Messenger The
EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 44 NUMBER 9 MAY 3, 2006
World Events,
Insults
Honour
and
The
Messenger
editorials
‘Good expositions on the gospel’
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“ EDITOR Terry M. Smith ASSISTANT EDITOR Rebecca Buhler THE MESSENGER is the publication 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 Unpublished material is not returned except by request.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 or emcterry@mts.net On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger
MESSENGER SCHEDULE: No. 11 – June 7 (copy due May 26)
herefore they have many great and costly books of man’s law, and study them much, but few curates have the Bible and expositions of the gospel, they study them but little, and do them less. “But would to God that every parish church in this land had a good Bible and good expositions on the gospel, and that the priests studied them well, and taught the gospel and God’s commands to the people! Then should good life prevail, and rest, and peace, and charity; sin and falsehood should be put back—God bring this end to his people!” So wrote John Wycliffe (1324–1389), a priest in England and a pre-King James translator of Scripture into English. Wycliffe’s hope was that every church would have a copy of the Scriptures to be studied by leaders and taught. Christians in Canada swim in Bibles and commentaries. How are we at teaching Scripture?
Here’s what I wonder about in our EM churches: • Are some of our churches geared more for devotional study than deeper doctrinal study? • Do we over-emphasize individual (personal and congregational) interpretation without accountability to the community? • How prepared are we to make decisions together? In our ministerial gatherings in recent years we’ve discussed divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, women and church leadership, baptism and CatholicMennonite dialogue. Few collective decisions have been made. Where is the sense that collectively “it seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15)? • In our national ministerial examination, is enough emphasis being placed on testing for clear doctrine? The Church can ask questions and work toward answers. John Wycliffe knew that, and he lived long before the Radical T Reformation. M Terry M. Smith
Anti-conversion laws should cause us serious concern
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hristians should be concerned about anti-conversion laws. Recently Algeria and India’s state of Rajasthan passed anticonversion laws. Christians, a minority in both countries, are concerned about the law’s effect on them. Recently a man in Afghanistan faced a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity; he was released, but the “anti-apostasy” law remains. Christians dare not throw stones at other faiths that are strongly opposed to conversions. Sadly, our own history includes examples of forced conversions and people punished for not being Christians. However, within the Protestant Reformation there were voices for religious toleration in a violent time. At that time, religious toleration meant that people who held questionable religious views should not be killed for their faith. Heinrich Bullinger, the Swiss Reformer,
wrote in 1561, “One cannot and should not use force to compel anyone to accept the faith, for faith is a free gift of God…It is wrong to compel anyone by force or coercion to embrace the faith, or to put to death anyone for the sake of his erring faith.” “So Paul instructs a church to exclude a heretic (Titus 3:10), not to torture, maltreat, or kill him…The true church of Christ has the characteristic that it suffers or endures persecution, but does not inflict persecution upon anyone” (Quoted in Walter Klaassen, Anabaptism in Outline, Herald Press, 1981, pp. 300-301). We wish Bullinger’s words would have been practiced earlier in the 16th century—sparing many Protestant martyrs (Anabaptists among them). Partly because of our own flawed Christian history, it’s proper to be opposed T to anti-conversion laws today. M Terry M. Smith THE MESSENGER
letters
coming events
Certainly encouraging It was certainly encouraging to read Michael Zwaagstra’s piece on the Emerging Church. His arguments were well thought through and founded squarely on objective propositional truth—the very concept that postmodernists bristle at, yet cannot escape from if they desire to enter into debate on the philosophical legitimacy of their contentions. To argue against the existence or legitimacy of an over-arching universal truth, one must invoke the very principle it seeks to destroy; it causes the postmodernists to fall on their own sword, something that Michael Foucault (a postmodernist philosopher Zwaagstra mentions) resigned himself to at the end of his tragic life.
come together under one spiritual reality. For this not to be based on objective universal truth is to put into doubt the reality of one’s deliverance from sin and damnation, which are based on God’s justice and judgment—philosophical realities which provide the basis for truth itself. Jesus said that “if anyone would come after me he must take up the cross and follow me.” He did not make this declaration to appeal to people, but rather to offer them the only way to freedom and deliverance. This was not a cheap culturally-bound suggestion. There was no relativistic equivocation. And then, as if some of his followers did not quite get it, he stated, “If anyone does not give up everything he has he cannot be my disciple.” Maybe one of the things we need to give up is our ego-motivated need to “repaint” the cross, its message, and our Lord Jesus who died on it. Dale Loewen Blumenort, Man.
Sets up a straw man
At times one despairs at the church’s tenacious propensity to squirm away from the unvarnished, offensive message of the cross, opting for something more culturally appealing, and socially acceptable, emasculating it of its power. Just like the Israelites’ frequent forgetfulness of God’s power demonstrated in Egypt before Pharaoh and subsequent miraculous deliverance, we succumb to the intense pressure of appearing “wise” in society’s eyes and “forget” the miraculous deliverance we experienced at the cross. We forget the prophesied fact that this message would appear to be foolish in the world’s eyes (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). Although Maclaren, Sweet et al, are undoubtedly sincere in their intent to reach as many as possible and to be “all things to all people,” the power and deliverance that they are seeking for many will only come when the spiritual experience of the cross (accepting by faith the penal substitution and one’s co-crucifixion with Jesus) and the historical event of the cross
May 3, 2006
The article Evaluating the Emerging Church [April 5] does a wonderful job of setting up an imaginary straw man and then knocking it down again with a self-satisfied air of superiority. Many of those who are part of the emergent movement are those who have left the Evangelical church out of frustration at its ineffectiveness in moving beyond intellectual assent to a set of “right beliefs” to the transformed character required of faithful discipleship. The issue is not that the church must become postmodern but that our society already has. In our culture, the reality of your faith is found in its action, not in what you say you believe (James 2:24). As ambassadors of reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:20) we are unfaithful when we do not find ways to translate (not dilute) the Good News into a language they will understand. The article’s expressed concern with an eroded view of the authority and inspiration of scripture is to clearly misrepresent these writers. Brian McLaren and other emergent leaders have come together to write an open response to reactionary articles such as this one which do not accurately portray their positions. Go to www.theooze.com for this article.
May 9 Conflict: A Gift to the Church Workshop for church leaders Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Man. 204-953-3865 May 14–15 Dialogue with the Emerging Church Providence Seminary Christian Leaders Day Speaker: Dr. Daniel I. Block 800-668-7768 or 204-433-7488 www.prov.ca May 29–31 Approaching Another Culture Camp Moose Lake Plus 55 Retreat Sprague, Man. Speakers: Henry and Elna Neufeld 204-895-2267 June 2–3 Wild at Heart: Live in Canada Centre Street Church Calgary, Alta. www.wildatheartcanada.com June 5–7 Rooted in the Centre, Living on the Edge Camp Koinonia Plus 55 Retreat Boissevain, Man. Speaker: Pam Driedger 204-895-2267 June 10–11 Bike the Interlake MCC Canada Birds Hill to Hecla Island, Man. 204-261-6381 or pmf@mennonitecc.ca www.mcc.org/bike June 11 Eden Foundation golf tournament Winkler Golf Course Winkler, Man. 204-325-5355 or 866-895-2919 or edenfdn@valleycable.com June 13 EMC Golf Classic Steinbach Fly-In Golf Course Steinbach, Man. 204-255-8062 June 16–17 MCC Relief Sale Didsbury Sportsplex Didsbury, Alta. 403-932-3848 or hiltonmierau@hotmail.com June 16–17 MCC Relief Sale Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Man. 204-222-0468 or gpbt@mts.net www.mccwpgsale.com July 7–9 EMC Annual Convention Speaker: Ron Sider Winnipeg, Man. 204-326-6401
letters continued page 7
Stopping the cycle
World Events,
Honour
T Followers of the Prophet of Islam find their honour and dignity in the leader’s honour or in Islam’s honour. A Muslim’s sense of worth, belonging and value is not in himself, but in Islam and the Muslim community.
4
and
Insults Dr. Arley Loewen
his February in Peshawer, Pakistan, the largest demonstration in local history took place. Seventy thousand people took to the streets, burning buses, ransacking banks, looting telephone shops (apparently owned by a Norwegian company). A few days later in Nigeria as many as 16 people were killed in violence as hundreds expressed their anger. Anger was almost universal in Muslim lands: Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan—even in London, England. Many in the West have asked, why this huge uproar because of a few Danish cartoons? Is this simply a further confirmation of Samuel Huntington’s famous book The Clash of Civilizations? Then just a few weeks ago, news of an Afghan citizen’s conversion to Christianity splashed across the world. Locally, the average man in Afghanistan called for Abdul Rahman’s execution. “He must be hanged till dead!” said an Islamic cleric. Rahman’s neighbor said, “We cannot allow this insult on our nation and our religion.”
THE MESSENGER
Look at this issue from another perspective. Through the cartoons the Prophet of Islam was insulted, which insulted the entire Muslim world. Someone leaving the Muslim faith is seen as a terrible disgrace to the faith. Most cultures of the Middle East, Central and South Asia and Orient are based on seeking honour and reputation. Indeed, medieval Europe with its knights and warriors was much the same. This world-view is centered on gaining and maintaining a “good name” in public. Followers of the Prophet of Islam find their honour and dignity in the leader’s honour or in Islam’s honour. A Muslim’s sense of worth, belonging and value is not in himself, but in Islam and the Muslim community. It doesn’t matter whether the person is a practicing Muslim. The issue is: Who am I? I am a Muslim and Muhammad is my Prophet. That is the only way I see myself. When the leader is insulted, the follower is insulted. A criticism of the leader or religion is an attack on my personal psychic as a Muslim. Not only is Islam being raped, the most sacred part of my make-up is violated and defiled. Islam’s good name is soiled. When honour is gone, it is as if life were gone. The only way to regain my honour (life) is to insult the other side so their honour (life) is destroyed. It’s easy to blame the Middle East for what appears to be, from our perspective, an irrational reaction. Some question how can one regain honour through dishonorable deeds? But as we
Rome. This became known as Christendom, where the Christian faith and its honour were linked to territory and political rule. Christians had to defend Christendom and fought ruthlessly against the Muslim East to maintain the “honour of Christ” and, indeed, their own survival. During the 11th century, with the cross on their shields and swords in their hands, Christian soldiers marched toward the East. The Holy Land had been raped by Muslim marauders. This shame had to be removed. The Crusades are only one of many examples of how Christendom fought for the “glory of Christ.” In the 16th century European states urged their Christian men to slaughter Turks threatening from the East. At risk of their lives, early Anabaptists refused to join their fellow citizens and so they were considered traitors. David Shenk writes, “These Christians rejected a Christendom where empire and church joined together. The Anabaptists insisted that Christendom was not the kingdom of God.” This ambivalent relationship between Christendom and God’s Kingdom continues to this day. For a Muslim, the difference between a follower of Christ—wherever and whoever in the world—and the present “imperial forces” seeking to stamp out terrorism is easily blurred. Why, for example, is a church in the jungle of Indonesia burned to the ground by an angry Muslim crowd shouting “Death to America”? What do Indonesian believers have to do with the West’s agenda? They are simply seeking to follow Christ. “The West is waging war against Islam,” Muslims will say. And since much of the Muslim world sees the West as Christendom, these believers are therefore supporting Christendom.
We are called to follow Christ. Are we willing to bear His shame, to absorb the world’s insults? Or do we need to defend ourselves and stand up for Christendom, because Christendom is “part of us”? look at Christian history, we must admit that the system we are identified with has had a similar journey. When Constantine, the Roman Emperor, made Christianity the official religion in 313 AD, the “way of Christ” began to be officially and publicly identified with Rome. Imperial power defended the “honour of Christ” and Christians, in turn, supported imperial May 3, 006
5
What can we do to communicate the way of Christ? If we live in an urban setting, we can meet Muslims from different walks of life. Perhaps we will not agree with their politics, but that does not matter. We can learn their perspective on religion, faith and culture. What a relief to realize that we do not have to defend any foreign policy! Rather, we are the face and hands of Christ. We, too, are followers of Christ. Accept it or not, to this day we are identified with what is perceived by many in the Middle East to be an arrogant and imperialistic Christendom. And it’s even more so now that western Christendom has surprisingly and unequivocally defended Abdul Rahman’s right to convert to Christianity. Here is the believer’s challenge—to hold up Christ’s honour and reputation. But Christ’s honour and Christendom’s honour are not the same. The way of Christ is truly upsidedown to the world’s ways. Although Christ existed in glory and honour “in the form of God,” he did not hold on to it but emptied himself. We read that Christ “made Himself of no reputation” (Phil. 2:6 KJV). Christ willfully took the shame of ill-repute upon himself by letting go of his honour. He humbled himself to bearing the ignominy and disgrace of the cross. The world (both East and West) continues to scream, insult, and insult in return. That is natural. When someone slaps me on the cheek the easiest, quickest response is to slap back. That way, I try to claim back my honour. But, it never works! The cycle of violence never ends as the insulting and counter-insulting goes on. The only way to stop the cycle of shame and disgrace is to bear it, to absorb it. That is what Christ did: “When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate, when he suffered he made no threats…He himself bore our sins…by His wounds we are healed” (1 Peter 2:23-25). We are called to follow in His steps. Are we willing to bear His shame, to absorb the world’s insults? Or do we need to defend ourselves and stand up for Christendom, because Christendom is “part of us”? There is one more step. At the end, there is glory and honour! Yes, ultimately Christ’s way is the only
way to find true dignity and honour. Every human needs dignity and significance. When this need is not based on public honour and the approval of society, but on God who says to me, “Well done!” then I can hold my head high. Not so touchy, I am able to bear the insults of others as Christ did.
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ow do we rate as followers of Christ? How quickly do we take offense when our nation or “our side” is criticized? It is easy to react in the same critical spirit. However, we follow the One who did not insult in return when he was insulted. That is our calling. What can we do to communicate the way of Christ? If we live in an urban setting, we can meet Muslims from different walks of life—in our neighborhoods or shopping malls, through our children at school or on the playground. What an opportunity to practice hospitality! Perhaps we will not agree with their politics, but that does not matter. We can learn their perspective on religion, faith and culture. What a relief to realize that we do not have to defend any T foreign policy! Rather, we are the face and hands of Christ. M Arley Loewen has a Ph.D. in Persian studies. He is a consultant in culture and publishing in Kabul, Afghanistan. A long-term project is to write an exhaustive study on shame and honour. Oxford recently published Loewen’s translation of Real Men Keep Their Word: Tales from Kabul, Afghanistan, A Selection Of Akram Osman’s Dari Short Stories.
Loewen recommends writings by John Piper (Being Mocked, www.desiringod.org), and David Shenk ( Journeys of the Muslim Nation and the Christian Church: Exploring the mission of two communities, Herald Press, 2003). Dr. Shenk spent 10 years in Somalia, taught theology in Kenya for six years, and is “the most articulate and influential evangelical Anabaptist addressing Muslims and their theology.” Loewen says there is much to be admired in modern Christendom: Democracy and an open society (respect for the individual, freedom of speech and thought, simplicity of trust, awareness of possible personal error) that we enjoy in the West. But, he says, leave that discussion for another article. THE MESSENGER
letters continued from page 3
In fact, D.A. Carson, who is quoted as an expert in this article, has been widely criticized for not actually speaking directly with emergent church leaders prior to writing his book. It is easy to understand the fear which people feel when the comfortable positions which they have held are being challenged, but the truth is that even Evangelicalism is a “human tradition” in need of examination in the light of Christ (Colossians 2:8). Carl Heppner Winnipeg, Man.
Seems to engender fear I was quite amazed to see the article Evaluating the Emerging Church in the last Messenger. Maybe it was meant to generate discussion, airing different viewpoints on a theme; if so, that is splendid. I will look to see another view on post-modernism in the next issues. This article seems to me to engender fear and a hunkering down—us against the world—mentality that I do not find consistent with scripture. I am no expert on post-modernism, or modernism, for all those labels are worth; I loved your back page article [Don’t Box me in! Gerald Reimer], which was a good antidote to this other one. I am an avid reader and learner and have excitedly read several of the authors Zwaagstra quotes. I ask the question: Was the modern era a friend to the church and Christianity with its emphasis on individualism, independence and materialism? Or may we find in the end the post-modern view which values highly relationships, community and thoughtfulness? I wonder which view would be more like Jesus. As Leonard Sweet says so well, “We are making choices to become risk-free, failsafe ships that spend entire tours of duty hugging harbors…The biggest risk of all is to embrace the future. It’s a lot easier to live in the past. The church’s low risk tolerance and fear of postmodern cultural situations is debilitating to the church’s witness. “This unholy predicament that the church finds itself in today—fearridden, safety-fixated, immunity-seeking, risk-averse in a high-risk postmodern culture—can be reversed only if the church abandons its risk-free approach to ministry and mission and rediscovers the gangplank.” Do we need to think carefully what are the things that absolutely cannot move? Yes, but I would suggest that while they are
May 3, 2006
crucial, they are few. Many things that we understand to be “Christian” are actually cultural. Are things going to be messy as we move forward into “postmodernism”? Yes again, but I suggest that may not be all bad. And let’s remember that God has been working over centuries through many different changes in society. We do not have to “protect” God against postmodernism. Brenda Funk Landmark, Man.
What if? The previous issue with the article on the emergent church [April 5] sparked all kinds of questions in my mind—questions we need to be thinking and talking about as we seek to be faithful in a changing cultural context. A couple of them critique the article. Most of them are windows onto my own journey of seeking to be faithful in our postmodern context. I hope all of them stimulate thought, more questions, and future conversation. What if postmodernism is more like a context we can be faithful in instead of a force in opposition to the church? What if the alternative is not between a biblical worldview and a postmodern worldview, but between a postmodern worldview shaped by a fundamental allegiance to Christ and a modern worldview shaped by a fundamental allegiance to Christ? What if modernism can be as hostile to faithful living as disciples of Jesus as postmodernism? What if postmodernism provides opportunities for the irruption of the Kingdom of God into history that modernism never gave? What if any attempt by the church to be faithful in the midst of a changing context will always include some error, some stumbling and bumbling, some experimentation? What if the article raises some legitimate concerns, but basically sets up a straw man argument by defining “postmodern” and the “emergent church” too broadly and simplistically? What if it is incorrect to assume that emergent church leaders uncritically embrace all the philosophical/cultural values of postmodernism? What if postmodernism is much more than the rejection of the idea of absolute truth? What if postmoderns don’t consistently reject the idea of absolute truth? What if postmoderns are suspicious of claims to absolute truth because the
previous century has demonstrated conclusively that such claims often result in violence and/or the use of coercive power? What if statements by emergent church authors that sound mutually exclusive and nonsensical to some people are actually reflective of an embrace of paradox and mystery--like Martin Luther and G.K. Chesterton did long before “emergent” ever came on the scene? What if “true biblical orthodoxy” is not just a matter of “objective truth,” but is actually packed with mystery and paradox? What if we are 2,000 years and half a world away from the biblical authors and their original intent, and we should be humble about our ability to know that intent with absolute certainty? What if Truth is not so much a matter of theory as of performance? What if Christ’s church was defined by its centre instead of its boundaries? What if we were concerned not so much with showing that Christianity is objectively true, but with showing those around us a new way of Life that is healing and redemptive, rather than violent and repressive? David Funk Calgary, Alta.
McLaren’s book a catalyst For the past months I have been meeting with a group of five other fellow ministers for mutual support, accountability, spiritual and intellectual stimulation, and prayer. We represent both evangelical and mainline denominations. Brian McLaren’s book, A Generous Orthodoxy, has served as a catalyst to enable us to be understanding of our various Christian perspectives, to learn from each other’s strengths, and to ultimately, draw us closer to God. And no, McLaren’s “mutually exclusive positions” aren’t “nonsense” to me. I find it particularly surprising that we Anabaptists would find A Generous Orthodoxy threatening since McLaren champions historical Anabaptism for its excellent interpretation of Christianity (see chapter 13 in A Generous Orthodoxy). I am also surprised Michael Zwaagstra would take exception to Rob Bell’s assertion that “For Jesus, heaven and hell were present realities. Ways of living we can enter into here and now. He talked very little of the life beyond this one.” Have we as Anabaptists not always understood that we live within the reality of eternity in the here and now? Randall Krahn Swift Current, Sask.
with our missionaries Philippines
Honest Hands graduation
We celebrated the graduation of Honest Hands on March 31 and our theme was Faithfulness. Pastor Mario Macalalad shared an excellent challenge from his heart to the students: Prepare for the return of the bridegroom, be a good steward of what God has given us, and get ready for the final judgment. It was great to see eight young men proudly receiving their graduation certificates and special awards. Please pray for them as some will go back to school, others will look for work, and some will apply to attend Working Hands this November. Second Mile ladies prepared food for 120 people and it was exactly enough, so quite a few people attended the graduation. Only two of the young men had any family members attend, so it showed again the type of family background they come from. There were lots of ups and downs with this group of students, especially as some struggled to remain faithful to God in the areas of sexual purity and addictions. Each one of the students experienced times of victory and failure as their faith grew deeper and wider. I reminded them many times during the past nine months that the Holy Spirit is always with them ready to guide them, help them resist temptation and give them strength and motivation to reach out to others. So what am I learning about discipleship? I don’t have all the answers! God has called us to be faithful as we serve Him, even when it isn’t neat and easy. Our heavenly Father is faithful—He gave me at least one or two students, in each of the Bible sessions I taught, who were hungry for the Word of God and had a bright spark of interest in their eyes. So I was encouraged to keep going, even when things were difficult. There is no easy formula for discipleship. You need to take lots of time talking, studying the Word, and praying through problems with your disciple. This is true for Christians in any culture, and Jesus’ challenge to go and make disciples is still valid for all cultures today. Are you taking the time to disciple a young Christian? Please pray for the eight young men who graduated. Pray that they will remain
faithful to God as they settle back into their home communities and churches. Pray for a strong relationship with their pastor, home church, and families. Pray that they will have a strong desire to disciple other young men who look up to them. Pray that the fruit of the Spirit would be obvious in their lives as they serve God. It was great to be able to use the new chapel on the second floor of the Dormburst project—breezy and cool. Thanks so much for all of you who have donated to that project over the past two years. One young man was at Honest Hands over the past month and did really well. He is so grateful to be out of jail. He received a special award at graduation for his attitude and hard work during our mission trip to help with construction of a little rural church about an hour from us. He worked hard over the three days, even though it was extremely hot and the work was hard (hauling pails of dirt for fill, digging a septic tank). His hearing date was on April 17. Another young
man has been in jail all this time as the organization that was working with him did not complete the requirements to bail him out. Melchor and I attended the high school graduation of another young man in Manila, who graduated from Honest Hands back in 2003. It was a big accomplishment for him, as his background is drug addiction and petty theft. He is struggling spiritually and attends church occasionally. I challenged him to get involved in a local body of believers and gave him a few devotional books as a graduation present. His younger brother was one of the graduates last Friday. Pray for pastor Jonaver, a young man with a big vision to disciple and evangelize a rough corner of Manila. His church is jammed into a tight corner of Tondo and surrounded by thousands of squatter homes. Carl Loewen Carl and Lisa Loewen (Pleasant Valley) are involved with a discipling ministry under Action International.
Bible Study Guides • Available at SBC Foundations Bible Studies are written by SBC faculty and/or students. Ideal for adult Sunday school class or small group study. Choose from the following:
God, Money, and Me by Edwin Friesen Come Let Us Worship by Dr. Don Thiessen The Last Trumpet by Dr. Harvey Plett Living Truth by Dr. Terry Hiebert Radical Discipleship by Jack Heppner Hebrews (2nd printing) by SBC students with Leader guide by Dr. Harvey Plett Minor Prophets (2nd printing) by SBC students with Leader guide by Gord Penner
13 lessons 13 lessons 13 lessons 12 lessons 12 lessons 13 lessons 13 lessons
For more information or to place an order contact SBC 204-326-6451 or order online www.sbcollege.ca
THE MESSENGER
with our churches
Israelites and Midianites clash Abbeydale (Calgary, Alta.): Abbeydale Christian Fellowship has enjoyed an active spring. On March 4 our Outreach Committee transformed the sanctuary into a coffee house. We were treated to great music by Murdock MacLeod and Friends as we enjoyed visiting with each other while enjoying delectable desserts. Abbeydale has a Green Party? After seeing some photos, I guess so. Elda
cozy nooks that begged two or three to gather, awesome outdoor trails bordered by benches, an inspirational prayer walk, and a large library with chairs to sink into as a fireplace blazed. Meals were eaten family style and there was some good natured jostling to sit on the side with the best view. On Saturday afternoon we were inspired by a guest
ACF ladies went on retreat during a March weekend.
A coffeehouse was held on March 4.
Enns and Dennis Plett arranged a St. Patrick’s Friendship Night and young and old showed up sporting every shade of green—even a certain white beard changed colour. On March 24 fifteen ladies made their way to King’s Fold, a picturesque Christian retreat centre nestled in the mountains an hour west of Calgary. The weekend had something for everyone: Time to discover hidden spots perfectly situated for indoor or outdoor solitude,
Kitchen renovations are underway at ACF.
May 3, 2006
speaker to dig deeper into God’s Word. As our weekend drew to a close we gathered in the chapel, which is a feast of visual worship that almost demands a person to return alone for a time of personal reflection. We sang our worship and then were blessed by James—that is, the book of James—which was presented to us as a dramatic recitation by Irene Plett. We were inspired to hear the words spoken, the “letter” presented in its entirety, hearing the voice of James himself through the words. Terry Kroeker has made the Old Testament stories of Gideon and the Midianites memorable to all the Sunday school kids. He led his Israelites, with their torches and trumpets, into battle against the sword-wielding Midianites Junior and Senior High class. A trumpet sounded. Who walked away unscathed? Tool belts have became the accessory of choice on Saturdays when eager volunteers joined the Board of Trustees in an ambitious kitchen renovation.
Illustrating that every part of a body is essential, all sorts of jobs were done by all sorts of people. At the first work bee, cupboards were emptied and moved before the first wall could be taken down. We look forward to the improvements and anticipate the good food that we will all enjoy together once it’s done. Thanks in advance to everyone involved! Brenda Dick
a womanʼs journey of faith Betty Koop
Martha: God is Good, All the Time!
M
artha and I shared a warm hug at the EMC Convention in Grand Prairie, Alberta. She had been a good friend over the seven years we had lived in La Crete. But she had an unusual request: Would I be willing to help with an account she had written of the previous summer’s camping experience? When her draft copy arrived, I couldn’t put it down till the last page was read. Fortunately, Martha gave me permission to share some of those 36 pages with you. Martha’s parents and extended family enjoyed an annual wilderness camping weekend at remote Thurston Lake, near the border of the North West Territories. A half-mile overgrown grassy airstrip was the only access in summer. They met at Steen River for the half-hour flight in on their Dad’s Cessna or brother Jim’s Cherokee. With loads of stuff to transport, it took several hours for all 18 passengers to arrive.
Had anyone been hit by lightning? Had the planes gone down, crashed? Would she be trapped? Martha tried to rein in her anxious thoughts and rest in God. They enjoyed a fun-filled Saturday, with lovely weather. Fishing was fantastic. Sunday morning the pilots were up early, studying the ominous sky. Something was brewing. The conclusion: Evacuate now. The moms with the smallest children were among the first group to leave. Two adults, and an incredible swarm of hungry mosquitoes, accompanied the six remaining children to the airstrip for the next flight. The motorboat ferried them for a quarter-mile, landing at the bush trail. From there it was a mile-long hike to the airstrip. Martha and her brother Ed stayed back, working quickly to clean up camp and pack stuff into a big metal bin for winter storage. Moments later the thunder and lightning hit with a crash. Ed decided he must run to the strip. He had heard a plane, but not seen it. As the engine sound faded he had wondered if someone was in trouble. He grabbed some tarps and ran through the dense forest to take a short cut. Martha admired his bravery. Several bears had been spotted around their camp. Then the rain began and it poured hard, accompanied by enormous, frightening crashes of thunder.
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Now Martha was all alone at camp, except for maybe a hungry bear lurking in the surrounding bush. She ran to the only shelter still standing, a forestry tent roof over a wooden floor and four-foot pony walls. She saw a gun leaning against the storage bin and grabbed it as she ran. (Martha added, “I was later teased when the gun turned out to be one of the kid’s BB guns. What did I know?”) The lightning and thunder intensified drastically. Martha added: “Then it began to hail and the winds blew furiously. This was totally out of my comfort zone. The storm was so intense that the tent canvas was flapping up and threatening to blow off.” Martha scrambled to hold down the canvas. She also ran from end to end, pushing accumulated water over the edge of the roof so the tent wouldn’t cave in. Sheets of lightning and vibrating thunder surrounded her. She prayed as she ran, trying to remain calm. “Succumbing to fear wouldn’t benefit me one bit,” Martha added. “Faith is not the absence of fear. Faith is moving ahead in spite of my fear.” However her mind was working overtime, concerned about those out in the storm. Had anyone been hit by lightning? Had the planes gone down, crashed? Would she be trapped? She tried to rein in her anxious thoughts and rest in God. After what seemed like a long time, the storm began to diminish. As she looked out at the storm-ravaged campsite she decided to stay put, to wait and see if someone would come for her. But waiting was not easy. Meanwhile, the children and their escorts were only halfway to the strip when the storm hit. Soon everyone was soaked through, feet heavily laden with clay, struggling with their bags. Adults had to act as if they were in control in a grim situation. Many quiet prayers went up. When Ed came through the bush with the large tarp, they were happy to see him. As they huddled under it close together for comfort, they prayed. Surely God was T with them here also? M (Continued in June)
THE MESSENGER
writings shared David Thiessen
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why are Christians living just like the rest of the world? by Ronald J. Sider (Baker Books, 2005, 131 pp. $18). Reviewed by David Thiessen, Conference Pastor.
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hen I began reading Sider’s book, I thought, This will be a very easy read. His writing style is clear and uncomplicated. As I continued to read, I changed my mind. This is a hard book to read, I concluded. This book is a powerful call to conversion. It is a call, not so much to those people outside the church—those who don’t profess faith in Christ—but to the Evangelical church of North America. Sider chronicles the scandalous behaviour that he suggests is rapidly destroying North American Christianity. Sider outlines the problem in his first chapter. Here he speaks about divorce rates, our materialism and neglect of the poor, sexual disobedience, racism and the alarming rate of spousal abuse in traditional marriages. Large numbers of professing Christians no longer adhere to the moral tenets of a biblical worldview. In the second chapter, Sider proclaims the biblical vision for right belief and right living. After surveying the New Testament, Sider laments the terrible disjuncture between our orthodox understanding of the person of Christ and our propensity for disobeying his teaching. He says that our evangelistic efforts are often crippled by our behaviour. In the third chapter, Sider considers the cause of the scandal. He suggests that Bonhoeffer’s “cheap grace” is descriptive of the problem. To quote Sider: Cheap grace results when we reduce the gospel to forgiveness of sins; limit salvation to personal fire insurance against hell; misunderstand persons as primarily souls; at best, grasp only half of what the Bible says about sin; embrace the individualism, materialism, and relativism of our current culture; lack a biblical understanding and practice of the church; and fail to teach a biblical worldview. Sider then launches into an excellent discussion to help the reader think correctly about the gospel and salvation, about the meaning of persons, and a biblical understanding of sin. Sider reserves the matter of our understanding of the church for a separate chapter. Critiquing our culture, he says, “The gospel of individual self-fulfillment now
May 3, 2006
reigns.” Then again, “The individual replaced God at the center of reality.” The solution to this is to grasp and practice the New Testament understanding of the church. Once again, Sider offers biblical and challenging perspectives, but then reminds us that the radical nature of the New Testament Church can only be achieved in our present setting by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sider ends the book with a brief word of hope. This book is dangerous reading. It could lead to significant lifechange. That is never easy. The challenge is right theology coupled with right behaviour. Reading this book should help us to embrace that challenge. I recommend it. Ron Sider will use this book as the basis for our conversation with him at the July 7 Ministerial in Winnipeg. It is highly recommended that you read it before that date. The book normally costs about $18 plus taxes. Members of the EMC ministerial may purchase it from the conference office for $7. Call, write, e-mail or T drop by to request this book. M
Erica Fehr joins national staff
Erica Fehr, of Kleefeld, Man., has joined the EMC national office staff as a part-time secretary. She serves the Board of Leadership and Outreach (assisting conference pastor David Thiessen), and is involved as receptionist and as needed with the Board of Trustees, Board of Missions, and the General Board. Beyond her office duties, Fehr is working part-time on a B.A. in global-political economy and raising a family. She is married to Dave and they have five children. Her family is involved within Kleefeld EMC.
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Safety nets spread throughout Tanzania Evelina Maligana, an expectant mother in the remote village of Mudemu, Tanzania, opens her hut made of branches and clay and invites visitors inside. In her sparse bedroom a new cone-shaped funnel of blue mesh hangs from the ceiling. She proudly tells the visitors that the net will keep her new infant safe from the anopheles mosquito, a dangerous predator that bites at night and spreads malaria. Maligana is one of more than a million pregnant mothers in Tanzania who have acquired an insecticide treated net (ITN) in the past year through a special partnership between the country’s Ministry of Health and Mennonite Economic Development Associates. The program, called Hati Punguzo, aims to put affordable ITNs within reach of every pregnant woman and infant in the country to help battle the country’s leading health menace. Malaria claims an African life every 30 seconds—nearly 3,000 a day—
rivaling HIV/AIDS. Healthy adults can survive it, but expectant mothers and small children are highly vulnerable. Pregnant women can suffer anemia, premature delivery, intra-uterine death and stillbirth. Infants suffer fever, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and convulsions leading to death. So far there is no effective vaccine against the disease. The best prevention is a mosquito net treated with insecticide (approved as safe by the World Health Organization). Maligana heard about Hati Punguzo when she went for a check-up at the village maternity clinic and was given a voucher which she took to a nearby retail shop. The voucher did not give her a free ITN but covered 2,750 shillings (about $2.60 U.S.), which she could “top-up” with about 50 cents. Her physician, Dr. Fortunatus Nkane, credits the voucher program with dramatically boosting the use of ITNs. Before the program started his clinic saw 60 to 80 malaria patients per month. Now they get only a few. In another region ITN use by pregnant women soared from 16 percent before the program started to 95 percent now, says Dr. Miriam Ongara, district medical officer in Kibaha region. “This is well beyond the UN’s Millennium Goal for ITN usage—and 10 years early,” she says, adding that in the past year no one in her district has died from malaria. The program grew out of MEDA’s efforts to explore how business could play a role in healthcare. Jerry Quigley, MEDA’s director of productionmarketing linkages, and Greg Foster, MEDA’s Tanzania director, developed a publicprivate partnership built on expanding commercial networks. Behind the simple act of getting a voucher into the hands of a pregnant women is an enormous logistical task, managed by MEDA, involving 4,000 public health clinics all over the country, some very remote and impossible to reach Evelina Maligana in her bedroom with her mosquito net. during the rainy season.
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Equally important are the 3,000 retailers who stock the nets and ensure a steady supply. Before the voucher scheme started, shops selling nets were concentrated around towns. Now they are everywhere. “A year ago it was very difficult to buy a net in the rural areas,” says Greg Foster. “Now there are 3,000 distributors selling nets, 80 percent of whom weren’t selling nets before. For the first time, ITNs are now available in most regions of the country.” In the first year of the program (2005) one million vouchers were distributed to clinics. This year the goal is 1.5 million. The redemption rate for those that have found their way into the hands of expectant mothers averages 87 percent. So far, other countries have been slow to replicate the approach. Some have used giveaway programs sponsored by large international agencies. Foster thinks such handouts impede sustainability. “Giving away free nets harms more than it helps because it removes the commercial incentive that ensures a long-term supply after donor money is no longer available to pay for the nets,” he says. Adds Jerry Quigley, “Try to convince a retailer to sell nets when they are being given out next door for free. It won’t happen. The main reason why nets are now available everywhere in Tanzania is because retail shops have found it worthwhile to stock, transport and maintain a reliable supply for customers year-round.” In addition, he says, studies have shown that people are more likely to use ITNs when they pay something for them. “Even the simple act of going to the store and choosing an ITN is one small way to regain dignity as they make a key decision affecting the health of their families,” says Quigley. Foster and Quigley hope other countries will see the benefits of harnessing commercial networks to attack this and other medical foes. “There are a lot of people around the world watching to see how this works,” says Foster. MEDA
THE MESSENGER
Corn, peas, beans, and oil bound for Kenya In response to drought in Kenya, Canadian Foodgrains Bank is preparing to deliver over 5,000 metric tonnes of food aid in the form of maize, beans, yellow split peas, and edible oil. The value of the food aid will be approximately $2.7 million. In East Africa, where some areas have been without significant rainfall
for a few years, an estimated 6.25 million people are in need of food aid, says a recent report from the World Food Programme. Over half of those people (3.5 million) live in Kenya, with Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia affected to a lesser degree. Sixty percent of the food commodities will be purchased in the region, in areas
Indian Mennonite Church will celebrate 100 years Only a few Evangelical Mennonite Conference congregations have a history of 100 years in Canada. More EMC churches have a bilingual history, though English is now dominant in most congregations. Want to visit a century-old Mennonite congregation whose members speak two or three languages? It will work fine if you know English, but it’s helpful to know Chhattisgarhi or Hindi. Bethel Mennonite Church in the village of Balodgahan, in the east-central state of Chhattisgarh, India, will be marking 100 years in a Jubilee celebration October 29–30, 2006. The church is part of the Mennonite Church in India whose head office is in the city of Dhamtari, within the same state. Bishop Mahlon and Sarah Lapp were pioneer missionaries who established the Balodgahan mission station. In 1906, the Mennonite Board of Missions in North America (predecessor agency of
May 3, 2006
Mennonite Mission Network), started boarding schools for girls and boys, a home for widows, a training centre and other schools. The church building, a stone-block structure, is worth seeing. We will not forget the brothers and sisters from North America who served in this church, said a leader of the church. The church is inviting brothers and sisters of the Mennonite World Conference family, especially those with family members who served as mission workers here, to join them for this celebration. Mennonite Mission Network in Elkhart, Indiana, can provide travel and other information. “God has blessed us on various occasions. We request prayer for this event that it will be successful and we will give God all the glory,” says the invitation. Adapted from MWC
not affected by drought. The remaining food will be shipped from Canada and will arrive later. “With the increased flexibility to use government funding to purchase food produced in developing countries,” says Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, “we’re able to source food in the region to allow for quicker delivery. The need will be ongoing for some months to come, so later shipments from Canada will also be part of an effective response.” Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 13 church-based agencies. Three of these agencies, Canadian Baptist Ministries, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, and Mennonite Central Committee, will take the lead in coordinating this food response. Other member agencies will also provide support. Actual food distribution is being planned and implemented by onthe-ground local partners. “We try to respond to the need that’s been identified by known partners in countries facing food crises,” continues Cornelius. “Our members have a good network of partners in Kenya.” Shipments from Canada will include 1,550 metric tonnes of white corn to be supplied by Patterson Grain Ltd. out of St. Mary’s, Ont.; 300 metric tonnes of yellow split peas to be supplied by Agricore United out of Carman, Man.; and 54 metric tonnes of edible oil which will be supplied by Hubbards Industries in Brampton, Ont. Without the generous support of Canadians across the country, the Foodgrains Bank would not be able to respond to food needs in such a significant way, Cornelius says. “I am humbled by the generosity I see in all regions of Canada,” he said. “They see the need and they do what they can to fill it.” Funding is also provided by the federal government through Canadian International Development Agency. The mission of Canadian Foodgrains Bank is to end hunger in developing countries. They carry out their mission through mobilizing Canadians, responding to food and nutrition emergencies, supporting the efforts of communities to meet their own food needs on an on-going basis, and influencing changes in public policies. CFGB
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SBC shifts to block scheduling Beginning in September 2006, SBC will be offering classes in a format that will allow students more flexibility in coordinating their studies and their work. The block schedule offers courses in a 2½ hour class, once per week for 13 weeks. Full-time students have classes in five blocks per week, and part-time students come only once a week for each class they take. Since an increasing number of students are combining work and studies, the block schedule gives fulltime students larger blocks of time for a
MDS bits
• Mennonite Disaster Service has a new promotional DVD, The Hands and Feet of Jesus. Call toll-free at 866-261-1274 for a copy to be sent free to church libraries and church groups. • Thirteen Canadians participated in MDS project leadership training in Akron April 5–7. Many of these folks have already volunteered with MDS and look forward to returning to provide leadership. Crew leaders with construction skills/background are required at four Gulf Coast projects this summer. Three other summer projects were closed for a lack of leaders. Call the toll-free number if you can help. • Flooding in Saskatchewan and Manitoba has affected roads and fields, but only a few small communities have been evacuated. MDS board members are in regular contact with Emergency Measures, and MDS will be called upon should homes need cleanup or if homes without insurance monies need repairs later on. • MC Canada has asked MDS to be its representative in working with Canadian Council of Churches and Evangelical Fellowship of Canada to develop possible church response to major disaster, including a pandemic public health emergency. • In July, the MDS extension office in Winnipeg, Man., will leave 2265 Pembina Hwy and move to triple the space at nearby 6A-1325 Markham Road, a strip mall at Bison Drive and Markham Road (that is also home to Mennonite Foundation of Canada offices). MDS
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job, while part-time students only need one block per week away from their job. With the new Eastman Education Centre in Steinbach opening for classes this September, SBC sees the new scheduling system as a way to benefit students on both campuses. In this scheduling SBC students can take university/college courses at EEC while continuing their program of studies, and students studying at EEC can add SBC courses to their program. Initial responses to this schedule change are positive, both from current and prospective students. SBC continues to adapt to the changing needs of students as they provide relevant and practical training for the leaders of tomorrow. SBC
KATHARINA FEHR 1930–2005
Katharina Fehr was born in Mexico on September 20, 1930. She died on Friday, December 9, 2005, at 3:12 p.m. She reached the age of 75 years, two months and 19 days. She grew up in Mexico and married Johan Fehr in January 1949. They were married 56 years and 11 months. They came to Canada in 1976 and settled in the Aylmer, Ont., area. Together they had 16 children, of whom 11 are still alive. She is survived by her husband Johan Fehr; daughter Helena Siemens (husband Bill), Natti Thiessen (husband Jake), Tina Harder (husband Abe), Anna Macleod (husband Neil), Susan Blue (husband Doug), John Fehr (wife Elsie), Abe Fehr, and Jake Fehr. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, seven sisters and four brothers. We grieve her death, but not as those who have no hope. She will be greatly missed by all. Her Family
Educational Journal being developed
July 12 to August 4, 2006 For youth age 16 and older. The team will focus primarily on German Mennonites who have settled in the area. The ministry will include children’s, youth and family ministry, work projects, as well as programming in our Tri-Conference churches in the area. Contact Gerald Reimer at the EMC national office for information at 204-326-6401 or emcger@mts.net.
Feel the need for a little more in-depth dialogue on educational theological concerns? Want to express your convictions in a format geared for the scholastic writer inside of you? The EMC, through its Board of Church Ministries, is establishing a journal to provide a forum for educational theological essays, book reviews, and articles written by you, the EMC minister, leader, member or adherent. Our goal is to publish this first journal in late fall of 2006. Neither the editor nor the contributors get any payment beyond the pleasure of seeing EMC discussion in print. Publication of individual material, sadly, cannot be guaranteed. You are encouraged to contact the journal editor, Rev. Darryl Klassen, about publication requirements and are welcome to submit your work to him at Box 344, Kleefeld, MB R0A 0V0 or kemc@ mts.net.
THE MESSENGER
shoulder tapping La Crete Christian Fellowship in La Crete, Alberta, seeks a youth pastor for a new position as part of our pastoral team. LCCF is a forwardlooking church of about 400 regular attendees. The youth pastor will have a primary role in developing programs and working closely with youth and youth leaders. LCCF’s service to God is based on the core values of a commitment to teaching God’s Word and outreach to the community. Send a resume with references to lccfc@telus. net or LCCFC, Box 385, La Crete, AB T0H 2H0 Attention: Pastor Frank Winsor. Endeavour Fellowship Chapel in east-central Saskatchewan, with a congregation of about 50, is currently looking for a pastor. Contact Tom Treen (Elders’ Chairman) at 306-547-3383 or tdpromise@sasktel.net. Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (EMC) seeks a full-time pastor, with position open May 2006. Experience and education expected are flexible. The church, started in south Calgary in 1998, is currently meeting in a rural setting outside of Calgary; it hopes to return to Calgary shortly. Fish Creek has about 50 people attending. Contact Garry Kornelsen, board chair, at 403-281-3747; or 55 Woodford Cres., SW, Calgary AB T2W 4C6; email: gskornelsen@shaw.ca. Inner City Youth Alive, a Christian ministry in the North End of Winnipeg, Man., seeks a workshop program director (full-time, permanent with support raising required). Fax resume to 204-5824729; mail to ICYA, 418 Aberdeen Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2W 1V7; or e-mail icya@mts.net. Pastoral reference required. EMC Missions seeks missionaries for Mexico and Paraguay. In both countries, church planters are needed to work alongside national church leaders and missionaries. In Mexico, both English- and Germanspeaking teachers are need for elementary schools in German communities. A pastor-caregiver is needed for Hillside Church in May 2006. German is required. In Paraguay, a nurse is required for Lucero Clinic in East Paraguay. Contact Ken Zacharias, EMC foreign secretary, at 204-326-6401 or emcken@mts.net. Mennville Church (EMC) seeks a part- or full-time pastor. Experience and education expectations are flexible. Mennville Church is a congregation of about 100, located in the Interlake area of Manitoba and close to Hecla Island, in a predominantly agricultural area. Contact Wes Barkman at 204-378-2778 (wbbarkmn@mts.net) or Roland Friesen at 204378-2907 (rfriesen@riv.mb.ca). Conference pastor David Thiessen can also be contacted at the EMC national office (204-326-6401). The Burkina Faso Partnership Council is looking for a short-term worker (6 to 12 months) with a strong technical background to create computerized wave files for the Somogho scripture
May 3, 2006
translation. Other church-related work could be included in this assignment. French language ability is recommended. Contact Len Barkman at emclen@mts.net. Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship (EMC) in north-central British Columbia seeks a half-time associate pastor of youth with a love for God and heart for youth. The leader will give mature leadership, work with church in moulding youth, guide them into becoming faithful followers of Jesus Christ, and work within the EMC statement of faith. Our Sunday morning attendance is 100. Our youth group (without a youth pastor for some time) is rebuilding, currently 12 to 20 people, with an average age of 14. There is potential for growth. Contact VCF, Box 377, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0; phone 250-567-9198; fax 250-567-2064; vcfemc@telus.net. Steinbach Bible College seeks a president. SBC is an Evangelical Anabaptist college drawing students from Canada, USA, Mexico, Belize and overseas. The college is operated by a board of directors called from the constituencies of the EMC, EMMC, and CMC. We seek a candidate who has a passion for equipping leaders for ministry and can help our institution move to the next level of excellence in post-secondary Christian education. The president is responsible to the board of directors for implementation of institutional objectives through executive direction and leadership. Key areas of responsibility include: Oversight of the ministry, communication with constituency, long-term strategic planning, budget preparation, coordination of donor development. A suitable candidate will also have opportunities for classroom instruction. Qualities: Demonstrated excellence in educational or ministry leadership; graduate degree in a relevant ministry, theological, or educational field; strong commitment to an Evangelical Anabaptist understanding; mature faith and excellent spiritual character; exceptional communication and organizational skills; proven ability in effective teamwork. Position to begin prior to 2006–2007 school year. Forward applications to Presidential Search Committee, Steinbach Bible College, 50 PTH 12 N, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T4. Abbeydale Christian Fellowship in Calgary, Alta., seeks a full-time young life pastor who is passionate about reaching out to and discipling children and youth. The position would involve initiating and running programs as well as facilitating congregational involvement in programs and mentoring leaders. Send your resume to Susan Thiessen at thiesses@telus.net or to her attention at ACF, 1352 Abbeydale Dr. SE, Calgary, AB T2A 7L8. Closing date is May 23, 2006. Reserve Fellowship Chapel (EMC), located in Sioux Valley (west-central Man.), seeks a fulltime pastoral couple to serve the church and to
develop long-term relationships with people of the community. The smaller 50-year-old congregation is part of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, a community that has a Christian history going back to 1879. The congregation is located about 45 minutes from Virden and Brandon. A strong sense of God’s call and a love for people are required. Direct inquiries to David Pashe, 204-730-0409, e-mail: pashed@westman. wave.ca; or to Len Barkman, 204-326-6401, email: emclen@mts.net. Mennonite Disaster Service is expanding its bi-national staff because of increased need following the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. All positions are located in Akron, Pennsylvania. These staff report directly to the executive director: communications; field operations; finance and accounting; human resources. Inquire to MDS Human Resources, Attention: Arleta Martin, 1018 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501; e-mail: jobs@mds.mennonite.net; phone: 717-859-2210, Fax: 717-859-4910; www.mds. mennonite.net. The congregation of the Evangelical Mennonite Church at 422 Main St., Steinbach, Man., seeks a lead pastor. This opportunity includes ministering alongside a passionate youth pastor and a creative minister of music and worship in a “team caring” environment and is available immediately. Our church offers active programming for all ages and supports a blended style of worship service. If you have a passion for God and His people, are self-motivated with administrative skills, are gifted in preaching and teaching, desire to lead a strong ministry team, and are willing to embrace our church vision and direction, then we invite you to consider this opportunity. For a detailed job description or to forward your resume, contact Henry Klassen, 63 Donald Ave., Steinbach, MB R5G 2B5. Phone 204-3266068; henryk2@mts.net. Red Rock Bible Camp seeks an assistant cook. Year-round ministry opportunity. Willing to train. Responsible to the food services director. Agreement with the camp’s mission and statement of faith is necessary. Must be service oriented, work well with people and be a team player. Housing, partial board, salary, medical and dental benefits provided. Send resume to Red Rock Bible Camp, 204-320 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z1; E-mail: kim@ redrockbiblecamp.com. Blumenort EMC, in Blumenort, Man., is actively looking for a youth pastor. We are open to receiving resumes from anyone with a love and passion for youth ministry. Former experience is not required, but simply a deep reliance on what God can do through a yielded servant, willing to lead youth in a deep prayer-centred walk with Him. For information, contact Dale Loewen at 204-326-5119 or email at dalecori@mts.net.
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Time T
ime is a created vehicle, but we let it rule us like a deity instead of letting it be what it was created for: A passage of the sun and moon, a span of light and a span of dark, a cycle for work and rest. Night, dawn, day, dusk in a continuous circle that moves within seasons. We have measured it in hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. We have divided it into days and weeks and months and calendars with deadlines. We “race the clock,” trying to beat out some extra moments. We value those around us by how many of those precious moments we expend on them. We have difficulty dealing with people who are not time conscious. We truly marvel or else we look down our noses at cultures that are not ruled and dominated by the 24-hour, neverending ticking apparatus that holds us in such subjugation. The funny thing is that cycles of life and death, or of growth and dormancy, continue occurring regardless of the second hand that revolves around its axis pin on the face of a watch. What is it with this preoccupation? Maybe some of our difficulties with our perception of God have to do with His aloofness to our measurement of time—for it makes little difference to Him. He is not bound by it. Rather, His creation of it is to be a vehicle of growth and rejuvenation, of the continuation of life, of dawn/birth, of dusk/death giving way to new birth and new dawns. We cannot step away from the Time He created
Time is but a morsel in the mouth of Eternity.
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Faith Krahn
while we are here. It holds us and has its purpose, God’s purpose. It is meant to carry us through to our completion, to our perfection. But as an added twist, the Bible says, “God has written eternity on our hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). One day we will break forth from time’s hold on us, from its tyranny. There will a time when God decides we need it no more. “A time to laugh, a time to cry” will pass on. What will then be for us will be ageless, will be timeless. The cycles of life and death will be over. And God, for His children, will replace time with something far greater: Himself. Time is but a morsel in T the mouth of Eternity. M Faith Krahn serves in ministry with her husband Randall Krahn, pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship Church (EMC), Swift Current, Sask.
THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #4001736 PAP Registration #9914