The Messenger Vol. 42 No. 21 December 1, 2004

Messenger The

EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 42 NUMBER 21 DECEMBER 1, 2004

Who adds salt to earth?

Tim Rogalsky asks questions about a parable

Salt of the Earth:

Reflections

on salt, fertilizer, and same-sex marriage

Tim Rogalsky

I

T’S ONE of the better known images in the New Testament.

I remember clearly the first “salt of the earth” sermon I heard. I was 17. I’ve heard many since, but they’ve all been essentially the same: “As salt seasons and preserves, we defend the moral fabric of the world.” It’s almost treated as common knowledge. References to “salt of the earth” are casually dropped into sermons, books, articles, as if everyone knows what Jesus was talking about. But do we really?

There are two reasons I so clearly remember a sermon from 20 years ago.

First, I had never understood the salt image. Second, the sermon didn’t help. To me, the seasoning and preserving images have always seemed weak at best, and at worst deceptive.

The images suggest that there is much good in the world, and that Christfollowers merely add flavour here, and preserve moral law there. But we believe that the world is in fact fallen—dead,

2

rotten to the core. Why bother flavouring or preserving rotten food?

Yet isn’t that exactly what we keep trying to do? Think about the recent furore over same-sex marriage. How often in the past year have we been exhorted to attend rallies, write letters, and sign petitions? “Stand up for the truth,” we’re told, “Homosexuals are destroying the sacred institution of marriage. If Christians don’t fight to preserve it, then who will?”

A glance at divorce rates makes it clear that the institution called “marriage” in Canada has been dead for many years. What it needs is not to be preserved, but to be resuscitated—the one thing that legislation and governmental coercion can never do.

Not coincidentally, resuscitation is the one thing the church has to offer, but it won’t happen by lobbying the government. The world needs the church to be the church.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?” (Matt 5:13). And in Luke, “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Luke 14:34– 35).

Do we have ears to hear? Good listeners ask questions. Here are two: What kind of salt loses its taste? The fact is, table salt (sodium chloride) doesn’t. It is a stable crystal. Boil it, bake

THE MESSENGER

it, freeze it, soak it—it’s still salty.

And second: Who adds salt to earth, anyway?

So what is this “salt” that loses its “saltiness”? The Greek word, usually translated “salt” is halas (V.G. Shillington, “Sorting Out the Salt Scenario,” in On a Journey with God: You come too…, Springfield Publishers, 2003.) Halas can indeed refer to table salt, but has a much broader meaning.

It’s more like chloride—any natural salt containing the chloride ion.

But why would Jesus suggest that it loses its taste? The verb translated “to lose taste” is mõrainõ, which actually means “to lose potency.” (It is the root of our word “moron.” So to call someone a moron is to say, “Your intellectual potency is diminished.”)

What, then, is this chloride, and for what is it potent? The answer lies in our second question, “Who adds salt to earth?”

The meaning in Greek is not world, but literally earth—soil or land. “Earth salt” is not sodium chloride (table salt), but potassium chloride—a natural salt of potassium, more commonly known as potash.

Potash is a fertilizer used in agriculture worldwide, very familiar to those living in Palestine. In fact, Israel’s Dead Sea Works Ltd. (www. dsw.co.il) is the world’s fourth largest potash manufacturer, exporting to over 60 countries. Their slogan: Giving life to the earth of Planet Earth.

In our market economy, the word earth has lost much of its significance.

But to Jesus’ Jewish listeners, the “earth” of Canaan was life itself! It was a holy land, promised by God, that gave both physical food and spiritual life, the two so intertwined as to be one gift—a gift from God, stolen by the Romans, in which the true owners were now slaves.

It had become a land of death.

Jesus says, “You are fertilizer for a land of death. Renew its life! But if fertilizer has lost its potency, how can it regain its life-giving minerals? It’s not fit for soil. It can’t even supplement manure. It is useless and thrown away. Let anyone with ears to hear

listen!” (Notice that he really does mean, “It is not even useful for manure.” He is not, as we usually assume, using strong language to indicate how useless it is.)

C

an you see the contrast with the traditional table salt image?

If all we do is season and preserve, the best we have to offer is to make things a little less ugly, to polish the gray pallor of death. But fertilizer transforms death into life. What a Christ-like image! We, the church, his body, bring life out of death. We are agents of transformation.

By contrast, power politics are tools of oppression and force. Lobby groups and legal challenges, social coercion and governmental action—these are weapons of domination, by which the world’s power-brokers desperately grasp at their false power.

The truth is that they have been disarmed. Christ “has made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15).

That’s why our constant politicking bothers me so much. The ends cannot justify the means, if, in the means themselves, we deny the cross. When we lobby the government to oppose same-sex marriage, abortion, gambling, etc., when we petition our school divisions to allow prayer in schools, we deny the cross and tacitly accept the impotence (mõrainõ) of the church. The body of Christ has failed to bring life to the world, so we ask the world, “Please, use your false power to look a little less dead.”

In other words, “We will not ‘make a positive contribution to culture’ by trying to beat the powers at their own game…Instead, we are called to be a people walking in faithful discipleship to the way of Christ, and thereby to be the salt and light the rebellious world so desperately needs” (Lee Camp, Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World, Brazos Press, 2003).

Allow me to illustrate with two stories. For years, Tom and Sue had struggled with Sue’s alcoholism, but lately the binges had been getting worse, and were starting to affect the couple’s two young children. Late one night, Tom called the pastor with a plea for help, “Sue is drunk again, and I just don’t think I can take it anymore.”

The pastor was inclined to offer private counselling (preserve the marriage, preserve the secret). If that failed, he was prepared to suggest legal separation (preserve the children). But the next day, Tom and Sue’s Sunday school teacher phoned the pastor with an offer to fertilize.

“Tom can’t bear this thing alone. Our Sunday school class will take over. We’ll handle the meals, we’ll help with the kids, we’ll raise the money for a rehabilitation program. We’ll show him that he’s not alone.” That’s the church being the church. (As told in Hauerwas and Willimon, Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony, Abingdon Press, 1989.)

If all we do is season and preserve, the best we have to offer is to make things a little less ugly, to polish the gray pallor of death. But fertilizer transforms death into life. What a Christ-like image!

December 3, 2004

3

The second is a story of the church refusing to be the church. I have a friend—let’s call him Joe—who, like many youth, struggled with his sexual identity. A Christian and regular church attender, Joe frequently heard how sinful homosexuality was, with comments about “disgusting perverted gays,” and jokes about effeminate men.

Rarely, if ever, did he see or hear fertilizing love for homosexuals, only platitudes like “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Desperately conflicted, Joe finally went to his pastor to confess that he was attracted to other men. The pastor said a prayer, sent Joe away, and never said

Tim Rogalsky, BRS, M.Sc., Ph.D., is assistant professor of mathematics at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Man. He and his family live in Landmark, Man., and attend Prairie Rose EMC.

another word about it. The judgement, the fear, and the avoidance are all attempts at preservation—keep the homosexuals a safe distance away.

Given no reason to hope from the pastor, and hearing only judgement from the church (which was too busy preserving to recognize the pain of a young man desperate to be loved), Joe took the only route he could see, and threw himself into the gay community. There, for the first time, he found a hint of love, acceptance, and friendship—a shadow of the real love that is to be found in the church of Christ.

All Joe really wanted is precisely what the church is supposed to offer: Love and acceptance in community. Recently, Joe told me, “If the church would only open its arms to homosexuals, you’d be surprised at how many would leave the gay community. But the church doesn’t offer us love, so we go to the only place that does.”

Instead of asking the government to do something that it can never do (transform the morality of a nation), we ought to be fertilizing. We ought to be loving (an action, not a feeling) those that the world rejects—the Toms and Sues and Joes in our lives, the single parents, the teenage mothers, the widows and orphans.

Eat with them. Help raise their kids. Take them into your homes and churches. Be an AIDS hospice. Be a rehab centre. Give up your lives for them. Be the church.

People are the same everywhere—longing to be loved, longing to be lifted out of oppression, into life and health and peace and freedom. That is what Jesus does. He is the true life-giver, the kingdom-bringer. We, the church, are to be like him. We are lifegivers in a land of death. So go find some barren soil, and start T fertilizing! M

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE CONFERENCE STAFF: Becky Buhler, Assistant Editor/Administrative Assistant; Gerald Reimer, Conference Youth Minister; Lester Olfert, Foreign Secretary; Len Barkman, General Secretary; Terry Smith, Executive Secretary/ Editor; David Thiessen, Conference Pastor; Ruth Anne Peters, Administrative Assistant; Peter and Trudy Dueck, Church Planting Coordinators; and Wannetta Fast, Accountant. (photo by Ed Peters)

4

THE MESSENGER

The

editorials

D

Messenger EDITOR Terry M. Smith

Elvis Presley and you

O YOU imitate someone?

What about imitating Elvis Presley? Many people copy the singer in looks, clothing, mannerisms, and singing style. Some people have full- or part-time jobs doing impressions. Presley impersonators crop up in movies.

Sometimes people undergo surgery to look like their role model. They endure expense, pain, and risk to look like someone they respect and wish to be more like.

But if we imitate someone, will we lose who we are? What does God think to see unique individuals manipulate their physical looks and lives so that they look like someone whom they are not?

Some pastors try to imitate the style of their favourite preacher or mentor. Perhaps that’s useful in a learning stage, and less helpful if it becomes an evasion of we are.

There is no photograph available of Jesus. Perhaps that’s good.

Why? The imitation of Christ that we are to show is to go deeper than his physical style or mannerisms (Luke 9:23; 1 Pet. 2:21). It relates to the grace Jesus opens for us, the life and mission he calls us, and the gifts that we are to use in his name.

S

Get rid of the laybel

OME CHURCHES distinguish between pastors and lay ministers. Is it really necessary to refer to ministers as lay ministers? What practical purpose does it serve?

What does lay minister mean? Does it imply inexperienced? Second-class?

Second-best?

Does it mean undereducated? One definition of layperson refers to people without special training or knowledge in a particular area. In reality, many of our selfsupporting ministers have varying and increasing levels of training—reflecting the general rise in education within the EMC. Education is commonly expected of people who are candidates for ministry within EMC, and needed to minister to increasingly educated churches.

Does lay minister mean a minister is December 3, 2004

We must beware of reducing following Christ to being part of a cookie cutter procession. I remember being told of a Bible institute (not SBC) that years ago took in women and they all came out looking the same. That sort of restriction bothers me. What happened to their Godgiven identity?

Yes, proper imitation can be good. We can imitate the apostle Paul as he imitates Christ (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1). The believers at Thessalonica became imitators of early leaders and of the churches (1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14).

Perhaps one healthy guideline is this: If we imitate Jesus Christ, we should discover more of who we are in Him. Through our discipleship we should become more aware of our individual gifts and strengths, discovering more of who we are in Him. Be careful who and how you imitate.

Don’t lose your sense of being an individual with gifts given by Christ for common good.

Perhaps at a point in their lives, some people might be surprised to hear God say, “I know who is Elvis Presley, and you are T not him. Can you tell me who you are?” M Terry M. Smith

self-supporting? Klaas Reimer and later generations of EMC ministers were selfsupporting. Being self-supporting is honoured within Scripture; in comparison, having a fully-supported pastor is, in EMC terms, a recent change. Historically, then, it is paid ministers who are unusual. Is it so important to distinguish between ministers on the basis of who gets paid and who doesn’t?

Perhaps churches are attempting to distinguish between the pastor or leading minister and other ministers. If this is necessary, it can still be done without the laybel. Ministers within our conference can simply be called that—ministers.

How, or whether, we should use the term T lay people at all is another question. M Terry M. Smith

ASSISTANT EDITOR Rebecca Buhler THE MESSENGER is the pub-lication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform, instruct and inspire: inform concerning events and activities in the denomination; instruct in godliness and victorious living; inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpublished material is not returned except by request. The views and opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors.

THE MESSENGER is published twice a month (once a month in July and August) by the Board of Church Ministries of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, Manitoba.

Subscriptions: $12 per year (Manitoba residents add 7% PST, total: $12.84). Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. In cooperation with the EMC Conference Council, members and adherents pay through their church.

THE MESSENGER is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

PAP Registration #9914 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.

The magazine and its publisher, the Board of Church Ministries, are obligated to work within the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Mailing information: All correspondence, including undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions, should be addressed to: The Messenger 440 Main Street Steinbach, Manitoba R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: emcmessenger@mts.net On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger

MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 1 – January 12 (copy due December 31)

5

Field Visit

Mexico urgently needs more workers!

Lester Olfert Foreign Secretary, Board of Missions

A

PPLE harvest was just beginning during our field visit to Mexico in August. Sweet Golden Delicious and crunchy Red Delicious apples were ready to be picked. Every morning trucks full of workers left for the many apple orchards around Cuauhtémoc City, in the northern state of Chihuahua.

Every afternoon, loaded semitrailers left the orchards to transport harvested apples to markets in southern Mexico. Cuauhtémoc area produces the majority of apples that are consumed in Mexico.

Together with board member Ruth Penner and her husband Ron, who is EMC moderator, Darlene and I spent two weeks visiting missionaries, churches, national workers and a variety of ministries. Here are glimpses of ministry in Mexico.

Spanish leaders held a workshop at Santo Tomás Retreat Centre.

which they are considering, but they feel they still need outside pastoral leadership for a couple of years. Where are the workers to fill this need?

German work As we drove into Oasis community we were impressed by There was evidence of growth in ministry with Germanirrigation pivots and the beautiful crops of cotton, peanuts, speaking people. Hillside Gospel Church is nearing completion alfalfa, watermelon and cereal grains. But what really caught of their new church facility. The kitchen and some Sunday our attention was the large church construction. The basic school classrooms need to be finished. Regular Sunday outside structure is complete and they are already using the morning attendance is around 80. During the congregational multi-purpose area for services. The sanctuary and Christian meeting one man remarked, “I feel like I have come home. education area still needs a lot of work. They anticipate I feel welcome and accepted.” During the past year he had needing another $88,000 to complete the building. The renewed his commitment to God and is finding victory over former church building was remodelled to accommodate the alcoholism and mending family relationships. growing school.

In light of Peter and Anne Wiebe’s retirement in April 2005, There was also evidence of growth in Camp 67 church. An the congregation expressed concerned about future pastoral older couple, long-time adherents and faithful supporters of the leadership. I challenged them to elect their own ministers, church, recently became members. They commented that this was a special occasion for them; they now realized that they should have taken this step long ago.

The congregation was appreciative of Peter and Kathy Friesen’s ministry over the past eleven years. But they were concerned about future pastoral leadership. Although local people are taking greater responsibility in ministry, they still feel the need for someone to come serve as pastor.

Where are the workers?

We also saw evidence of God is at work in wider German Mennonite circles. Steinreich Bible School is planning to expand their facilities to accommodate a growing student body. They expect about 150 students for the next school year. Plans are underway to build a two-story men’s dormitory.

Pray for board members, teachers and staff as they train these students for life and ministry.

A ray of hope is shining for German Mennonite Part of a group at a congregational meeting of Hillside Gospel Church. men struggling with addictions. Centro de

6

THE MESSENGER

Rehabilitación Luz en mí Camino (Light on my Way Rehabilitation Centre) is a ministry started by Old Colony Administrators and German Mennonite businessmen in partnership with MCC to help men overcome their addictions and destructive lifestyle.

John Janzen, a retired schoolteacher from Hanover division, told of men being transformed. He said one man testified, “I lost my job, my family and health because of the addiction to alcohol, but since I’ve come to Centro de Luz, God has changed my life. It is not easy, but every day is better than the previous one. After I leave here, there will be many struggles, but for the first time in my life, I know that I can trust God to help me through it.”

Spanish ministry The two-day workshop with pastors and leaders of Spanish-speaking churches was encouraging. I shared principles of leadership from the apostle Paul’s address to the Ephesian elders as recorded in Acts 20. There were times of prayer and discussions on the challenges of ministry. Most of the 13 congregations were represented in the group of 40 attendees.

A number of leaders requested prayer for strength and wisdom in dealing with difficulties they were facing: Criticism, lack of commitment and cooperation, and a shortage of time for ministry because of full-time jobs. There is an urgent need for more workers in Spanish ministry. Cathy Thiessen retires in the Arnoldo González is president of the spring of 2005. Who will Evangelical Missionary Conference of go to fill in the gap?

Mexico.

There was evidence of God at work. The leaders decided to have a two-day meeting to evaluate and assess their needs and then set goals for their Conference.

Oscar and Guadalupe of the OSM congregation were grateful for the encouragement they received by meeting with other leaders, and expressed a desire to becoming more faithful in serving God. A recent e-mail from a pastor reported, “Recently God is showing us great things. I believe that He has great things for us, because his grace and love are great. God has been working things out in our congregation…He is healing our land.”

Ebenezer Church of Cuauhtémoc strengthened their ministry team this past year by electing four deacons.

This has enhanced their ministry effectiveness. Recently the congregation decided to reach out to a new housing development in Cuauhtémoc. May God grant that the seed that is sown will fall on fruitful ground!

Who will go?

The rains with which God blessed Mexico this year beautified the landscape all around. Most of the field had the promise of a good harvest. Harvest is anticipated with great expectation and rejoicing.

December 3, 2004

The ministry team of the Ebenezer Church, Cuauhtémoc.

In southern Manitoba the weather conditions have hindered harvest operations. There was concern and frustration over the inability to bring in the harvest. Some farmers are facing great difficulty because of the financial losses.

What about the spiritual harvest? Are we equally concerned about the people that are perishing without Jesus and without hope? Jeremiah echoes the despair of such people, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20). Where are the harvesters for the T whitened fields? M Lester Olfert is EMC Foreign Secretary, responsible for oversight of mission efforts in Mexico, Paraguay, and Nicaragua.

Mexico has about 120 million people and 31 provinces. With one exception, EMC mission efforts have been confined to the one northern province of Chihuahua. In 1969, the EMC had a high of 18 workers in Mexico; currently we have four in Spanish work, five in German work, and two at the El Paso guesthouse.

7

letters

‘All the red lights went on’ Thank you for touching on the issue of the “lostness” of the heathen [Are the heathen still heathen and are they still lost? Terrance L. Tiessen, Nov. 3, 2004]. Actually a better term than “heathen” is the biblical term used in Acts 26:18, when Jesus sends Paul “to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Here Jesus confirms how complete the Fall of man is, and how necessary is a personal faith in Jesus for salvation.

In the article that you published, I find some disturbing statements that cannot remain unchallenged. I will comment on a few of these: “God’s saving work is not restricted to the confines of the Christian church.”

There is indeed a lot of general revelation that comes to us in many ways, but “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12) so Jesus commands, “Go into all the word and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who

believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16).

Regarding those who have not heard, the article states that certain Scripture texts “are silent about people who do not hear about Jesus.…” One of those texts mentioned, but not quoted is Romans 2:12 which states, “all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law” (emphasis mine), but the article does include the quote, “though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts.”

In other words, everyone will be judged by what they do know, and Romans 3 makes it absolutely clear that nobody ever measured up to God’s standard. That is why the sacrificial system was established from the very beginning for salvation to those who looked forward to “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When the “true light that enlightens every man” (John 1:9) came into the world, “all who received him,

Thanks for Celebration!

I have just read through the joint publication called Celebration! [Oct. 20, 2004]. You folks did an excellent job. It has good variety and interesting articles. I am sure that this type of venture takes a lot of time but I also feel that it is a great resource to foster unity and cooperation among your three conferences.

I also appreciate the effort you folks have put in to show the partnerships that your conferences have with the related agencies. I have appreciated the excellent relationships that I have had with the leaders of all three conferences and the support they have shown for MFC and our work.

Personally, my life has been enriched by the many conversations (business, faith, and personal) that I have had with various people at the conferences.

8

As I enter the last month of my tenure with MFC, it is these types of initiatives that I will miss participating in. Obviously, I will also miss the relationships that I have enjoyed among the people and especially at the golf tournaments.

You folks are doing a really good job of keeping the people of your constituencies informed and resourced. May God continue to grant you appropriate words to write and wisdom and stamina to keep the publications going. May your efforts be blessed and may God be glorified through your work.

Robert Veitch General Manager Mennonite Foundation of Canada

who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:12).

All the red lights went on when I read statements like some used in this article. “…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.” God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts.” God’s thoughts are, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14–15, emphasis mine).

These verses clearly refute another statement in the article, “…no New Testament writer ever cited the idea that the unevangelized cannot be saved as a motivation to evangelism.” The Bible says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”

(Romans 10:15). What a powerful motivation to evangelism it is to one day stand before him whose feet were pierced and have him say that my feet are beautiful.

There was a time when I chose to become a career missionary and church planter because I believe that everyone is absolutely lost until they “repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Paul says it this way, “You who were once slaves to sin…have become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17– 18).

I believe that Satan will “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10) everyone under his authority. I also believe that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4). That is why I consider being a “sent one” the greatest privilege in all the world. Who will join me?

David Schmidt Rosenort, Man.

THE MESSENGER

Christmas 2004 Dear Friend of SBC, Living out the Spirit of Christmas happens in many ways throughout the Christmas season. We listen to Christmas music, sing carols and attend Christmas programs. We decorate trees, spend time with family and give gifts to each other. Christmas seems to bring out the best of thoughtfulness and generosity in most people.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s make an effort to remember the reason for this celebration. Isaiah the prophet wrote “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Remembering that our Savior was born, in humble circumstance, should help us keep perspective in the midst of the hype of the Christmas season.

What does this mean in practical terms? Buy a gift for someone in need. Invite someone who is alone over for dinner. Listen to the words of familiar Christmas hymns. Be grateful. Remember the Father giving up His perfect Son. As you give gifts this Christmas, I invite you to put SBC on your Christmas list. Your gifts make it possible for us to teach and disciple students to advance the work of God in this world. Our students are making a difference in their churches, workplaces and communities. It’s only with your help that we can continue to train students to live dynamic lives for God. P.S. Please clip and fill in the form below to send with your gift.

Make cheques payable to Steinbach Bible College. Thank you.

Abe Bergen SBC President

Yes, I want to put SBC on my Christmas list.

Here is my gift of:

 $50

I would like to pay by: Credit Card #

 $100

 $250

 $500

 Cheque

 Visa

 Master Card

exp.

Signature



 $_______

Name 50 PTH 12 N Steinbach, MB R5G 1T4

Address City  This is a new address

Province

Postal Code

A 2004 tax receipt will be issued for all gifts postmarked by December 31, 2004.

All gifts are gratefully accepted.

014428

with our churches

Members and fundraisers Tilbury, Ont.: We were excited to have nine members join our church on June 13. Five were baptized and two couples transferred their membership. What a joy it was to see them make a public commitment to Christ and the church with a confession of faith.

And the fact that we, the church, had gotten to know these individuals and became friends with them made the whole day more exciting. We look forward to building closer relationships with these individuals as they continue to serve God. Hopefully we as a church will do our best to help our new members grow and mature in their walk with God—just as they look for opportunities to help build our church.

On August 14 we not only had our annual fishing derby, but a pig roast as

well; you didn’t have to be a fisher to enjoy the day. Six prizes were given out—three to the senior division (15 years old and up) and three to the junior division (14 years and younger). The prize categories were biggest, most, and smallest fish caught. Pastor Jake Enns’ son Tommy had the most success with his fishing rod. Tommy won all the prizes for the junior division, and he had the most fish caught out of all of the fishers.

VBS workers: Mary Peters, Tina Klassen, Crystal Peters, Desi Root, Our VBS this year had more Henry Neudorf. than 30 children. The theme Tilbury also held many successful was the Olympic Games. In my opinion, fundraisers in the past few months. With it was our best VBS to date. all the bigger fundraisers, there were those that didn’t reach our expectations.

When fundraisers don’t generate a lot of interest or receive many donations, we often consider them failures. Anna Enns, however, reminded us that these are not so much failed projects as stepping stones. From every fundraiser we do learn some things that could be done differently to improve next time. The people have fun putting them together, regardless of the outcome.

The donations from our fundraisers go to various needs: Youth, help centre, building fund, and more. Please continue On June 13 these people were received into membership by baptism or transfer: (back) Abe Fehr, John to pray for us especially in our church Neufeld, Peter Hamm, John Heide, Abe Hamm; (front) Annie Fehr, Helen Neufeld, Nancy Wall, Mary Heide. leadership and our search for a church Pastor Jake Enns stands with them. building.

Cornelius Banman

Dedication at Prairie Grove

Holiday Travel presents

Mennonite Heritage Ukraine and

Historical Russia Tour

18 days in Kiev, Zaporozhye, Moscow and St. Petersburg Departure Date: May 23, 2005 For tour details contact Tour Host: Len Loeppky

Prairie Grove Fellowship Chapel in Lorette had a child dedication service on October 3: Chris and Shannon Ireland with Ceanna, Steve and Brenda Kilmury with Aaron and Shania, Jason and Gaylene Dueck with Evan, Tim and Matilda Field with Benjamin, and Ryan and Marissa Penner with Avery.

Jolyn Braun

10

14 Springwod Bay Steinbach, MB R5G 2E8 204-326-2613 E-mail: aloeppky@mts.net or Holiday Travel Clearspring Centre Unit 23,178 PTH 12N Box 2799 Steinbach, MB R5G 1T7

THE MESSENGER

Summer and fall—a review of events Braeside (Winnipeg, Man.): Summer has come and gone and the activities of those sunny days are but memories. The Sunday school picnic was held at a local park. VBS this year was held during the evening, enabling more people who work during the day to be involved.

Our summer sermon series centred on Old Testament characters. Although they weren’t all heroes—think about Tamar and Amnon, for example—each person’s lifestyle and commitment (or lack of it) taught a lesson in terms of consequences of their behaviour.

In late August, Braeside invited the neighbourhood to its Community Fiesta and Barbecue. A colourful Colombian dance team drew attention while the kids jumped away the afternoon in an air-filled bouncer and tried their skills at smashing open a candy-filled piñata. S unny, calm weather, good food and a music team helped swell the crowd. In September

our church returned to a fuller schedule—our bulletin quickly grew in size from two pages to its normal three pages.

Al Dueck

Also on September 26, German and Ana Mateus with daughter Angelica and Julieth, together with Fernando Quintero, were baptized upon confession of their faith. Both families came to Canada from Colombia.

September 26 was a busy and exciting day. Miguel and Violeta Tochez transferred their membership to Braeside from a Mennonite church in Colombia.

Education and leadership shifts seniors in our church. We will miss your special leadership abilities!

At the same service, ordination took place for our newly-elected minister, Gary Martens. We wish God’s richest blessings on Gary and Pat in this new leadership position. We were also happy to welcome two new couples to the deacon leadership team—Bob and Iris Bartel, and Gus and Hilde LaBelle. May the Lord bless you as you serve in this capacity! A fellowship lunch took place after the worship service, and in the evening we celebrated communion and footwashing.

All who attended Steve Bell in Concert on October 1 were specially blessed and inspired by Steve’s wonderful gift of music. The following day he shared more of his talents by presenting a worship seminar.

As a church family, we mourn the tragic death on October 18 of one of our members, Ken Loewen.

We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Ang; daughters Elizabeth, Alyssa and Jaime; and also to his parents Gladwin and New deacon couples at Kleefeld: Gus and Hilde LaBelle, and Gary Martens, with wife Pat, was ordained as a minister on Tina Loewen, and sister Iris September 19. At that same service, thanks were given to Bartel and family.

Iris and Bob Bartel.

Louella Friesen Wendy and Ron Dueck for serving as a ministry couple.

Kleefeld, Man.: With school back in session and the end of our special summer series worship services, our regular programs started again with enthusiasm.

This was especially evident on September 12 as we celebrated Christian Education Sunday. Children and adults were eager to start in their new classes in Sunday school, where Patti Unger will serve as superintendent.

Jan Martens reported on the upcoming plans for Girls Club, and a special celebration was held in recognition of 30 years of Christian Service Brigade in Kleefeld.

Bruce Peters, the capable coordinator of CSB for many of those years, as well as other leaders and boys who have been in

December 3, 2004

Brigade, presented an interesting program of testimonies, reminiscences and slides.

Special thanks to all the men who have given so generously of themselves to keep this program a success in our church for 30 years!

The September 19 worship service focused on leadership as we said farewell to Ron and Wendy Dueck, who have moved to Winnipeg and resigned their ministerial position. In addition to his pulpit duties, Ron served as director of MCC Canada and kept the church informed about the needs of the less fortunate around the world and what MCC, in particular, is doing to address those needs. In the last few years Ron and Wendy’s ministry also focused on

11

stewardship today Edwin Friesen

For Couples Only

A

CCORDING to an old adage, opposites attract, and that still appears to be true today.

Talkers are attracted to good listeners, the cautious marry risk takers, spendthrifts marry savers, and impulsive people often marry those who patiently deliberate each decision. In theory at least, the strengths and weaknesses of each are counter balanced in the other making for well-balanced couples. Each one has areas of strength and, if allowed, can use them to the advantage of both. So far, so good.

In real life things are often quite different. The very things that first attracted a couple to each other often become sources of irritation. The listener wants the bubbly talker to listen, the talker wants the listener to speak more, and the impulsive person finds the deliberate decision maker too slow and restrictive.

That same attraction and corresponding irritation can be there regarding the management of money. Take an impulsive spender who can’t walk by a flashing blue light bargain bin without pulling out the plastic. He knows he needs help with managing money.

He knows his wife is a lot better at allocating spending, and yet when the spouse tugs at his arm to guide him away, he is resentful and feels his maturity questioned. And when they get into the car, were it not for the confining space of new small cars, they would sit a lot further apart.

Given that marriage partners are often quite different in their approaches to managing money, what can you do when you have married a “money opposite”? The Old Testament prophet Amos asks the rhetorical question: “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3). The implied answer is no and that would certainly apply to money management in marriage as many couples have discovered to their bitter disappointment. But even couples who have significantly different money personalities may still share common values and goals.

To get headed in the same direction, couples should work towards agreement on some of the basics. For example: commit to regular first-fruits giving, place five to 10 percent of income into long-term savings/RRSP, pay off the full credit card balance each month, make no major money decisions without full discussion and approval of both spouses, decide on who pays the bills, and agree on loan limits and repayment schedules.

At the same time, give each other some room for personal preferences. One spouse may choose to buy

12

better quality clothes believing that to be the best value while the other spouse may prefer to shop for no name brand rack specials. Some couples agree to give each other some monthly discretionary spending money to have at least some measure of financial independence.

Sometimes the money issues are exacerbated by gender stereotypes: “My Dad always kept track of the money so why can’t you?” or “My mom was frugal so how come you can’t control your spending?” Based on my observations over the years, in about half of the marriages, women are better at handling the money and in the other half it is the men. Let the person who has the skills and the discipline take the lead.

When opposites attract, there is still hope for them to walk arm in arm into the sunset if they can agree on T the direction. M For stewardship education and services, contact your nearest Mennonite Foundation of Canada office.

Abbotsford – Dave Kroeker, 1-888-212-8608; Niagara – Darren Pries-Klassen, 1-888-212-8731, Kitchener – Mike Strathdee, 1-888-212-7759, Winnipeg – Edwin Friesen, 1800-772-3257. www.mennofoundation.ca

When opposites attract, there is still hope for them to walk arm in arm into the sunset if they can agree on the direction.

THE MESSENGER

a woman s journey of faith Betty Koop

Christmas Eve with Joseph and Mary

T

HE night sky spread out a black velvet backdrop for myriads of beautiful stars twinkling and winking at us.

As we drove through the crunchy snow to spend Christmas Eve with Joseph and Mary, we were thankful for the warmth of the car heater protecting us from the icy weather. Winter nights are long in Alberta’s far north country, but the lovely starlight and the dancing Northern Lights are a bit of a consolation.

I couldn’t help but wonder how the original Joseph and Mary had felt that first Christmas Eve as they traveled to Bethlehem. Although it probably wasn’t minus 20 in the Judean Hills, the temperatures may well have been close to freezing, especially after the sun set. And there probably was no heater on their donkey, if in fact they had a donkey, although Joseph may have gotten warm from the brisk walk.

We arrived at Joseph and Mary’s home, and were greeted with great warmth and friendliness. There was lots of room in this inn, or rather this home. Even the glowing Christmas tree in the corner seemed to be blinking a welcome! Even though they had close family members over to share Christmas, no one gave the slightest sign that we might be intruding on their family celebrations. Rather, they seemed glad to include us and made us feel like we belonged.

Mary and Joseph back in Bethlehem were probably made to feel very much like they didn’t belong. The Bible says “there was no room for them in the inn.” We usually assume they ended up in some sort of animal shelter because the baby Jesus was laid in a manger at birth. Is it possible that they were outside, in a corral where travelers’ animals were kept? That would also have had a feeding trough.

It seems, at any rate, that there was no comfortable place for parents and baby at that crucial time. How alone Mary must have felt going through the birth experience for the first time with maybe only her husband to attend to her needs!

December 3, 2004

Our evening with Joseph and Mary’s family was lots of fun. I remember playing a game of Pictionary, where my non-existent drawing ability left much to be desired, but it certainly added to the hilarity! We enjoyed visiting with our good friends. The family that had come to spend Christmas with them turned out to have a connection with my relatives back in Manitoba, and so the reminiscing began.

Mary’s fame as an expert baker made delicious food an enjoyable part of the evening. Seeing the children set big bowls and plates on the table before bedtime, in hopes that they would be mysteriously filled over night, brought back memories of my childhood Christmases.

But probably the highlight of the evening came when we gathered around the piano and guitars, played by father and sons, and sang our hearts out. How wonderful to sing of the birth of our Saviour! This rejoicing united us with a multitude of believers around the world. Glorious!

Back on the Judean Hills, I’m sure the angel choir outshone us by far, as they poured out their joy at the birth of Jesus. I wonder if Mary and Joseph heard echoes of that heavenly music where they were crouched in the straw?

Were they rejoicing in spite of uncomfortable conditions?

Did they sing along, or was Mary just too exhausted from her labour?

Did a compassionate person, maybe the innkeeper’s wife, bring them some hot soup and bread that first Christmas Eve? We don’t know the answers to these questions, but we do know that the greatest gift of all time arrived that night.

Oswald Chambers says, “Beware of posing as a profound person; God became a baby.” Philippians 2 speaks of Jesus’ attitude of true humility and obedience: “even to death on a cross!” It also says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

As we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, may we also meditate on and seek to follow what He taught both by word and example as he lived here on earth. Then we will T have a blessed, joyful Christmas! M

13

by the way Dave K. Schellenberg

Tell your stories to the next generation Listen, my people, to my teaching, and pay attention to what I say. I am going to use wise sayings and explain mysteries from the past.

Things we have heard and known, things that our fathers told us. We will not keep them from our children; we will tell the next generation about the LORD’S power and his great deeds and the wonderful things he has done (Psalm 78:1–4 TEV).

A

1990. One of my brothers had written his memoirs some years before and so I started putting something on paper. When it was done it came to around 57 typed pages.

As technology advanced, I attempted something far more ambitious, called Stories from my Life—including pictures, older and newer, from events in my life. Not that my life was so spectacular, but for the family there were things they didn’t know and places they lived where I could jog their memory.

I need to thank a granddaughter, Lisa Riediger, for making me aware of Microsoft Publisher, a program that makes desktop publishing fairly simple. We first got a free monthly sample. After I was hooked, I purchased it and have not been sorry. If you are debating doing something like this, get the free sample first (which can be used for some 30 days before it runs out) and see how you like it.

If you go ahead with it, put your finished book on a CD and go to a place like Office Depot, who will print it for you at a nominal price.

Another book I attempted I called My Heritage, and it was a little more ambitious, with text and pictures. My purpose was to leave my descendants a brief overview of my Anabaptist roots, as well as my ancestors back to my great grandparents. I felt strongly that something like this was needed for the current generation, including children, nephews and nieces. This already required some 50 books, but I thought it was money well spent.

And so if you, like me, have neglected to tell your story to your children, there is still time. With the advent of the computer, it becomes fairly simple. Feel T free to contact me for information. M

S I look back on the many years the Lord has given me there are, of course, things I would do differently today.

For instance, we were not a singing family as some families, parents and children are. Yes, we sang, as I remember, at family devotions, but that was just a part of the devotions. I cannot recall that we ever sang as a family in my parental home. However, if I’m correct, when my uncles and aunts came over there was singing among them, which did not include us boys.

To my regret, I do not remember telling stories of my life when our children were growing up at home— not that I lacked material. Nor can I recall my parents as storytellers of what happened to them when they were growing up.

However, now that my parents are gone, I find that especially my mother put things in writing. In later life she would reminisce or recall in writing things of her past life, even her childhood. Among their possessions I find that Dad wrote diaries and letters that tell stories of his life. These are priceless.

In the areas mentioned above, we take far too much for granted. Even the Bible encourages us to leave this legacy with our descendants.

However, when it comes to storytelling I have later in life done some catch-up. I wrote memoirs, recounting events of my life. I encourage all parents to do the same for ������������ their children. ���������������� You might say that you are not a writer, that you could never do that. Let me say, for your encouragement, make it as simple as you please. Just put your thoughts on paper. Start where you think you should begin and proceed. You will be amazed at the product. Or get a tape recorder and speak on it. You could also dictate and let another write it. Whatever you do or �������������������������������������������������� produce will be better than nothing. ����������������������������� I made a start on my memoirs about 14

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 204-3785623 or e-mail 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 overflow 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.

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.

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 Speaker: Dave Reimer of Winnipeg, Man. 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

December 3, 2004

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: 204-5828779. E-mail: icya@mts.net. Website: www. innercityyouthalive.org.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 204-2616381 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.

Gospel Mission Church (EMMC) seeks a full-time senior pastor to serve a growing congregation of about 170 in the city of Winkler, Man. Primary responsibilities are preaching, teaching, training, and developing congregational leaders to reach out and disciple others. This congregation has a large percentage of younger families, active youth, Sunday school, home Bible studies and ladies ministries. Contact Jake Giesbrecht, Gospel Mission Church, RR1 Box 565 Grp 39, Winkler, MB R6W 4A9. Call 204-325-5414 or e-mail jgiesbrecht@gvsd.mb.ca.

EMC Board of Missions seeks a pastor for Hillside Gospel Church in Chihuahua, Mexico for spring 2005. Attendance averages 80 on Sunday mornings. The applicant should be conversant in Low German and have gifts to help the congregation to develop local leadership and organizationally. A two- to three-year commitment is preferred, but a shorter term can be arranged. Contact Lester Olfert, Foreign Secretary, EMC Board of Missions, phone: 204-326-6401, fax: 204-326-1613, e-mail: lolfert@mts.net.

Altona EMMC, a congregation of 650 people, seeks a full-time pastor of youth and education. This individual is responsible to set direction and vision for the youth programs, and to serve in education.

Submit resume and applications or questions to Karl Dreger, Altona EMMC, Box 907, Altona, MB R0G 0B0; e-mail: karldreger@hotmail.com; phone: 204-3248223.

15

Tears to joy

My Christmas Journey

A

S A child, Christmas was exciting. It meant Sunday school programs where we all got treat bags, school Christmas programs, plays, decorations, new shoes and a dress—and presents, of course. I would receive a gift from my schoolteacher, my parents, and our cousin Christmas box at Grandma Eidse’s.

From Grandma Eidse we would get some knickknack, a pretty hanky and a candy bag. From Grandpa and Grandma Kroeker we received a special hanky and the traditional candy bag with Crackerjack that had a surprise gift at the bottom of the box. We were always thrilled with their gifts.

At age 13 I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour. Suddenly Christmas was no longer exciting.

All the commercial frenzy, the list of gifts desired, and the list of gifts required, the tinsel and glitter, the endless baking and shopping seemed so shallow, so vain and meaningless. In fact, I’d go to programs, come home to my bedroom in the basement, and cry and cry. I did that for many years.

I felt ashamed and embarrassed about my grief. I made sure my parents would not find out about my tears. I knew Christmas was supposed to be a happy time, but it seemed I always missed it. Why re-read the story we all knew? What was the point? History is history. I didn’t get it. I was convinced that there was something very wrong within my heart that the joy of the season always eluded me.

Not only that, but on rare occasions I got to go to Winnipeg to shop. There, in front of a Hudson’s Bay store, was a bunch of people lustily singing Christmas carols. I think this was spearheaded by the Salvation Army. But at that time I was not very informed, and I thought here is a group of unbelievers singing heartily and in our church service the songleader announced, “Let’s song Joy to the Lord as though we mean it.” That really made me angry, confused and distressed at the irony of it all. Were the people on the streets of Winnipeg happier than those in church?

Then, when I was 17 tragedy struck our family. My baby sister Clarice, six months old, died at 10:50 a.m. on Christmas morning of spinal meningitis. Our good neighbours, Ben and Helen L. Kroeker, came over.

PAGE 16

This good news, freedom, recovery and release in our hearts is for daily living.

Mrs. Kroeker and I washed dishes together. At one point I commented to her, “It sure doesn’t feel like Christmas!” She responded, “If it weren’t for Christmas, we would have no hope of seeing Clarice in heaven.” Then we continued our work. There it was!

God had used that statement like an arrow of light in my dark, confused heart. Finally, I could go on my knees and thank God for Christmas!

Shortly thereafter, one of our ministers had a message on the two levels of Christmas, a child’s level and an adult’s level. My years of weeping were over. I now knew the adult meaning of Christmas. I had the living hope of heaven in my heart because of Jesus’ birth and resurrection.

To this day Christmas is a joyous celebration for me. In 1980 my sister Laura, age 20, passed away unexpectedly in the hospital on December 26, at about 2 a.m., of viral pneumonia. Even this could not rob me of the true joy of Christmas. If anything, it reaffirmed it.

I think I’ve come close to celebrating and preparing for Christmas all year round. Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18).

This good news, freedom, recovery, and release in our hearts is for daily living.

Ever since God flooded by heart with His joy and peace, I have always celebrated Christmas with joy. It has also freed me to enjoy the children’s level of the season. Jesus keeps surprising me with something new and special every year. He has promised to “restore the years that the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25).

Indeed, He is doing that over and over again every year.

Christmas has become a fountain T of joy. M Irene Kroeker Irene Kroeker is a member of Rosenort (Man.) EMC.

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