The Messenger Vol. 45 No. 14 August 15, 2007

Messenger The

EVANGELICAL MENNONITE CONFERENCE VOLUME 45 NUMBER 14 AUGUST 15, 2007

Look inside for more Convention coverage

Messenger The

EMC Annual Convention 2007

The

Messenger

Sorry, no new angle this year

I

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 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 Unpublished material is not returned except by request.

Views and opinions of 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 EMC Board of Church Ministries, 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. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

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

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

ISSN #0701-3299 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.

Mailing information: Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions, should be addressed to: 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. 16 – September 19 (copy due September 7)

2

editorials f the EMC annual convention fell apart, Three churches joined our conference, the it would provide a new reporting moderator was present, and the regional angle. planning committee (with Ruth Anne It’s unusual news if the speaker does Peters from the national office) is to be poorly, the ministerial meeting ends in a commended. pew-clearing brawl, the council goes into Yes, conference council’s reports and lockdown till decisions discussion were cut are made, the food is What’s regularly positive short by workshops, no terrible, and churches women’s session was or people boycott the news about our EMC annual held (for the second event. year), and a moderator’s convention is its focus on Maybe it would be address (more common Christ, His grace and Spirit, ear-catching to hear a few years back) would people grumble in our togetherness in Him, and be useful. No event is print, if churches leave the work of His Kingdom. perfect. the conference, the But what’s regularly moderator didn’t show, positive news about and the regional planning committee our EMC annual convention is its focus apologized to people who came. on Christ, His grace and Spirit, our Perhaps it might seem dull, routine togetherness in Him, and the work of reporting that the reverse, actually, took His Kingdom. While the grace of Christ place. The 57th Annual EMC Convention risks being taken for granted (Romans was well-run, Dr. Arley Loewen spoke 6:1–12), it was experienced afresh during effectively, the ministerial was peaceful, Convention 57. the council operated smoothly, and If you don’t find this exciting, prepare T churches and people supported the event. for some dull reporting. M Terry M. Smith

Jesus, the centre of our faith

C

onvention speaker Dr. Arley Loewen didn’t speak much directly about the Bible; he may have mentioned the Koran more often. He may also have referred more often to Muslim faith than Christianity.

Some might be tempted to say his messages were unbiblical, but this would be misleading.

Why? Because at the heart of Dr. Loewen’s messages stood Jesus. Jesus also stands at the centre of our faith.

Jesus is the fulfillment of centuries of Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is the focus of the gospel stories. Jesus is the foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus’ mission in the world is the reason we must

become more acquainted with the claims of other faiths, and more able to defend those of our own.

Dr. Loewen said Christ’s mission in the world is to be accomplished through His followers: “Christ gave the commission… and then He stepped aside.” How are we working to accomplish this? Are we in conversation with those outside our church circles, daily showing them Christ so we can win them to Him? A Christian friend recently encountered a person of another faith who said Jesus’ claim to be “the way, and the truth and the life,” and the only way to the Father (John 14:6), merely means that when we all get to heaven, it is Jesus who will be standing at the door to greet us. How would you respond to such a Jesus’ mission in the world is the reason we must person? Would you even have become more acquainted with the claims of other started such a conversation? MT Becky Buhler faiths, and more able to defend those of our own.

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

letters Eden history

The June 6 Messenger carried an announcement of Eden’s (Eden Health Care Services) 40th anniversary. The July 4 Messenger carried a report of that occasion. The guest of honour was Archie Penner. In the announcement he was described as “the only living founding visionary of Eden.” I as well congratulate Dr. Penner. I think visionary describes him well.

If I may I would like to add what likely is a little known fact about Eden’s founding; and if it is deemed suitable and of some worth, it could become a postscript to Eden’s history. (And here is where the value of a church archives comes in, which the EMC established many years ago.)

Since I had been involved in finding and archiving EMC Ministerial minutes when I was in the employ of the Conference, I was quite sure we had even more specific information on Eden’s founding as I see it.

I believe I discovered it. Surely the saying

coming events August 26 Camp Moose Lake 50th Anniversary 35 kms NE of Sprague, Man. 204-895-2267 September 8 Eden Foundation Head for the Hills bicycling fundraiser Pembina Hills, south of Morden, Man. 866-895-2919 www.edenhealth.mb.ca September 12–14 17th annual Winnipeg Prophecy Conference Victoria Inn Winnipeg, Man. 204-832-4627 www.wpgpc.org October 19 Going Barefoot: Entering a Brave New World of Communication Conference for communicators $80, students $40 Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg, Man. 204-487-3300 November 1–4 MEDA: Trust in a World of Change Business as a Calling 2007 Hilton Toronto, Ont. 800-665-7026 www.meda.org

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

that big doors swing on little hinges would hold true here. We return to a date in 1955.

On April 2, 1955, the EMC ministerial met in our Rosenhof EM church. Point #3 on the agenda records the following question posed by Rev. David P. Reimer, then senior pastor at our Blumenort church, East Reserve, Manitoba (I translate as best I can make it out): “The question was raised by Aeltester D. P. Reimer whether it was time to think of building an institution where we could bring our ‘Geistes Kranken’ (literally spirit sick). He went on to add that this could involve the Mennonites of the East Reserve or also all of Manitoba.

The assembly, at the same meeting, put action to Rev. Reimer’s words and elected a committee of three to further investigate this and later report back.

By the June 1955 Ministerial it was already reported that there was good interest. The July Ministerial again had it

on the agenda, stating that the standing committee had worked; looked around at other Mennonite churches where it had been greeted with interest; and the interest for the need of such an institution was clear. The committee was encouraged to keep working on. Mr. Penner was one of the three members elected at this EMC ministerial back in 1955. Thus it was very fitting that he would appear at Eden’s anniversary event.

Dave Schellenberg Steinbach, Man. Editor’s note: What Rev. Dave K. Schellenberg will not say is that he has been the main worker and the passion behind the EMC archives. If it weren’t for Rev. Schellenberg, the archives might not have a storage space problem, only the need for a shoebox or two.

Letters continued page 14.

Tim Dyck appointed as General Secretary The General Secretary Search Committee, with representation from the Board of Missions, the Board of Trustees, and the General Board, is pleased to announce the hiring of Tim Dyck as the new General Secretary for the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

Tim and his wife Brenda have a family of three children, Andrew (recently married), Mark, and Aubrey.

Tim and Brenda plan to make their home in Steinbach. They are members at Prairie Rose EMC. Tim is a graduate of Winkler Bible Institute (Biblical Studies), and the University of Manitoba (Bachelor of Computer Science), and has taken management courses at the University of Calgary.

Tim has served, under the EMC Board of Missions, in an administrative role with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 12 years, six of them at the WBT headquarters in Dallas, Texas; and the past six years in Calgary. As director of Information Technology he has received considerable experience in working with people and in the administration of programs and projects.

As General Secretary, Tim will have responsibilities in areas of financial planning and management, office management, directing the work of the Board of Missions with a specific role in overseeing Associate Missions and partnership arrangements, and serve as executive director to the General Board. He will work closely with administrative assistant Ruth Anne Peters.

We welcome Tim to the conference staff effective September 1, 2007. Our prayers are with him and Brenda as they settle into this new and challenging position.

Search Committee

Tim and Brenda Dyck

Speaking Excerpted and Condensed

Swahili: Jesus’ journey

into the world Dr. Arley Loewen

God, the invisible One, speaks not primarily in a Book, but in Person. At the heart of God is His love for nations, so He enters this world. In Jesus, God entered language, culture, society, and meets us in our situation in Jesus. This is incarnation.

4

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

H

ow does God relate to Man? How does man relate to God? With what shall I come to Him? From ancient times, humans have tried to understand, figure out God and how to approach Him. Plato said, “Guesswork is over all, never man and God can meet.” Celsus, a second century Roman philosopher, mocked the idea of God: “God is away beyond everything.”

How does God come to man in Islam?

How does God come to Man? At a university in Pakistan, a student said we can’t use word shinakkt (knowing, understanding) because God can’t be known.

In Islamic theology, God is unseen, but also unknowable. Only God can know God. There is no correlation between creation and God. Nothing can come near to Godhead, less His absolute transcendence.

God is too great to be known, even by prophets and angels. The duty of the creature is not to think about God, but about the creation of God. “Revelation,” Kenneth Craig has said, “is not a personal self-disclosure of Divine…God reveals His will, rather than His nature.” God sends; he does not come.

How does God make His will known in a Muslim view? In heaven exists the “Mother of Books,” golden tablets, the eternal Will of God, the Islam. God sends it down to mankind as guidance. It comes to Adam, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad. But how? God is hidden. There must be a gobetween—through the angel Gabriel, then to Muhammad.

God remains hidden. Man’s duty is know His will and follow it as a servant. There is a deep reverence for the Koran in Muslim culture. It’s the “speech of God” given to Muhammad in Arabic. One of the greatest “means of grace” in Islam is a khattum— reciting the entire “speech of God” in one sitting. Islam is a religion of sound, listening, poetry, words, speech.

In Muslim witness, the Arabic language must follow, because God’s Word or law was given in Arabic. It is an Arabic-centric message.

What are we left with? If God is unseeable and unknowable, what can man do? How does one put God in framework? A Persian poet wrote, “If someone asks me to describe Him, what does one without a soul say about God without a sign?” The modern Iranian poet, Shamlu, rejects the notion of a God who only gives his law: “I was not a servile little slave…I deserved a God of another THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

EMC Annual Convention 2007 kind, worthy of a creature…And a God, of another kind, I created.”

How does God come in Christian Faith?

God meets Adam and Eve in the Garden in cool of day. At the burning bush, God gives His own name to Moses and speaks to him. At Mount Sinai, God meets with people and says, “I will be their God and they will be My people.” In the Holy of Holies of the temple, I will meet with you! Finally, God comes in the Messiah, Emmanuel, incarnated (in the flesh). The Word became flesh and lived among us. In Islam, Jesus is called Kalimatullah, the Word of Allah.

G

od enters this world, God comes to us in person, to our human world, on our terms. Jesus is the Speech of God, God’s Word for this world, God’s will, way, life.

Christians are called “people of the Book”

by Muslims. In Islam there are four books which God gave to the prophets, respectively Moses, David, Jesus (Injil, gospel), and Muhammed. Jesus received the gospel from God. However, the common notion is that Christians rejected the gospel that Jesus revealed; the real gospel is lost, changed or cancelled.

This great misunderstanding is because we Christians believe that Jesus Himself is Word, the Reflection of God, the Image of Invisible God. Jews, Muslims, and Christians agree no one has seen God, but God does not remain isolated, separated, cocooned in His transcendence.

God enters the world. God, the invisible One, speaks not primarily in a Book, but in Person. At the heart of God is His love for nations, so He enters this world. In Jesus, God entered language, culture, society, and meets us in our situation in Jesus.

This is incarnation. Not a book, but a Living Word became flesh, who dwelt among us, in culture and language. The Word of God became Son of Man, dwelt among us. The New Testament witness is that Jesus is the Messiah, himself the gospel; he did not bring 5

We must translate the Gospel. We must constantly have a Pentecost gospel, and speak it in the languages of the world.

the gospel. The four writers of gospel accounts are witnesses of the Messiah, who is the Gospel.

Jesus clearly saw Himself as an extension of the Father, His image, His reflection, His revelation. He came down to show the Father to this world.

Jesus Himself is the Will of God. “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). “I come from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42).

Jesus Himself is the Word of the Father: “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28). “Whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say” (John 12:50).

Jesus Himself is the Picture of the Father: “When a man looks at me, he sees the one who sent me” (John 12:4445) and “anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father.

How can you say, show us the Father?” (John 14:9).

Over and over, Jesus sees Himself as the extension of Father. He came to show the Father. He translated, showed God to world. But then Jesus went away. Is this world without a picture of God again?

Followers of Jesus Followers of Jesus must continue the reflection, the translation of God. “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).

What are the greater things? We will continue what Jesus did. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name [through you], so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my, and I will do it” (John 14:13).

Is this another way to look at prayer? Not only asking God for things, but expecting, wanting, realizing Jesus to speak and work through us. He wants to continue to live here on earth through me and you! “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you!” (John 20:21). You continue this. You are the image of God on earth.

At the Ascension, Christ gave the commission:

Continue my life among nations; and then He stepped aside. At Pentecost, he showed how we are to do this.

Pentecost was the loudest statement from heaven that the gospel to be spoken and expressed in languages of people. God made sure, from beginning, every person “from the ends of earth” would hear and understand the message of the gospel in our own language and culture—in Swahili, in Pashtu.

There were two miracles: Believers spoke in other languages, and people from every nation under heaven understood the message of God in their own native language. It was a demonstration that God enters all cultures, desires to be known in cultures of the world.

We must translate the Gospel. We must constantly have a Pentecost gospel, and speak it in the languages of the world. We are to be the great decoders, explainers of the gospel.

W

hen God revealed Himself ultimately, he did so through Jesus. Here we see divine truth and beauty. Beauty attracts the heart. Not the beauty of words, but of something to see. Ironically, it is a beauty with the Cross, the ugliest scene of Jesus’ life. Many Arabs fell in love with Jesus because of the movie The Passion of the Christ.

And now, we are to continue that beauty through you and T me, as the people of Jesus. M Arley Loewen has a Ph.D. in Persian Studies and serves as a cultural consultant in Afghanistan.

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

Ministerial treads on dangerous ground On Friday, July 6, 2007, Treesbank Community Church in southern Manitoba was packed. Pastor Kenton Penner of TCC welcomed people and had a devotional.

Board of Leadership and Outreach chairman Art Dueck introduced the topic: Pastoring on Dangerous Ground: Money, Sex, and Power. There were presenters, and then panels responded to questions.

Pastor Fred Buhler (Pineridge, Hudson Bay, Sask.) spoke on Money. He grew up in the home of a partially self-supporting pastor and has lived as a “rich” missionary in a developing country.

Buhler said a pastor earns the right to speak by having his own house in order. Silvia

Presenters (clockwise from top left): Ed Peters, Fred Buhler, Dave Funk

Ronsdale observes that “people will be about as generous as the senior pastor,” he quoted. Deceptions to be confronted include: wealth equals freedom, once I catch up I’ll be generous, a bit more will be enough, isolation is safer than accountability, I deserve this because I earned it, and money is the reward for our work.

During discussion, Randall Krahn (Cornerstone, Swift Current) said contentment is the key. Bill McCaskell (MacGregor) said money can be deceitful; there is no automatic protection for a pastor. David Thiessen, conference pastor, cautioned against pastors fundraising, though they can teach biblical stewardship.

Panel members said it is tough to shepherd wealthier people.

Ed Peters (Steinbach EFC) presented a paper on Sex. “Despite the goodness of God’s gift, the intention of our sexuality has been confused,” he said. The problem is reflected in a Leadership magazine survey, where THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

EMC Annual Convention 2007 23 percent of pastors said they had “done something sexually inappropriate” in a local church ministry, “12%” admitting to extra-marital sex, and “18%” to inappropriate sexual contact. While non-pastors’ “incidents of immorality were nearly double,” Peters cautioned against taking comfort in this.

“But I believe that the primary contributing factor that leads to an undernourished soul and vulnerability to sexual sin is isolation,” he said.

He counseled humility, nurture your marriage, nurture the soul, take precautions, be cautious of growing “I believe that the emotional/spiritual intimacy, be primary contributing accountable, and remember the consequences. factor that leads to an Peters said the church needs undernourished soul and to “rediscover, celebrate, and vulnerability to sexual sin communicate the goodness of God’s gift of sexuality”; is isolation,” said Pastor acknowledge that “sexual Ed Peters. brokenness already exists in our congregation and our leadership”; and consider carefully “the issue of restoring the fallen.”

One delegate said the survey figures were low, if fantasies are included. Another said pastors need to be careful when talking about sexual addiction lest they feed others’ fantasies.

After lunch, Ward Parkinson and company presented a comedy skit where organizers approached a pastor about joining a union, including benefits such as double time for working on Sunday.

“Power is a fact in ministry,” said Pastor Dave Funk (Abbeydale, Calgary). He said “power is given from God and its purpose is to “advance the mission of God.” The end result “of this mission is the defeat of death and of sin and the devil, and the creation of a new heavens and a new earth in which all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

This power’s nature is “thoroughly subversive and counterintuitive,” shown not in Jesus’ miracles, but “in his cross.” It isn’t “about control. It is about servanthood.” He quoted Eugene Peterson: “It is the Jesus way, wedded to the Jesus Truth, that brings about the Jesus life.”

“The power and salvation of God will be shown not through triumphalism or by any conventional means, but through a cross-shattered Christ, and through us, his cross-shattered community,” Funk said. The “power 7

to advance God’s mission will be given to those who share God’s preferential love for the least of these instead of engaging in social ladder climbing.”

The temptations are to use power to create uniformity instead of unity, to wield power by loving conditionally, to perpetuate the distance between clergy and laity, to think and act as if the church were an organization to be controlled by those in authority, and to create God’s church in our own image.

During discussion, Layton Friesen (Fort Garry) said the Church has often asked for a vow of celibacy or poverty, but not for power. Richard Klassen (Straffordville) said to say we have prayed or studied Scripture can be a subtle use of power.

Conference Pastor David Thiessen led in a time of church reports and prayer ministry.

At the day’s close, chairman Art Dueck gave a short appeal that if ministerial members were involved in sexually dangerous ground, and were unable to stop, T they should resign. M Terry M. Smith Abe Berg, minister at Straffordville EMC, stands to ask a question of the panel— Dave Funk, Peter Janzen, Richard Klassen, and Layton Friesen.

Council meets briefly The discussion at the EMC conference council was briefer this year, to make way for four workshops held during Saturday’s afternoon.

The council, which gathers twice yearly, met on July 7 at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium in General Board Brandon, Manitoba.

The General Board affirmed varying Delegates were welcomed by EMC gifts in the conference. In the Visioning moderator Ron Penner. Luis Antonio Day, leadership development was a key Pitta (who prefers Antonio), pastor emphasis. With Len Barkman retiring, a at Ebenezer Christian Church in Pastor Antonio Pitta gave the devotional.

General Secretary is being sought (see Brandon, gave the devotional. He said announcement elsewhere this issue). There is concern we need to encourage people to go into missions to save for strong communication lines with local churches. A people from “damnation.” John Abbors led in elections statement was shared on a lawsuit in which the EMC is (see sidebar). named (see sidebar with an announcement).

EMC Annual Convention 2007

Terry Smith, Becky Buhler, and Doris Penner participated in the Board of Church Ministries report. (photo credit Stephanie Penner)

8

Board of Church Ministries Becky Buhler (assistant editor and BCM administrative assistant) and Doris Penner (BCM member) interviewed Gerald Reimer (conference youth minister), Terry Smith (BCM executive secretary), and Henry Friesen (board chair).

Gerald Reimer reported on Abundant Springs which took place in May 2007. Over 500 youth attended from 34 churches. Including leaders and support staff, those in attendance represented about a tenth of Conference THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

membership. Reporting on Inter-Mennonite Chaplaincy Association, Gerald said that chaplain Mark von Kampen is kept busy, and more support will be needed.

Terry Smith said the task of the archives committee is to preserve EMC history. Proper storage is needed to make accessible materials such as an original sermon by Klaas Reimer (Terry showed a copy). Terry also highlighted some projects of the education committee.

Henry Friesen, on behalf of the Evangelical Anabaptist Committee, spoke of the importance of Anabaptist Gary Herrfort pastors Church of Living Water in Tillsonburg, teaching materials in passing Ont. on our theology to the next generation. Conference staff are a good resource for churches seeking help in the area of Christian education.

Board of Leadership and Outreach Chairman Art Dueck said the ministerial meeting held on July 6 was a “great, great job” on discussing money, sex, and power. David Thiessen, conference pastor, is putting lots of effort into trips, though he gets tired after, Dueck said.

David Thiessen said that, based on the Visioning Day, the BLO and other boards have a mandate in leadership

Lester Olfert prays with Nicaraguan delegates Ramiro Morena and Nicolás Sequeira.

Announcement Several years ago the pastor of one of our churches had an improper relationship with a woman in the church. The pastor was immediately removed from his position and his credentials as a minister revoked. Efforts at reconciliation were made to bring healing and resolution to those involved. Recently a civil suit was filed against the pastor. The suit also named the church, its directors and the conference as having vicarious responsibility in this matter. Legal counsel has been sought with the purpose of working through this case with integrity.

Len Barkman General Secretary

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

development. He Conference Council interviewed George Toews (who spoke Elections of his passion for mentoring), Dave Moderator Funk (who benefited Ron Penner from study funds), and Garry Koop Board of Church Ministries (who was examined Robert Goertzen as a minister). Koop Trenton Penner was asked if the Doug Barkman examination process Rod Dueck went too easy on him; he replied it was Board of Leadership and helpful and encourages Outreach more in this direction.

Jacob Enns Ward Parkinson, Layton Friesen Canadian church planting coordinator, Board of Missions introduced planters Luis Pitta Gary Herrfort (who Rick Kroeker spoke of delays in building at Tillsonburg, Board of Trustees but trusts God’s Reinnie Brandt timing), Antonio Pitta (the Brandon church Nominating Committee is managing more on Frank Klassen its own and workers’ David Plett families are now Mervin Brandt arriving from Mexico), Abe Berg and Abe Bueckert (was encouraged by sodturning, using a rope and a plow, at Picture Butte).

Board of Missions Chairman Ernie Loewen said BOM is concerned about unreached peoples, Latin churches, aboriginal leadership, and intentional high-level tent making.

Len Barkman spoke of the Low German Mennonite conference being formed in Mexico with EMMC and EMC. Don and Minna Thiessen will spend a year in Mexico helping the new conference. Gerald and Sandy Reimer and family are going on a “four-year” (Len corrected it to say “four-month”) assignment in Mexico.

Two delegates from the EMC-related conference in Nicaragua brought greetings, translated by Lester Olfert. Nicolás Sequeira Brizuela is pastor of the La Paz church and president of the Nicaraguan conference.

Ramiro Moreno is pastor of the First Mennonite church in Managua and coordinator of the social commission for the conference.

Lester and Darlene Olfert are going to Nicaragua with Action International and will serve at Gethsemane Orphanage.

Len Barkman introduced Siaka and Claire Traore; and Rod Hollinger-Janzen. Siaka Traore is president of the Burkina Faso Mennonite Conference. Hollinger-Janzen is executive coordinator for Africa Inter-Mennonite 9

Mission. The vision for church Ruth Anne Peters, national office planting in Burkina Faso is workers, for their efforts. developing, delegates were told.

Gifts were given to Len Barkman Affiliate agencies

by Siaka Traore on behalf of the Steinbach Bible College’s Burkina Faso Central Council and Gord Penner reported positive

by Rod Hollinger-Janzen on behalf happenings at the college, of AIMM. including a new president Rob Missionaries are coming and Reimer. Told he only had one going. Associate status is being minute, Mennonite Foundation of explored with Send International.

Canada stewardship consultant Tribute was given to David and Edwin Friesen successively held up Mildred Pashe, who have served as three books and said, “Free! Free!

Gloria and Randy Fehr reported on behalf of Grace church leaders in the community Free!” He sat down to an ovation.

Community Church in Aylmer, Ont., a church plant that was of Sioux Valley; they are now MCC Manitoba was present. accepted into the Conference. moving to Portage la Prairie area.

Moderator Ron Penner spoke Chris Kroeker brought greetings from Good News positively of Mennonite World Conference, its 2009 Ministries (MBN) in Paraguay. assembly in Paraguay, and the welcome by and positive testimony of the First Lady of Paraguay, Maria GloriaT Council motion Penayo de Duarte, a Mennonite church member. M Art Dueck moved that congregational board chairs Terry M. Smith and Becky Buhler would be additional delegates at conference council.

Information will be sent to churches, and the motion will be voted on in December 2007.

Board of Trustees An increased budget was accepted for 2007 even while 2006 receipts were a half-million short, according to chair Gordon Reimer; the 2006 budget was met. To the end of June 2007, the shortfall is $348,495, less than in 2006, according to the delegate package report. The 2007 budget is $1,920,000.

Reimer thanked Larry Eidse, BOT’s executive secretary, for two years of work and Wannetta Fast and

Rod Hollinger-Janzen, executive coordinator for Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, introduced Siaka and Claire Traore, church leaders in Burkina Faso.

The friendship blessing of convention

T

he blessings of friendship from our youth! In the early ’50s our churches started with having conferences (now known as EMC convention). This was a highlight for many of our youth; here, we met youth from other churches.

Esther and I met in those years and became friends. It was more or less at conferences or weddings where we could meet. At that time, 30 to 40 miles was a long way to go.

After, we were both married and moved to different places. Conference was about the only time we would meet.

Years went on, each busy with our own families and churches. Both our 10

husbands have pastored churches in different and far away places.

After we were empty-nesters, we moved back home. Lo and behold, my friend and her husband moved this way, and built right on our street. At first I could hardly believe that it was really true.

But I’m so thankful that our friendship from our youth carried and has grown. Now as couples we love to spend time together: to travel, play games, share a cup of tea, or pray for each other.

Clara Koop

Clara Koop and Esther Dueck. Clara writes, “We had not planned to buy the same outfit, but it happened.”

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

Youth event was a ‘pretty good’ day!

On Saturday, July 7, for the EMC convention my dad Les Kroeker, youth pastor at Portage Evangelical Church, helped out with organizing the youth event for the day. We all had a fun, dusty, and sandy ride through the trails of Spruce Woods in the boxes of the trucks, enjoying God’s beautiful creation. It was a great day for being outside!

After the trail drive we all headed off to the beach (I think some of us were pretty coated in dust and we needed it) to cool off and have a good time, and play some football and frisbee.

Then, afterwards we had a wiener roast for supper and made some delicious dessert burritos over the fire. Following that we had a Young people got dirty on a trail drive... bit of sharing time, and sat around for a time of worship and sang a few songs along with Stuart Enns playing guitar. For the teaching time, Jon Giesbrecht was our speaker and he included a part of his testimony.

I’m sure a lot of the youth were a bit hesitant, and maybe a few were a bit out of our comfort zones in going to the youth event for the day and being with people we have never met before. Throughout the day, though, everyone seemed to get along okay; and we were all communicating pretty good by the end of the day, getting to know each other.

Everything worked out pretty good! I think everyone had a good time; were inspired by worship, teaching, God’s creation; and met a few new people.

Jessica Kroeker

EMC Annual Convention 2007

...washed off in the water...

...and listened to a devotional.

Convention Project Offerings Missions Steinbach Bible College Convention Costs Total Giving

$23,411 $2,034 $5,664 $31,109

Thank you for your gracious giving!

Larry Eidse Board of Trustees (photo credit Gerald Reimer)

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

11

Saturday workshops

Church must teach peace, Burkina Faso leader says Four workshops were offered twice on the Brandon University campus on July 7: Being a peace church in West Africa (Siaka Traore), Witnessing and ministering in difficult countries (a couple to be serving in Central Asia), Praying with the Lord’s heart for the lost (Flo Friesen), Pilgrim experiences, coming alongside local friends in an Islamic society (Janice Loewen).

The religious make up varies among African countries, Siaka Traore said. In West Africa, Islam predominates.

Since denominations are expected to have distinctives, Anabaptists choose peacemaking. It is not an illusion, but an invitation by the Prince of Peace to be practiced.

Relationships are being worked on between Catholics and Protestants, Christians and Muslims, Christians and Traditional Religions. We must strive to understand peace values in Jesus Christ. We must teach peace in our catechism and church program, Traore said.

Flo Friesen said that Ephesians 6:18 refers to all kinds of prayers and requests and listed intercession, strategic prayer, warfare prayer, and listening prayer as a part of that “all kinds.”

Some people say that Jesus did not pray for the lost, but he did. To pray “on earth as it is in heaven” is a prayer for God’s Kingdom to be established, with all peoples of the earth as loyal subjects. Jesus also prayed and wept over the lost people of Jerusalem.

Flo Friesen: To pray “on earth as it is in heaven” is a prayer for God’s Kingdom to be established, with all peoples of the earth as loyal subjects.

Friesen said prayer is communicating with the Father. It is a transfiguring experience; it is having an intimate relationship.

Listening prayer involves opening our ears and hearts to the heart and voice of God. 12

Janice Loewen used shoes to illustrate how we classify people according to outward appearances, and referred to walking, stumbling, and climbing in stages of witness.

Janice Loewen: Talking about faith is easy and natural with Muslim people.

Walking: Because God encompasses the entirety of life in Islam, talking about faith is easy and natural with Muslim people.

Stumbling: The Muslim view of a foreigner as “just another arm of the U.S. government” is deeply enrooted. Jesus is seen as a Western idea, which is an obstacle. It can be tempting for Western people to withdraw and associate only with other Western people because initially it is difficult to build trusting relationships with local people. As a Christian, the question becomes “how do I cope in a dark society without withdrawing?”

Climbing: In teaching, it is important to begin in the Old Testament and demonstrate how Jesus has been God’s plan right from the beginning.

When people come to faith in Christ, there are many challenges: For example, how can a believer get married without all the Muslim rites?

Loewen encouraged workshop attendees to see that Muslims are people we need not fear and with whom we can learn to relate—they need to know the love Apply now and forgiveness that God for September 2007 can give, just as we do. call cathy for info Becky Buhler and 1.800.230.8478 Terry M. Smith www.sbcollege.ca THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

EMC Annual Convention 2007

Some members of the praise and worship team

Several on-stage displays illustrated the life and work of Jesus.

Worship through music was an important part of each session.

A group of young people from Ebenezer Christian Church in Brandon, Man., performed a dance during the Saturday evening session.

Registration

Mary and John Wiebe from Picture Butte Mennonite Church in Alberta were first-time Convention attenders.

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

1

letters

continued

Uncommon and special

Our folks were much surprised at the beautiful article on the Chipewyan church meetinghouse dedication [Community Church gets new building, May 23]. Most of them signed a card to that effect the other day. I told them I still had a copy of the story, in the same magazine, of my home church’s first building-opening (ca.

1980?), and it wasn’t nearly as substantial as this one!

I was moved by how your writing sounded more like narrative/story than report, Terry. There was something like a building of momentum throughout the article, which to me felt uncommon and special.

Arlyn van Enns Fort Chipewyan, Alta.

Times have changed

I’d like to respond to Peter Hall’s letter Why not publish a guilt-free cookbook?

(July 4). I encourage those who are concerned about food justice and their health to check out two cookbooks published by MCC: More-with-Less Cookbook and Simply in Season. As a young homemaker, More-with-Less has been my handbook for preparing healthy, economical meals. I recently discovered Simply in Season in an attempt to eat more local foods.

While I also enjoy perusing my grandmother’s copy of the Mennonite Treasury, I realize that the recipes therein are from a physically hard-working generation that could handle the extra calories. Times have changed, and, although I do enjoy a rich Mennonite meal from time to time, I find recipes from More-with-Less and Simply in Season more suited to my lifestyle. And, I can use them with a clear conscience.

Jaimee Loewen Winnipeg, Man.

Reflections on healing article

I also point out that it is clear from this passage that God is our first source for healing. But sadly, even as believers, we usually first seek out every conceivable human source to relieve our condition, and when all has failed, we turn to prayer as a last resort. Does this mean the human resources are outside God’s plan for healing? Definitely not. I agree with Dr. Allan Lysack when he says, “We doctors do the cutting and the sewing, but God does the healing.”

This prayer for healing falls within the wider context of verses 13-18. James is pointing out the efficacy and power of prayer. To illustrate his point, he uses Elijah’s experience when he prayed God to stop the rain for three and a half years.

He begins with emphasizing that “Elijah was a man just like us” (5:17 NIV). His point? God’s answer to our prayers does not depend on our religious status but on our faith in Him; the most profound requests are open to all.

In layman’s language, if God performed such a miraculous feat as stopping the rain for three and a half years at the request of an ordinary man, and then at his request start the rain again, would He not answer the prayers of the church elders, who in obedience to His Word, anoint the sick and pray for his healing?

Brother Plett is right when he points out that all too often we look to the physical to bolster our faith, especially in the area of physical healing. What I find troubling in his thesis, though, is that, instead of expounding the passage in James 5 in its immediate context, he moves out of the context and expounds the Greek verb sozo to save (the noun soteria, salvation) in multiple divergent contexts.

I am quite in agreement with his explanation within those contexts, but his departure from James 5 to prove his thesis that faith is not “dependent on physical evidence” has the effect of downplaying the relevance of the teaching in this passage.

I am not a “name-and-claim” believer, and I have also witnessed spiritual devastation in people who built their faith on the evidence of physical healing; however, in my years of spiritual ministry, I have witnessed many inexplicable physical healings, and rather than encouraging people to make God’s instruction for healing primary, this approach encourages them to seek other sources first.

Henry Hiebert Steinbach, Man.

people movement Rosey and Travis Zacharias left for Paraguay on July 24, 2007, to begin their first term of service with EMC Missions. Please pray for them in their cultural adjustment and as they work in church outreach in East Paraguay.

Gerald and Sandy Reimer, together with their three children, will be leaving for Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, for a four and a half month short-term mission assignment.

Reimers will be working with the Spanish church conference, which will include teaching in the Saturday Bible Institute.

Please pray for Reimers, who left home on August 13, 2007.

Board of Missions

I found Rev. Darren Plett’s article in the May 23 issue, Healed though the Illness Remains, interesting. Over the years, especially during my pastoral ministry, I have been inundated with people asking for prayer, either for their own health or for the health of loved ones and friends.

To these requests I invariably turn to James 5:13-18 and explain the context and significance of the passage.

14

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

with our missionaries Oaxaca, Mexico

Contented, amazed, and encouraged

The Zapotec word ritta ebá leri’i is the kind of contentment and happiness that might be expressed by whistling or singing as one works or walking along with a lilt in one’s step. We used the word when translating joy in the list of fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.

It was that kind of contentment I felt as I watched and listened as my cotranslator lead the read-through of the recently revised book of Galatians in Yareni Zapotec. He asked questions of the two women who had agreed to come and help us determine the clarity of the translation and he skillfully answered their questions. My job? Well, I answered a few exegetical questions, but mostly I was the scribe.

One of the women, a believer for many years, learned to her amazement what circumcision is. My co-translator and I learned that the phrase we were using for justification was not understood the way we had hoped it would be, so it was back to the drawing board on that one.

We had some good laughs as both women, when they got stuck trying to answer our questions, would appeal for

help from the other one.

To put yourselves in their shoes, think about how you might respond if asked to explain the end of Galatians 4 where Paul talks about Abraham’s two sons; two women, one a slave (there is no word for slave in Zapotec), the other free; God’s covenants, one bearing children who are slaves; Sarah being our mother; the present day Jerusalem....

The principal message of Galatians came through to all of us: We are saved

by Christ’s death on the cross alone; not by obedience to the law or anything else we might do, however good it might be.

For me personally, the read-through was just a glimpse of what I hope and pray will happen one day: Zapotecs reading and interacting with God’s Word in Zapotec. And in the meantime, I was again encouraged by Paul’s word as found in Galatians 6:9: “Let’s not get exhausted doing good, because if we don’t get give

up, the day will come when we will enjoy/ benefit from the good we are doing.”

I’ve no doubt I will need to be reminded of this verse in the weeks to come as we tackle the revision of the book of Acts.

It’s a long book—13.16 per cent of the New Testament—albeit, an easier book to translate than Galatians.

Grace Thiessen Grace Thiessen (Steinbach) lives in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, where she has been involved for more than 20 years in translation and literacy among people who speak Yareni Zapotec.

with our churches

Being 60 isn’t all that bad, right, Pastor Richard?

Straffordville, Ont.: We have come to know and love our new pastoral couple, Richard and Katherine Klassen. They have faithfully served us, and we are thankful for them.

We saw the congregation unite and grow as some of our members left to join different churches, especially one couple who were long-time deacons in the church. This was a very difficult time

New members: Michael Thiessen, Elmer and Tina Loewen, Jake and Lisa Peters, Pastor Richard and Katherine Klassen

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

for us, but God says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for each of you.”

His plan is for us to be faithful and to serve Him wherever we are. (continued next page)

New deacon couple: David and Anna Froese. Canadian church planting coordinator Ward Parkinson and Katherine and Richard Klassen stand with them.

15

(continued from page 15)

We are also joyful for the new people who have come, and for those that have joined Straffordville EMC as members.

We had a deacon commissioning service on March 25, 2007, for Dave and Anna Froese, and on April 15, 2007, we had a baptism and membership reception service. Michael Thiessen got baptized.

Elmer and Tina Loewen and Jake and Lisa Peters were accepted as members.

I believe these commitments to be a result of our Deeper Life Meetings that were held in February 14-18, 2007, with Glenn Loewen (pastor of Portage Evangelical Church). We enjoyed special items such as singing, testimonies, and children’s stories. A men’s breakfast was enjoyed by a number of men. It was a

special time of renewal and spiritual growth for the whole congregation.

On May 30 we had a fun evening at the church, as we surprised our pastor with a celebration of his 60th birthday! We enjoyed some singing, visiting, and, of course, food. Being 60 isn’t all that bad, right, Pastor Richard?

United we stand as we “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Aggie Blatz

A birthday cake for Pastor Richard Klassen.

ACF honours Helen Cameron

Abbeydale (Calgary, Alta.): On May 27, 2007, a retirement party was held in Helen Cameron’s honour, who retired from teaching Sunday School to two- and three-year-olds after 30 years. Helen was presented with flowers and a cake and skits were performed to represent Helen’s years of teaching.

On June 3, 2007, during our morning service, our high school graduates were honoured. They were presented with personalized gifts from the church.

Trevor Plett, one of our youth workers, presented them with gag diplomas, to the delight and amusement of our congregation—and possibly the embarrassment of the graduates.

Pastor Dave Funk said a special prayer for our grads and there was a narrated PowerPoint presentation about all the graduates.

On June 10, 2007, we had a baptism and membership transfer service. Kellie Lissel was baptized, and Joyce Rochel, Randy and Kathy Dueck, Gerald and Marion Mann and Karen Lissel were

Helen Cameron with some of her students.

welcomed into our family by membership transfer.

Camp this year was at Camp Kannawin, Sylvan Lake, Alta., June 15–17. Despite the soggy weather, a few brave souls went boating and tubing and had the sore bodies to prove it.

There were also plenty of indoor activities for those who preferred to stay dry, warm and in one piece. Our guest speaker, DeWayne Bartley, challenged us at the Saturday evening Baptized after giving their testimonies at Sylvan Lake on June 17 were: (back) and Sunday morning Bruce Dyck, Charlene Mack, Eva Mack, and (front) Fuji Jian. Also pictured are services. (front, centre) Kellie Lissel (baptized June 10) and Pastor Dave Funk.

16

On Sunday, Perry Metheral was crowned King of the Older than Dirt Club as he turned 40 that day.

Kathy Dueck

Members received on June 10 were: (back) Kathy Dueck, Randy Dueck, Gerald Mann, Karen Lissel, (front) Joyce Rochel, Kellie Lissel (baptism), Marion Mann. Pastor Dave Funk stands with them.

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

Pansy has three-in-one day Pansy, Man.: Our Mothers’ Day service on May 13 turned out to be a special three-in-one event.

Besides seeking to bless and encourage all mothers, we also celebrated a parentchild dedication where the raising of five little ones was committed to God. Involved were Ed and Sabrina Giesbrecht with Ethan, Wendell and Kendra Rempel with Morgan, Wes and Ang Fehr with Malachi, and Dylan and Sheila Barkman with Hudson and Jasmine.

Since most of the grandparents and others came out to support the event, we had a good crowd and a happy festive feeling. Third, Angia Fehr was also

received into membership at this service.

Welcome, Ang. We wish you many happy years with us.

June is always grad month. This year we had five grads to honour: Breanne Doerksen, Danielle Hofer, Daniel Goertzen, Thomas Patenaude, and Derek Neufeld. The church put on a pleasant little barbecue and party-time for them and their parents on Sunday night, June 10. May God’s blessing and guidance go with each of you as you venture out into the bigger world.

All the unpredictable weather this year made us wonder, but we needn’t have worried. June 24 turned out to be a

perfect day to wind up the Sunday School year and celebrate our annual picnic.

And Pansy Park was an ideal location, in spite of the fact that the ball diamonds were rather soggy.

We had a Penny Carnival with various booths holding the interests of every age group. The organized potluck was scrumptious as usual, and the guests we had out for the open-air morning service—Matt Funk to sing and Dale Loewen to speak—were very well received. God bless you all for making a great day even greater.

Betty Barkman

Pansy’s church picnic took place on June 24.

Members received

Kleefeld, Man.: April 22, 2007, was a special Sunday at Kleefeld EMC, in that two members were added to our church family. Transferring from the Tres Palmas EMC were Heinz Uwe and Alana Siemens.

Alana moved to Paraguay to pursue her nursing career. Heinz was born and raised in Paraguay. Their friendship

Alana and Heinz Uwe Siemens

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

began as both were attending the Tres Palmas youth group, and they were married in 1999. Together with their children Nicanor, Nicol, and Norbert, they moved to Kleefeld a couple of years ago, and we sincerely welcome them into our fellowship.

Another special event occurred on June 10, 2007, when seven people were

baptized and received into membership.

These included Karen and Rob Wiebe, Jared Dueck, Beth Reimer, Ellie Naylor, Tiffany Banman, and Kendra Bartel. We were blessed by their testimonies, and wish them God’s richest blessings as they continue in their walk with the Lord and in service to others.

Louella Friesen

Karen and Rob Wiebe, Jared Dueck, Beth Reimer, Ellie Naylor, Tiffany Banman, and Kendra Bartel

17

Tributes and challenges exchanged Stony Brook (Steinbach, Man.): Do you care that people are dying and on their way to hell? If so, take hold of this message and don’t give it up. This challenge was put to us on February 19, 2006, as our congregation paid tribute to two couples.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,” and we were pleased to join four witnesses who ran the race with perseverance and fixed their eyes on Jesus as they paid public tribute to the Lord’s faithfulness. Those two couples were Peter and Kathy Friesen and Marvin and Wendy Thiessen.

Kathy Friesen said entering full-time ministry was an act of obedience. She heard God say to her, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). Following Jesus does not come without a price tag, she told us, but if we do not obey we miss out on many great blessings in store for us.

Peter Friesen challenged us to take the torch. There are three steps in responding to Christ: to salvation, to Christian living, and then to Christian service or mission work. We come across these three steps gradually as we mature in Christ, and this comes out of a heart of commitment.

REV. BEN FRIESEN 1928–2007 On Monday, July 23, 2007, Reverend Ben Friesen passed away at the Bethesda Hospital after a short and courageous battle with cancer.

His memory will be cherished by Henrietta, his wife of 57 years; son Mervin and wife Eunice, grandsons Brendan, Christopher and Patrick;

18

These three stages are not optional.

He came to the same conclusion as did Peter the apostle: Seeing how one day the whole earth will be destroyed that we ought to be people who lived their faith daily. “You ought to live holy and godly lives...to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him” (2 Peter 3:12, 14).

His desire for us is that we be filled with the Holy Spirit and to let him direct us. If we do this, there will be much fruit and much to rejoice about.

Because Peter and Kathy Friesen and Marvin and Wendy Thiessen spent time in full-time Christian ministry there will be more souls in heaven. The question is: How many souls will be in heaven because of what we’ve done?

Marvin and Wendy Thiessen spoke of how good God had been as they served in full-time ministry with Janz Team.

They both had a heart for missions when they met, and dedicated their lives to introducing people to Christ. In the tourist town of Granada in southern Brazil they began programs to train local people for ministry.

son Lyndon and wife Bonnie, grandsons Carter and Jackson; daughter Marlylles and husband Gordon, grandsons Nathan, Andrew, Michael and Jeremy; daughter Sheri and husband Christopher, granddaughters Aidyn and Ella.

He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Helen Friesen; his sister Anne Smith, brother Harry Friesen, as well as his wife’s parents Isaac and Maria Hamm and brother Elmer Hamm.

Dad was born on October 28, 1928.

He was a faithful servant and followed God’s leading into a life of ministry. His early years of service were spent with the EMC, church building and pastoring in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and in Manitoba. Dad’s strong character, his loving compassion, and his commitment to the Lord’s service were a testimony of his faith and helped him build lasting friendships he treasured.

Dad’s richest blessing was his sweetheart, Henrietta. Together, God

They spoke of summer camp programs they began in Brazil and Eastern Paraguay, which are going today and have a strong discipleship program.

They spoke of crusades Marvin preached and sang at where many people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

They helped start a Bible school, now a seminary. Many pastors, missionaries, and church workers are being trained, and it is only through the grace of God that so much is accomplished.

After 18 years in South America, Marvin and Wendy moved back to Canada and Marvin became the North American director of Janz Team. He traveled to many places, preaching and singing.

Marvin said that it takes a forceful man to be a missionary, and there are many challenges and much excitement in being one. Being a missionary makes a difference. The Kingdom of God is advancing and it’s taking over! God needs people to take this world for Christ. He asked us to pray that Christians would be so dangerous that demons flee when they enter rooms.

Because Peter and Kathy Friesen and Marvin and Wendy Thiessen spent time in full-time Christian ministry there will be more souls in heaven. The question is: How many souls will be in heaven because of what we’ve done?

Miryam Bueckert

blessed them with two sons, two daughters and eleven grandchildren.

He was a loving, devoted husband; father, grandfather and friend, emanating the love of Christ in all he did and to everyone he met.

His legacy is one of sincere compassion for others, an absolute love for his family, and his unfailing dedication to the Lord’s service. We praise God for the time we were given with Dad, and we rejoice that he was called home to be with his Father in heaven.

His funeral service was held Monday, July 30, 2007, at the Evangelical Mennonite Church, 422 Main St., Steinbach, Man., with interment at Heritage Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

His Family

THE MESSENGER August 15, 2007

shoulder tapping Wilderness Edge Conference and Retreat Centre is a 115-room facility that caters largely to church and family gatherings. We are currently looking for a capable evening guest attendant to join our team. Responsibilities include assisting with supper, being responsible for night snack, and light office work. Cleaning skills are an asset.

Accommodations are available as well as meals.

For information, contact Kevin Penner at 204753-2535.

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, e-mail: emclen@mts.net.

Endeavour Fellowship Chapel in eastcentral Saskatchewan, is currently looking for a pastor. We have a fairly young congregation consisting of 18–20 families, with about 16 children in Sunday School. Contact Tom Treen (Elders’ Chairman) at 306-547-3383 or tdpromise@sasktel. net.

Island Gospel Fellowship, in Burns Lake, BC, seeks an interim pastor and a permanent pastor.

Burns Lake is a village in the geographic centre of the province, in the heart of the lakes district.

The village’s population is 2,726, and it serves as the supply centre for 8,000 people in neighbouring communities. The congregation, with about 110 in average attendance, is comprised of people from a range of cultural and church backgrounds.

Inquiries should be addressed to Johnny Janzen, chair, pastoral search committee, IGF, Box 145, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0. Another contact is interim church chairman Cole Clifford, 250-6987319; cole.clifford@lakescom.net.

What team do you like to play on?

EMC Missions desire to send a team of church planters to Mexico. Following two semesters of Spanish language study, the team will be placed in one of the cities in Chihuahua State working alongside national church leaders and missionaries.

For information contact Ken Zacharias at 204326-6401 or emcken@mts.net.

Hodgson Christian Academy (HCA), an almost new school with 20 Native students, seeks applicants for both the lower grades and upper grades teacher positions for 2007–2008. HCA opened in 2003 and is now operated by several churches. HCA serves families in the Hodgson, Peguis, and Fisher River communities.

HCA is located about 2 hours north of Winnipeg. For information please contact principal Tim Reimer at treimer@juno.com or 204-364-2466.

Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (a nine-year-old EMC congregation meeting in South Calgary) is seeking a bi-vocational senior pastor to begin this summer or fall. We currently have about 40 people attending, and our aim is to reach the lost in our area.

We are looking for an organized, selfmotivated candidate with a strong pulpit ministry and gifts in evangelism, discipleship and visionary leadership for church re-planting.

For details and discussion please contact Dean Buhler, 1452 Lake Sylvan Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2J 3C8. Phone 403-271-5171 or e-mail kbuhler1@ telus.net.

Mission Heights Community Church, in the busy city of Grande Prairie, Alta., is seeking a full-time senior pastor. We are a family oriented congregation of 180 people. Direct enquiries to Wayne Friesen at waynefriesen@neufeldonline. com or call 780-538-1605.

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 MESSENGER August 15, 2007

EMC Board of Leadership and Outreach seeks planters to start congregations in Canadian cities.

The national office works with local churches and regions to envision, equip, and respond to these needs. Cities envisioned are Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Regina, Windsor, and London.

Also needed are core families willing to be part of the church plants. Together it can happen!

Contact Canadian church planting director Ward Parkinson at 204-326-6401, emcward@mts.net.

Pelly Fellowship Chapel (EMC) seeks a youth worker or couple to develop a program for youth and junior youth. PFC is a small church in the village of Pelly, located in central Sask., close to the Manitoba border. Applicants need to have a strong personal commitment to Jesus Christ and a sense of God’s call on their life. He/she will need to be flexible, have strong communication, organizational, relational and leadership skills, as well as being self-motivated. Music skills would be an asset. Submit resume to Pastor John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306-595-2074.

E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com.

MCC seeks applications a full-time Low German program coordinator (Winnipeg, Man.), to manage its LG program in Mexico and have a coordinating role for LG programs within the MCC system. This highly relational position requires excellent communication skills and understanding of the LG-speaking communities.

Qualifications: An ability to relate with sensitivity to all Mennonites; administrative and leadership skills; fluency in Low German and openness to acquire Spanish; willingness to travel to Latin America, the United States, and in Canada.

The job description may be viewed on the web at www.mcc.org. All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to a personal

Christian faith and discipleship, active church membership, and nonviolent peacemaking.

Contact Marsha Jones at 204-261-6381 or email: mgj@mennonitecc.ca. Applications are accepted until September 10, 2007.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada seeks applications for a half-time domestic policy analyst in Ottawa, Ont. The placement of this position on Ottawa indicates MCC Canada’s increasing commitment to governmental work.

Although this position’s focus is on select Canadian domestic issues and policies, flexibility is necessary in order to meet the mandate of the Ottawa office. The role will include monitoring and responding to federal government legislation and action relating to our priorities. This is done in the context of regular communication with relevant MCC provincial and international programming, other Mennonite agencies, and related coalitions.

The goal of our involvement with the government is to find ways in which we and our constituency can participate in the struggle for justice within Canada.

The domestic policy analyst uses a teamwork approach to collaborate with all members of the National Programs department of MCC Canada and to interact with MCC provincial offices, other organizations connected to MCC, and coalitions, where appropriate.

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship, active church membership, and nonviolent peacemaking. For further information contact Marsha Jones at 204-261-6381 or e-mail mgj@mennonitecc.ca.

Mennonite Central Committee seeks applications for a full-time water and food production coordinator in Winnipeg, Man. The coordinator is a member of MCC’s Program Development department within the International Program department and is responsible to support the development and strengthening of MCC’s international work related to water and food production, focusing on changes in climate that impact water and food; work with MCC’s international country programs to plan/design, monitor, and implement water and food production activity; educate MCC constituency on this work, by collaborating with the MCC Resource Generation Network, and with regional and provincial MCC offices for communication and consultation.

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship, active church membership, and nonviolent peacemaking. For further information contact Marsha Jones at 204-261-6381 or e-mail mgj@mennonitecc.ca.

High Level Christian Academy, in northern Alberta, is a K-9 school currently seeking a certified teacher for a 7–9 split grade. For information please contact Eugene Peters at 780926-4126 or e-mail eugsam@telusplanet.net.

19

pictures of God

Joanna Plett

Pictures of the Holy Spirit

I

used to think of the Holy Spirit as more of an event than a person. Although I believed in some vague sense that the Holy Spirit lives within every Christian, I didn’t really see his work as a regular part of life.

He was a part of radical moments and intense encounters—the sort of events that could define years or even decades. Very spiritual people, I suspected, had these encounters more often than the average Christian, but even in those cases I saw them as the exception rather than the rule.

A few years ago, despite my skepticism towards charismatic Christianity, I wanted to experience the Holy Spirit more in my own life and began to seek the spirituality that I thought would take me there.

Around that time, a week of sessions by Steve Robbins on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit revolutionized my perception

wanted to encounter him, he wanted to speak to me—to teach me how to pray, to show me how to live, to give me words to speak.

As I expected him to speak to me, I began to hear him in daily life and conversations. My tentative requests for gifts and wisdom became bolder and bigger with the knowledge that they were not essentially about my hopes and dreams and needs, but that they were about God’s kingdom forcefully advancing as he worked in and through me.

“If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always as we T experience, proclaim, and enter the kingdom of God. M

God longs to pour out his Spirit on us, because as his Spirit heals us, guides us and flows through us, his glory is revealed on earth and his kingdom is spread. of the Holy Spirit. That week I encountered a God who is on a mission to spread his kingdom throughout the earth, and who has commissioned all his resources to fulfill it.

I thought the gifts, like the Holy Spirit himself, were just that: Gifts. They were unearned and given freely, but essentially, they were for the recipient. As such, I was thankful for the gifts I was given, but felt unworthy to ask for more.

But, as I caught a glimpse of God’s commitment to spreading his kingdom on earth, I discovered that the gifts of the Holy Spirit really had far less to do with me than with his kingdom they were meant to advance. God longs to pour out his Spirit on us, because as his Spirit heals us, guides us and flows through us, his glory is revealed on earth and his kingdom is spread.

Contemporary stories of healings, revelations, and miracles revealed that the work and the plans of the Holy Spirit completely eclipsed my paltry perceptions. I discovered simultaneously that He was infinitely farther beyond me and intimately closer to me than I had ever imagined.

As my eyes opened to the Holy Spirit, I discovered that encounters were no longer far away and far between.

My quest changed from a distant search for him to a discovery that he was with me constantly. More than I

PAGE 20

THE MESSENGER Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017 62 PAP Registration #9914