go to Spain as church planters. Following the Sunday morning service we gathered at the Pelly Park for a noon lunch and a picnic.

Many of the families whose children had attended VBS were there. The rain stayed away, so it was a good day.

Vivian Anfinson

Crestview hears sheep stories Mission Aviation Fellowship in Lesotho.

It was an eye-opening report as Melvin shared of his flight experiences to remote places and of getting to know the customs of a foreign country. He came dressed in traditional herdsman attire: blanket, rubber boots, straw hat and carrying a whip. Thank you, Melvin, for sharing of your story. May we be reminded to follow God’s leading as we “tend to the flock” that God has placed each of us in.

Vacation Bible School has come and gone again for another summer. Wow, what an incredible opportunity for ministry to young “sheep.”

Lots of volunteers from the church came together to help make SonGames 2004 happen. Then, kids came, had a great time and, hopefully, went back home and told their experiences to family and friends. May the Good News of salvation continue to spread as these kids and so many others around the world participating in VBS ministries hear of the Shepherd who invites us to His fold.

Darlene Wiebe On June 27 four new members were added to our congregation: Crestview (Winnipeg, Man.): The last Sunday of June was a day of celebration as four sheep were added to the fold of our church. Mother and daughter, Chantale Dallaire and Jamye Beaudin were baptized and received into membership.

Jeff and Sharon Doerksen transferred in their membership. New life added to the congregation is always exciting.

Melvin and Kari Peters, former attendees of Crestview, were scheduled to report of their ministry in Africa on July 18. (Kari was not able to make it.

We missed you.) Melvin is a pilot with

Chantale Dallaire and Jamye Beaudin through baptism, and Sharon and Jeff Doerksen through transfer.

November 3, 2004

Melvin Peters gave a presentation in traditional Lesotho attire.

13

ABRAM A. REDEKOPP 1917–2004

Abram A. Redekopp passed away at 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2004. He had reached the age of 87 years. We will miss him, but we know this was an answer to his prayers.

Abram was born at Hopefield, Sask., on January 6, 1917. He grew up there and attended school there. In the Depression years, he moved to Alberta and worked on various farms. Later, he returned to Saskatchewan and began farming by renting land. He worked long hours with small equipment, including custom work, so he could buy land and larger implements. By 1943 he felt well enough established that he could marry. He married his beautiful bride, Sarah Olfert of Reinfeld, on April 26.

After living and farming for several years near Neidpath, Sask., Abe and Sarah, along with their two children moved to the Olfert farm in Reinfeld, where two more children were born. There they lived until 1977, when they moved to Swift Current.

Abe continued to farm until his early eighties.

Abe enjoyed the farm, but he was also very active in church work. For many years he taught Sunday school and led congregational singing. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren, and played many games of crokinole and scrabble with them.

Shortly after Sarah’s passing in September 2000, Abe moved into the Bentley Residence, but his stay was brief.

Within seven months he was hospitalized and resided at the Swift Current Care Centre for one and a half more years, until the time of his passing.

Abram leaves to cherish his memory his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren: son Walter (Lena) Redekopp and their sons, Brian, Dwayne and Scott; daughter Sally (Jake) Knelsen and their children, Chrys (Kim) Knelsen, Corinne (Greg) Miller and their sons, Noah and Jake, Kevin (Marnie) Knelsen and their daughter, Micah; son Frank (Shirley) Redekopp and their sons, Daren (Renae) Redekopp, Jared (Gudrun) Redekopp, and Randy Redekopp; son Leonard Redekopp and his sons, Rob Ryan and Darcy

14

Redekopp, and Darcy’s children, Destiny and Danielle Drinkwater.

He is also remembered by his sisters, Katherine Friesen and Anne Schmidt; his brothers-in-law, Abe X. Olfert, Jacob (Esther) Olfert, and Jake Teichrib; sistersin-law, Annie Fast, Helen (George) Driedger, Mary (Marlon) Hanson, Neta Spetzer, Mary Olfert, Mary Redekopp; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Sarah, September 30, 2000; his parents, Abraham and Margaretha Redekopp; two brothers in childhood; sisters, Mary Heppner, Margaret Friesen and Susan Olfert; brother, John Redekopp; his parents-inlaw, Franz and Elizabeth Olfert; a grandson, Kenneth Knelsen; and by a great-grandson, Emmanuel Redekopp.

The Funeral Service was held on Thursday, June 24, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cornerstone Fellowship Church, Swift Current, Sask., with Rev. Bryon Bezanson and Rev. Randall Krahn officiating. The pianist for the service was Faith Krahn with special music brought by Corinne Miller, singing Amazing Grace. A tribute to Abe Redekopp was presented by Frank Redekopp with Rev. Randall Krahn reading the life history. My Savior’s Love, In the Sweet By and By, He Leadeth Me and When We All Get To Heaven were sung by the congregation under the direction of Rev. Bryon Bezanson. The ushers in the church were Jake Driedger, Ken Dyck and Bill Neustaeter.

The interment service was held at the Hillcrest Cemetery, Swift Current, Sask., with the following serving as pallbearers: Jared Redekopp, Darcy Redekopp, Kevin Knelsen, Chrys Knelsen, Greg Miller and Peter Wiebe.

In memory of Abe Redekopp, donations made to the Gideons International or to the Cornerstone Fellowship Church Building Fund would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements were in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, Sask.

His Family

Women’s EMC Hockey Saturday, January 22, 2005

All players must be EMC members or regular attenders!

Come and have a great time! Register by November 15, 2004. Call Laura Thiessen at 204-475-1419 or e-mail cl_thiessen@excite. com. *This year, there will be no playoffs

ABRAM REIMER 1938–2004

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Abram Reimer, husband, father, and grandfather, entered eternity on September 11, 2004, around 1:30 in the afternoon, after a lengthy illness. The last few days he spent in the Tillsonburg hospital again where he peacefully left this world, to go and meet his heavenly Father.

He was born on June 1, 1938 in Durango, Mexico, to Martin and Katharina Reimer.

He reached the age of 66 years, three months and 10 days.

He was baptized in the Old Colony Church in the spring of 1960 by Bishop Johan Wiebe.

Abram married me, Margaret Peters, on September 25, 1960. We have shared joy and sorrow for 44 years, minus 14 days.

We left the Old Colony church in 1987, and moved to Ontario, Canada, in 1988, where we still lived.

He has often been sick during his lifetime, which caused him to be in and out of the hospital many times. Eleven years ago he was diagnosed with cancer, of which he later got healed again.

Abram is survived by me, his wife, Margaret; our children, Katharina and Jacob Dyck, Ontario; John and Trudy Reimer, Ontario; Susanna and Cornelius Redecop, Durango, Mexico; Margaret and Abe Thiessen, Ontario; Lisa, Ontario; Helen, Ontario; and Abe and Katharine Reimer, Ontario; plus 15 grandchildren and five sisters.

He was predeceased by his parents, four children in their infancy, three brothers and two sisters.

We do not grieve as those who have no hope, but are looking forward to the day when we will be reunited in the Lord’s presence.

The funeral was held at Straffordville EMC. His wife and family

THE MESSENGER

shoulder tapping Mennville EMC, a rural church near Riverton, Man., seeks a half-time youth leader/pastor to give spiritual leadership and be a program director for a youth group of approximately 25 to 30. Call for information or send resume to Kenton Barkman, Box 576, Riverton, MB R0C 2R0. Phone 204-378-5623 or email kenton@mts.net.

The Archives Committee, under the EMC Board of Church Ministries, seeks a part-time volunteer archivist to work out of the Steinbach, Man., office.

Tasks involve the organizing, filing and tracking of historical materials within the vault and over-flow areas in the building. Assets are an interest in history and a skill or willingness to operate a computer database; an exceptional asset would be the ability to read German.

For information, contact executive secretary Terry Smith at 204-326-6401 or emcmessenger@mts.net.

Endeavour Fellowship Chapel (EMC), a warm, friendly congregation with 50 to 60 in attendance on Sunday morning, seeks a pastor. It is located in a small town/ rural part of east-central Saskatchewan, between Yorkton and Hudson Bay. The church is flexible in standards for both candidate education and experience. As an evangelical church in town, it serves a wide range of people. Contact chairman of elders Neil Fenske at 306-547-4738 or Box 263, Endeavour, SK S0A 0W0.

Pelly Fellowship Chapel (EMC) is looking for a fulltime lead pastor. Pelly is a small rural community (300 people) in east-central Saskatchewan. The congregation averages 40 on Sunday mornings and is the only evangelical church in the community.

Please forward your resume or questions to the search committee by mail at Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0 or phone Eugene Prokott at 306-5952287, Lewis Anfinson at 306-594-2151, or e-mail woodlandsigns@sasktel.net.

MDS workers are needed! Canadian volunteers, remember to connect with the MDS office in Winnipeg prior to making service arrangements directly with an MDS project. This will ensure that you receive a border crossing letter, travel assistance/receipting details and other important MDS information. Extension office: 866-261-1274.

Braeside EMC in Winnipeg, Man., is seeking a fulltime associate pastor of Spanish ministries. The applicant should be familiar with the Anabaptist perspective and willing to be guided by the EMC statement of faith. Responsibilities to include: pastoral care, teaching, and outreach. The Spanish part of the Braeside congregation has an average attendance of 60 people.

Please forward your resume and references to Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church, Attn: Spanish Ministry Search Committee, 1011 Munroe Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2K 1J7.

Inner City Youth Alive is an organization in the North End of Winnipeg, Man., that reaches youth and their families in the community. It seeks a program director that should possess pastoral gifts and be ready to support and encourage the staff team.

Phone: 204-582-8779. E-mail: icya@mts.net. Website: www.innercityyouthalive.org.

Riverton Gospel Chapel (EMC), a small rural town in Manitoba’s Interlake, seeks a loving leading pastor. Housing is included in the salary package.

This friendly and loving congregation has an average

November 3, 2004

attendance of 75–100, with a high percentage of young families. The area has good schools.

Contact Paul Peters, board chair, by mail: Box 356, Riverton, MB R0C 2R0, by e-mail: paul@vidir. com, or by phone: 204-378-2740 (home), 204-3642442 (work).

La Crete Christian Fellowship seeks a full-time youth pastor, an energetic leader with vision who has a geniune love and passion to reach out to young people and the ability to be a partner with us to build a strong ministry with the young people in our congregation and community.

Join dedicated parents and adults eager to be led and students ready to grow and learn. This person will work primarily with high school and junior youth, and also with children’s ministry.

We’re eager to incorporate new ideas and capitalize on the gifts and talents of our youth pastor.

This person should have some understanding and respect for EMC theology, diversity, and traditions.

There is a generous salary, health insurance, and a new house to live in. La Crete is located in beautiful northern Alberta, eight hours north of Edmonton.

To find out more about La Crete and the church, see www.lacretechamber.com; www.telusplanet.net/ public/lccfc; e-mail: lccfc@telus.net or lfem@telus. net; phone: Frank Winsor at LCCF, 780-928-3783.

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship (ACF) Church of Calgary is seeking a lead pastor with strengths in preaching, teaching and pastoral care. Duties would also include mentoring lay leadership. ACF is a medium sized congregation (170-200) in east Calgary seeking to disciple members and attendees, encourage their gifts and involvement in the church, and reach out to the neighbourhood and families of church adherents. ACF is part of the EM Conference.

Please submit resumes in confidence to SearchCommi ttee@Abbeydale.org by December 1, 2004.

Executive foreign secretary for the EMC Board of Missions. Responsibilities: Administration, visiting Latin American mission fields, recruitment, promoting EMC missions, and reporting to the board. Qualifications that are important considerations: A ministry degree, a working knowledge of Spanish, and missions/ministry experience. Some training may be provided. Starting date: Mid-2005 (negotiable). Send inquiries and resumes to: Chairman, EMC Board of Missions, 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5, or e-mail: ernieloewen@yahoo.com.

Head cook sought for year-round employment at Red Rock Bible Camp in southeast Manitoba. Must work well with people, be service oriented, be a team player, agree with the camp’s mission and statement of faith, and have experience and training in the food service industry or be willing to be trained. Cook is responsible to the food services director. Housing, partial board, salary, medical and dental benefits provided. Send resume to RRBC, 204-320 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z1; Email:kim@redrockbiblecamp.com.

MCC Manitoba seeks support workers for a new fetal alcohol spectrum disorder program. They will work as a team to provide one-on-one support for an adult living with FASD, have excellent communication skills and at least one year of relevant social services experience or education.

Full- or part-time, morning and evening hours are available. Contact program manager Jewel Reimer at 204-783-0897 or e-mail mccmfasd@mts.net.

BLF Canada, a non-denominational evangelical mission that publishes and distributes Christian literature for the French-speaking world, seeks a director. If you feel that God has equipped you for this position with Biblical Literature Fellowship, see our website at www.blfusa. Send your resume to BLF Canada, Box 42145, RPO Ferry Road, Winnipeg, MB R3J 3X7.

MCC Manitoba seeks a full-time program team leader. A member of the MCCM management team, this person supports the work of program staff and coordinate overall goals and objectives of the team.

Contact Janelle Siemens at jms@mennonitecc. ca or Sol Janzen at sjj@mennonitecc.ca or 204261-6381 for information. Application deadline is December 10, 2004. Women and members of visible minorities are encouraged to apply. MCC workers are to exhibit a commitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship, active church membership and non-violent peacemaking.

Convention Offerings for 2004 Steinbach Bible College $5,360.00 Convention Expenses $5,879.00 Ladies Session $801.00 Missions $12,544.00 Total

$24,584.00

coming events December 3 EMC Ministerial MacGregor EMC MacGregor, Man. 204-326-6401 December 4 EMC Conference Council Portage Evangelical Church Portage la Prairie, Man. 204-326-6401 March 19–21, 2005 EMC Ministerial Retreat Wilderness Edge Retreat Centre Pinawa, Man. 204-326-6401 July 1–3, 2005 2005 EMC Convention Peace River Bible Institute Sexsmith, Alta.

204-326-6401

Available!

The 2004 issue of

The Journal of Mennonite Studies Return of the Kanadier

Royden Loewen, r.loewen@uwinnipeg.ca 515 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9

Subscription cost per year: $20, postage included.

15

I

God in the Yukon

n the summer of 1898, about a hundred thousand people trekked from all over North America, facing formidable odds and elements, up to the Yukon frontier. They were driven, or called, by the lure of gold.

In the summer of 2004, a family of six in a mini-van trekked from Morris, Man., up to the Yukon. They were called by God to undertake a short, family mission trip. We had the opportunity to help at Marsh Lake Bible Camp, which is nestled in the mountains south of Whitehorse.

I was asked to direct the three weeks of camp, while my wife Janine served alternately as program director and camp nurse. Our older two children, Kyle and Mandie, served as junior counsellors the second two weeks.

As I reflect on our little adventure, some things stand out in my mind. First, if you get an opportunity to do something different—out of the routine—go for it. While it took some planning and some sacrifices (being away from home and church for six weeks), it was invigorating to embark on something completely different, going to a place we’d never been. We trusted that God had led us to the Yukon, and He would go before us.

Second, we were blessed to see how God orchestrates things in His kingdom. There, in a somewhat remote corner of creation, He brought together believers from all sorts of places (even Europe) and all sorts of backgrounds to work together in camp ministry with one purpose: To serve God and see people meet Jesus. It was humbling to be part of His plan in this specific way.

Third, it was gratifying to be involved in a ministry project that our children could join in on. We trust that their experiences will remain as lifelong memories, and that the Yukon will always remind them of when they saw God at work.

Fourth, we did indeed see Him work. Each of the three weeks of camp ministry saw kids PAGE 16

Our family with SEND International summer interns (Jessica, Ljuba, Serge, Rhiannon, and Scott) in Whitehorse. Four on far right: Kyle, Janine, Rachel and Ward. Far left: Mandie and James (behind Ljuba).

come to know Jesus. Many of these young lives have seen more than their share of trouble and heartache already, coming from broken or abusive homes. Pray that the seeds planted at camp will grow to full fruitbearing plants. Each of the three weeks of camp also saw staff members and counselors grow in their faith and delight in His service. God stretches us to refine us, like gold.

While we did include a trip up to the Klondike, and even hunted for gold on Bonanza Creek, the real gold we came away with far outshines any shiny nugget this world could offer.

Ward Parkinson

Canoeing on the Yukon River through Miles Canyon.

THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362 PAP Registration #9914