The Messenger Vol. 50 No. 8 August 2012

The Messenger

50 years of serving the EMC!

Volume 50 No. 8 August 2012

rowing in him

SEE CONVENTION 2012 COVERAGE ON PAGES 6–8, 12–20 $2.00

Editorials

A rich time of togetherness

O

ur Bicentennial convention went well: useful meetings, helpful inspirational sessions, and a rich time of togetherness.

The workshops were beneficial, food was plentiful, and convention giving was generous.

The Lord blessed us!

Region Six volunteers and national office members (not meaning me!) worked hard. The music team served well. The many Region Six volunteers were active. Thank you, Region Six! The EMC timeline effectively displayed our Conference’s shift from being fearful and exclusive to turning outward and becoming more inclusive. With the theme Rooted in Christ, Growing in Him, it was a nice touch to give away white spruce seedlings.

Were there glitches? Yes, there were a few technical difficulties; and some people said the stairs and lack of a major elevator made the event less accessible.

What about suggestions for future years? The messages need to be translated into languages

The EMC timeline effectively displayed our Conference’s shift from being fearful and exclusive to turning outward. typically used in worship services within the host region. Translation was appropriate in 2011 and unneeded in 2012.

During the main sessions, we could sing in various languages. (Please provide PowerPoint translations of songs not in English.)

Will there be glitches in 2013? Probably.

However, the host region will work hard and the Lord will bless our time together.

As Christians we have inherited the wonder of Christ in community within a holistic ministry, a gift to be shared broadly as we enter our 201st year.

Lord willing, see you in La Crete, Alberta, in 2013!

– Terry M. Smith

••

When harmony will be heard

O

n July 6 the EMC ministerial celebrated footwashing and communion.

David Kruse led in singing, including two German songs Großer Gott, wir loben Dich!

(Almighty God, We Love You!) and O Mein Jesu, Du bist’s wert (O My Jesus, You Are Worthy).

Kruse was unsure of what would happen.

From the start, however, a rich harmony filled the room.

I’ve observed this before. Some seniors and middle-aged people hesitantly sing modern choruses designed to attract or keep young people. Then someone tries a German hymn and the room fills with a rich sound. (How many song leaders ignore this strength of their congregations?)

On July 7, during the Board of Church Ministries’ report at conference council, I mentioned the fine singing in German that had occurred

2 The Messenger • August 2012

the previous day. Some people chuckled. After all, why would this mostly British fellow appreciate singing in German?

Actually, for years I have thought we should include a German song at convention. Few people take me seriously, though I am. As a multilingual conference, we need to display greater skill in using languages to include people.

In KG history, sadly, languages were often used as walls to sharply define who was in and to keep others out. Today the EMC acts best when it uses languages as bridges to welcome more people. This is why I support an inclusive use of many languages.

As the EMC seeks to grow, when will more harmony be heard? It will happen as attitudes, not languages, shift.

– Terry M. Smith

Table of Contents Features

Departments

6

2

Editorials

3

Pontius’ Puddle

8

Let’s Celebrate the EMC!

John’s Gospel presents us with a case for celebrating – Arden Thiessen

In the beginning: two beliefs in conflict A literal view is the most reasonable approach to creation – Rick Bettig

11 Confessions of a pastor’s wife A glimpse of “life on the other side” – Jennifer Kramer

page

14

4 Letters 22 With Our Missionaries 24 With Our Churches 24 Births 25 Weddings 28 News 32 In Memory 32 Calendar 33 Shoulder Tapping

Columns 5

Writings Shared

A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Public Good

21 Archives Alcove Looking at a legacy – Terry M. Smith

27 Focus On

Let’s keep the Word of God central!

– Tim Dyck

34 Pictures of God

Pictures of God: a reflection – Joanna Enns

Convention Coverage 12 Panel, Klaas Reimer speak at ministerial 14 Conference Council deals with current tasks and the future 16 Saturday afternoon workshops 17 42 people visit their roots in Ukraine 18 EMC youth spit, serve, and worship 19 EMC Rat River Run attracts 33 20 Mennonite Landing Site evokes strong images 20 Worship service goes back 200 years

page

19

35 Stewardship Today Inheritance – Mike Strathdee

36 Kids’ Corner

As busy as a bee – Loreena Thiessen

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

The Messenger Volume 50 No. 8 August 2012

EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA ROMAN

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca.

The Messenger is the monthly 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. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Subscription rates 1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign) 2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign) 3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign) Manitoba residents add 7% PST. Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year.

Single copy price: $2 Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

Change of address and subscriptions Undelivered copies, change of address and new subscriptions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Phone: 204-326-6401 Fax: 204-326-1613 E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.

ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities.

Advertising The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca.

THE Messenger schedule: No. 9– September 2012 issue (copy due August 17)

4 The Messenger • August 2012

Letters Sources, specifics are given

Ray Hill’s review of my book What’s Wrong with Our Schools (July) was puzzling. He acknowledges the key ideas (teacher-centred learning, standardized curriculum, discipline, homework and material challenging to students) are “what most parents and teachers connect to” and “should be standard fare in schools.” Yet he still wrote a negative review and the reasons he gives don’t make a lot of sense.

For example, he says the book lacks footnotes and claims this makes it hard to check out whether its statements are accurate. However, while the book does not use footnotes, it certainly does cite sources.

Each chapter has its own self-contained bibliography and the American Psychological Association (APA) style of referencing is used throughout.

APA is the standard referencing style in virtually every educational journal.

Hill dismisses the scenarios at the beginning of each chapter as “caricatures.” Apparently his experience in the public school system is substantially different from the many teachers and parents who carefully reviewed

our book prior to publication and affirmed that these scenarios were often strikingly similar to their experiences.

I can assure Hill that many of the scenarios are based directly on real events.

Finally, Hill claims the book lacks sufficient detail about how teachers should be evaluated. Ironically, the very section he cites (pp. 70–71) contains direct references (using APA referencing style, of course) to research studies that give more information about the concerns he raises.

I encourage readers to get a copy of the book and evaluate it for themselves.

– Michael Zwaagstra Steinhbach, Man.

Guidelines for letters

Letters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less.

Missions dessert night and

book launch

Light the World: The Ben and Helen Eidse Story as told to Faith Eidse Saturday, August 11 | Rosenort EMC Sunday, August 12 | Steinbach EMC at 7:00 p.m.

Purchase your autographed copy and meet the authors!

Copies are also available at www.friesenpress.com/bookstore

Columns • writings shared A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Public Good by Miroslav Volf (Brazos Press, 2011). 192 pp. $.21.99. ISBN 9781587432989. Reviewed by Wes Kroeker (EFC Steinbach), minister, Sunday School teacher, and Board of Church Ministries chair.

H

“

ow do I get involved in my community in a meaningful way?” Usually the question is not what to do, but how to be involved and a follower of Christ at the same time. This book is a meaningful guide without being specific.

Volf calls us to look at how faith in the past and present has malfunctioned as a contributor of good to our communities, and then explores how human flourishing is more than experiencing satisfaction. “Life goes well for us when our basic needs are met and when we experience that we are loved by God and by our neighbors—when we are loved as who we are, with our own specific character and history, notwithstanding our fragility and failures”(72).

He then calls believers to engage the world with their whole being and to address all dimensions of culture. Permeable boundaries are encouraged so that faith can be carried to the world and true good things be received.

from the past... into the future

Volf calls believers to engage the world with their whole being and to address all dimensions of culture.

He has wishful hope for (not belief in) universal salvation and proposes a form of pluralism. His idea is to navigate differences with mutual respect— productive arguing “as friends rather destructively as enemies”(137).

Volf is honest, but his wish and proposal are filled with opportunities to delude ourselves.

Volf paints an eloquent picture of faith in action: “That, I think is today’s most fundamental challenge for theologians, priests and ministers, and Christian laypeople: to really mean that the presence and activity of the God of love, who can make us love our neighbors as ourselves, is our hope and the hope of the world— that this God is the secret of our flourishing as persons, cultures, and interdependent inhabitants of a single globe”(74).

Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission Centennial Celebration Banquet Friday, September 28, 2012 | 6 p.m.

Heartland Community Church Landmark, Manitoba Complimentary tickets available at the Evangelical Mennonite Conference office 440 Main Street Steinbach, MB 204-326-6401

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Convention 2012

Message one of four

Let’s Celebrate the EMC!

by Arden Thiessen

T

he practice of remembering significant events is as old as humankind. Societies that think they have something important confirm that and pass it on by celebrating.

Anthropologists speak of “rites of intensification.” The idea is that a good thing can be improved and strengthened by celebrating it.

Sociologists who have studied the role of celebrations in different world cultures say they “produce social cohesion, reduce ambivalence, increase conformity, and exert controls on unacceptable beliefs and behaviors” (Celebrating Passages in the Church, p. xiii).

Further, they notice that in religious communities they give meaning to the past and provide hope for the future. Celebrations have to do with the past and the future.

The celebration is a way of remembering; it’s a way of affirming the past—whether delightful or horrible. Apparently it’s a healthy thing to be able to say, yes, it happened.

This weekend we gather to celebrate our denominational past. We are announcing and proclaiming, “Hey, we are still here!” We will do it with joy and praise, honouring the one—our Lord Jesus Christ—who has made it possible.

Klaas Reimer

We will start with the vision of Klaas Reimer and what became of it. There is probably little evidence he had a long-range plan. He just wanted a more wholesome life of discipleship than he saw in his church.

He was not influenced by the Orthodox Church of the host country Russia, nor by the Lutheran Pietists in neighbouring colonies, nor by

the German Baptist revivalists who came by with their exuberant enthusiasm. His inspiration came out of reading the older Anabaptist writings.

The Bible

In a sense, it was back to the past. And back to the past meant back to the Bible. If he had a vision it was this: that his church should respect the Scriptures as the guide for the Christian life.

If we want to fix on one traditional quality that we have inherited, I suggest we focus on this.

This is what has made us what we are. This has allowed believers from many other backgrounds to join us and identify with us. This is why we support SBC. This is how we became an aggressive missions-oriented community sixty years ago.

This is why we discuss and disagree about the role of women in the church.

This is why we write letters to The Messenger about how best to understand God’s work of creation. We take the Bible seriously.

John’s Gospel

I spent a good bit of time with John’s Gospel during the past six months. At one point it dawned on me that the entire Gospel presents us with a case for celebrating.

In the first place, it is a uniquely happy Gospel. While the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) have the call to self-denial, following, bearing the cross or else, John has a gracious, friendly, giving God. God so loved the world that he gave (3:16).

“I am come that they may have life abundantly” (10:10). “I told you these things so that my joy

If Klaas Reimer had a vision it was this: that his church should respect the Scriptures as the guide for the Christian life. If we want to fix on one traditional quality that we have inherited, I suggest we focus on this.

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Convention 2012

ALL CONVENTION PHOTOS BY REBECCA ROMAN EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFIED

I spent a good bit of time with John’s Gospel during the past six months. At one point it dawned on me that the entire Gospel presents us with a case for celebrating.

– Arden Thiessen

may be in you and that your joy may be full” (15:11). “My peace I leave with you” (14:27). Get the idea?

In the Prologue (1:1–18)—which may have been a song they sang at their weekly celebrations—Jesus is introduced as the Word, as God, as the Creator, and as the Light that shines in the darkness. Then the eternal Words became flesh and tented here with us.

Those who met him were impressed; he was full of grace and truth. All this happened to reveal God to us (1:18). After this introduction we expect great things of this Jesus. But, first, John summons up the witnesses of that day. John the Baptizer said, “This is the Son of God,” and then “Here is the Lamb of God.” Andrew announced, “We have found the Messiah!”

Philip reported, “We have found the one about whom Moses and the prophets wrote.”

Nathanael exclaimed “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.” All this is in Chapter 1. With that kind of an endorsement we expect huge exploits.

It looked promising to those early Galilean neighbours of Jesus. The Jewish scribes, who had studied the prophecies and reflected deeply about the glories of their past, expected a Messiah to come, a deliverer who would be anointed

with power for massive military operations. To the Galileans it looked as if Jesus would fit.

A wedding, a funeral

And then, what do we read? Jesus went to a wedding! With his mother!

And at the wedding he made wine, more wine, so that their happiness would not be spoiled. It was good stuff too, surprisingly good.

First class, top of the line wine.

Now, that’s not the whole story of John. Jesus started by going to a wedding; he concluded his public ministry by going to a funeral.

There at the gravesite he stood with the weepers and wept (11:33–35). The six days of wedding joy in which he participated foreshadow the kingdom. The death and raising of Lazarus foreshadows how it will all come about.

Those two parallel events, attending a wedding and then a funeral, tell us exactly the same thing about God. He rejoices with our joys and he weeps with us in our sorrows.

He is with his people and enters into their lives and their experiences. Therefore, because of the feeling I get about God from John’s Gospel, I assume God is with us at this jubilee gathering and will be rejoicing with us. 

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 How will we celebrate?

So, how will we celebrate? First of all, we will give all the glory to God; each speaker will likely reiterate this.

But let’s not be too nervous about it.

Sometimes our anxiety about paying proper respects to God spoils our joy.

We are nervously apprehensive about receiving compliments or enjoying any successes, because we remember Herod. Remember Herod?

He gave a fantastic speech, did not give God the glory, so the worms ate him and he died. (You can read about it in Acts 12.) Yes, we will remember Herod.

But how will we celebrate? We evangelical Mennonites are somewhat handicapped when it comes to celebrating. Will we get drunk, will we fire off our guns, will we have fireworks, as is common in our world? No, that would not be the EMC style!

Will we dance for joy (Psalm 149:3) and anoint each other with oil (Eccl.

9:8; Psalm 133:2), as was common in biblical times? No, most of us would feel uneasy with such jubilation.

Will we have elaborate, commemorative liturgies, as would be common in many other denominations? Apparently not!

However, what we will do does have biblical associations. We will talk about the past, we will enjoy each other’s friendship, and we will eat together.

And then we will imitate the hills and the trees. Isaiah has left us with a vision of a time when the Lord will deliver his people and give them an abundant life.

On that day, he says, the hills will burst into song and all the trees will clap their hands (55:12). At each of our sessions let’s do the same: sing for joy and clap our hands.

Arden Thiessen, BA, MA, DMin, is a minister and an educator who has formerly served as EM Conference moderator. He spoke on Friday evening at our EMC convention.

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Part two of two

In the beginning: two beliefs in conflict

by Rick Bettig

I

t wasn’t very long ago that biblical creation was the basis for our society. Christendom historically believed in a literal six-day creation, a literal createdfrom-dust Adam, and a time span between creation and Christ’s birth far shorter than millions or billions of years.

What happened? Since the beginning of the 20th century, much of the scientific and academic world has claimed that evolution is scientific fact. Evolutionary theory has been and continues to be rigorously promoted and defended by major science museums, secular universities, and secular magazines (Ham and Taylor, 55).

Q. Is evolution fact? Is evolution even scientific?

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary provides the following definition of science: knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.

Dr. Jeremy L. Walter, head of the Engineering Analysis and Design Department at Pennsylvania State University, defines science as the “human enterprise of seeking the nature and processes of our universe through observation, hypothesis and experimental validation”(in Ashton, 11).

Dr. Stephen Grocott, general manager of Research and Development at Southern Pacific Petroleum, states, “if something is scientific, it is observable and testable—it is able to be repeated”(in Ashton, 146).

Based on these definitions, creation and evolution (as a theory of origin) are both outside the realm of science since neither process is currently observable, testable or repeatable.

Q. If evolution is not by definition “science,” what is it?

Evolution is a religious philosophy— a belief system about the past based on the words of men who were not there, but who are trying to explain how all the evidence of the present (fossils, animals, plants) originated without a Creator (Ham, 32–33).

From a theological perspective it is important to recognize evolution is a belief system that stands in opposition to the doctrine of creation—two beliefs in conflict!

One must carefully consider the presuppositions at the core of the evolution/creation debate.

Evolution presupposes a purely naturalistic origin to the universe, whereas creation presupposes the work of God in bringing all things into existence.

Christians approach the study of origins with the following pre-suppositions: the Bible is the

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

From a theological perspective it is important to recognize evolution is a belief system that stands in opposition to the doctrine of creation—two beliefs in conflict. inerrant Word of God (there are no mistakes); the Bible gives correct information about the origin of all things; God created the Heavens and the Earth and everything that lives; and, the purpose of God’s creation is to reveal the character and power of God Himself and to motivate all of His creation to worship Him. Q. Why do some Christians seek to harmonize evolutionary theory with the biblical account of creation?

Evolutionary theory has become so popular and so pervasive that many Christians assume that it must be true, or at least mostly so. They can see no other position to take, so they go to their Bibles to consider how Scripture might be re-interpreted in light of the evolutionary explanations of fossils and strata (Ham and Taylor, 55). I recall being in just such a position!

The marriage of evolution with the Bible has resulted in various models that are “intermediate”—between the two. Theistic evolution is one such accommodation that suggests “God worked from within the process of evolution to produce the desired results” (Erickson, 53). Others include the Day-Age Theory that interprets the six days of creation as six great ages of indeterminate length and the Gap Theory that presupposes a time gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.

Any basic study of the biblical doctrines of theology will ultimately show all doctrines, directly or indirectly, have their basis in the book of Genesis. Therefore, any compromise on the Genesis record will undermine the Bible as a whole.

Ken Ham rightly states “if one wants to destroy Christianity, destroy the foundations established in the book of Genesis. Is it any wonder that

Satan is attacking Genesis more than any other book?” (Ham, 59).

Q. How do the recent trends in science challenge evolutionary theory and intermediate models?

Scientific study has sufficiently advanced to indicate the Genesis record implies a young earth (less than 10,000 years old).

Dr. John Kramer, research scientist with Agriculture Canada, asserts there are numerous pieces of evidence that fit a young earth: the historical records, the population growth, the helium content in the world, the missing neutrinos from the sun, the oscillation of the sun, the decline of the Earth’s magnetic field, the limited number of supernovas, radioactive halos, the mitochondrial DNA pointing to one mother, and the increase in genetic diseases (in Ashton, 53–54).

Intermediate constructs which 

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 presume a long age for the earth are

susceptible to the same problem naturalistic evolution faces—too much time!

Dr. Ariel Roth states neither nature nor the Bible indicates intermediate views between creation and evolution are the way God did it. One can find peripheral information to support many models, but one would like some more direct authentication before accepting speculative suggestions. One should not give up on a more authenticated model—a literal six-day creation—for a more speculative one (in Ashton, 96).

As one examines the theological conclusions for old earth positions, one begins to obtain a portrait of some kind of god, but he is not the kind of good God as described in the Bible (in Ashton, 98). The following is one of many examples.

Q. Did suffering and death exist prior to the fall?

The Bible clearly teaches that death, particularly the physical and spiritual death of man, entered the world only after the first man, Adam, sinned (Romans 5:12). What about the animals? Was death a part of the created animal world?

Intermediate constructs would have us believe that prior to man, animals lived and died. They fought and struggled; they killed and were killed.

The history of the world was a history of violent death.

Those who believe in evolution or one of the old earth constructs must accept that death has always existed since death becomes the vehicle by which ”complexity” of life is advanced.

A survey of the Scriptures provides a number of reasons as to why there was no death of any kind before the fall. Since God made His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and both humans and animals were originally vegetarian (Genesis 1:29–30), death could not be a part of God’s creation.

10 The Messenger • August 2012

Resources Used:

Millard J. Erickson, Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1986).

Stephen Grocott, “Inorganic Chemistry,” in John F. Ashton, ed. In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

Ken Ham, The Lie: Evolution (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2005).

Ken Ham and Paul Taylor, The Genesis Solution, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1991).

John K.G. Kramer, “Biochemistry,” in John F. Ashton, ed. In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

Ariel A. Roth, “Biology,” in John F. Ashton, ed. In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

James Stambaugh, “Death before Sin?” Institute for Creation Research (www.icr.org/article/295).

Simon Turpin, Answers Research Journal 5 (2012): 89–97 (www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v5/n1/review-John-Lennox).

Jeremy L. Walter, “Mechanical Engineering,” in John F. Ashton, ed. In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

Isaiah 11:6–9 and 65:17–25 suggest there was no carnivorous activity before the fall. The Bible also states that God cares for animals (Exodus 23:12, Proverbs 12:10), and yet if animals were suffering in this creation, this does not reflect well on God’s character (Turpin, 89–97).

Today, creation is a groaning creation. There is suffering and death, but it is not the fault of creation. It is the result of Adam’s sin (Romans 8:20–22).

Revelation 21–22 shows that after sin is vanquished, death, pain, and sorrow will also be vanquished. If this is the restoration of the creation, we are left with a plaguing question about death if we believe in evolution or its intermediate models: why is death being done away with?

If God originally intended death to be an integral part of His creation, then God should allow death to continue into eternity. We are left with the conclusion that death is an aberration, caused by man, in God’s plan (Stambaugh).

I respect my brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to an old earth

position and am glad we follow the same Lord. However, I remain convinced a literal understanding of the Genesis account is the most reasonable approach to creation.

Rick Bettig, BA, MDiv, is the associate pastor at Steinbach EMC and serves on the EMC Board of Church Ministries.

Websites on Creation

For further study, here are some websites of varying positions.

Young Earth www.answersingenesis.com creation.com Old Earth biologos.org www.oldearth.org – Editors

by Jennifer Kramer

“I never want to marry a pastor!”

I remember saying that to my mother when I was in my early teens. It wasn’t a slight against my father, a gifted pastor, but a cry for self-preservation.

God’s plans, however, were vastly different from my own: in my early 20s I found myself married to a theology major who desired, above all else, to serve God in ministry.

When I reminded my mom of what I had said years before, her response was, “Maybe God allowed you to grow up as a pastor’s kid so you would be prepared to be a pastor’s wife. Very little will come as a shock to you.”

After 10 years as a pastor’s wife, I can claim a widely different perspective on pastors than most others. For many, pastors are highly visible on Sunday mornings, but much of their daily lives are a mystery.

Please allow me to share some insights into the lives of pastors and their families with you—a glimpse of “life on the other side.”

Pastors are people too

Pastors deserve respect

Pastors deserve respect not only as shepherds of the church, but as fellow brothers/sisters in Christ. I can’t count how many times my father or husband has come home with a story of being accosted in the office.

Even if the complaint was valid, quite often the approach was not. People have different perceptions of how pastors should act, and what they should say or do. Striving to please everyone in a congregation is impossible, not to mention detrimental to productive church ministry.

Follow Paul’s guidelines when addressing conflict with your pastor.

Curb the tendency to complain to others on coffee row and, instead, approach your pastor with grace and calm. Recognize that most pastors are trying to do their best to help the church actualize Christ’s vision for his body—and there’s often a bigger picture that you’re aware of.

Being a pastor’s wife, although the farthest thing from what I wanted as a teenager, has been one of God’s greatest blessings to me. Life in ministry is always an adventure.

And I love knowing that we’ve chosen—as a family—to partner with God in helping to develop his church on earth.

Allow your pastor to engage in ministry with his or her family.

It’s essential if we want children to be an integral part of ministry, not an afterthought.

Nobody is fully defined by a job, even though the love of ministry lies deep in pastors. They have hobbies and passions outside of church life. They need vacations like everyone else.

They aren’t superheroes. Just because pastors have a position in a church doesn’t mean they’re mind readers, able to work countless hours, or infallible.

So, be gracious to your pastor. Be an encourager. Write a note. Make a call. Invite the family for a meal. Extend grace.

And recognize that calendar holidays—when most people are resting—can be the busiest and most stressful times of the year for pastors, spouses, and their kids.

Pastors’ families need them too

Allow your pastor to engage in ministry with his or her family. This might mean noisier home visits or a different office schedule than you might be used to, but it’s essential if we want children to be an integral part of ministry, not an afterthought.

I’m so thankful that both my father and husband place high priority on their families. I’ve known other pastors, however, who feel that the needs of their congregations outweigh the needs of their families. This causes bitterness among many pastors’ kids and accounts for why many leave the church at the first opportunity.

Jennifer Kramer is a member of Richmond Park Church (Mennonite Brethren), Brandon, Man., where her husband Ben serves as lead pastor.

The article is reprinted with permission from Mennonite Brethren Herald (May 2012).

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DREAMSTIME.COM

Confessions of a pastor’s wife

Convention 2012

Anna Bueckert

Caroline Unger

Glenda Friesen

Panel, Klaas Reimer speak at ministerial “Be yourself!” That was the central guidance provided to a pastor’s spouse during the EMC national ministerial meeting on July 6, 2012, on the campus of Providence University College, Otterburne, Man. Other key events were a devotional on valuing small things, prayer for Charles Koop as Church Planting Coordinator, a service of footwashing and communion (where Klaas Reimer spoke), and a sharing time.

Devotional

Darren Plett (Pleasant Valley) said that contrary to modern society, God is not always impressed with big. “Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10), Plett cautioned, tying this in with the EMC’s former name of Kleine (small) Gemeinde. God chooses normal people, churches, and conferences to do his work, he said.

Coordinator

Layton Friesen, Board of Leadership and Outreach chair, introduced Charles Koop (Fish Creek) as the EMC’s new Church Planting 12 The Messenger • August 2012

Coordinator. Koop confessed to a fear of failure, but trusts in God’s work behind the scenes. Ministerial members gathered, laid hands on him, and prayed.

Pastor’s Visit

Brad Schneck (Vanderhoof ) spoke of going on a prayer walk in Guadalajara, Mexico. He saw three values in a pastor’s visiting a mission field: to encourage workers, to learn about the work, and to renew a global vision.

Prayers are offered for Charles and Lorraine Koop (middle).

Charles began as Church Planting Coordinator on July 1.

Main Theme

Peter and Martha Doerksen (La Crete) spoke by Skype on Married to a Pastor: The Magic, The Miseries, The Make Belief, and the Ministry. Peter didn’t know of another profession where the employer has such expectations of the employee’s spouse.

Martha saw “endless” opportunities for ministry, depending on gifts and availability. While expectations of a pastor’s wife are not what they once were, they still exist, she said, and it is important for a spouse to not be a clone of someone else.

Convention 2012 Panel Presentations

Glenda Friesen (Fort Garry), Caroline Unger (Stony Brook), and Anna Bueckert (Picture Butte) spoke to the theme.

Glenda Friesen said it’s positive to live in a community of grace, to have an insider’s view of the Holy Spirit’s work, to work with a ministerial team, and to be directly involved in ministry. Stress occurs when her spouse is involved in “messy” situations with friends or when confidentiality is required about “heavy” matters.

Caroline Unger had no calling to be a pastor’s wife and she knew she could not act the same as her pastor’s wife. It was freeing to be counseled, “Just be yourself.”

Unger counseled: just be yourself, don’t let expectations of others motivate you by guilt, love people, set boundaries, try to find a friend, pray often and stay in the Word, “and this too shall pass.”

Before she was married, Anna Bueckert felt God’s call to be a pastor’s wife. She agreed that a pastor’s wife needs to be herself. She was given a ministry of encouragement and “loves” to work alongside Abe, but finds change hard (such as moving and leaving a job she appreciates). She enjoys it most when she and Abe pray together.

Questions were asked. Have any of you changed? One said she hadn’t changed, but needed to be careful.

Another said mostly not, but needed to do “what I’m cut out for.” A third

Peter and Martha Doerksen by Skype

A theme during the discussion is that a pastor can help to protect a spouse from unfair expectations. said change is good if it’s in the right direction.

A theme during the discussion is that a pastor can help to protect a spouse from unfair expectations.

A pastor asked, what type of emotions do you feel when your husband is up for evaluation? When a church mistreated her husband, he resigned, one woman replied. When she was then described as the best pastor’s wife they’d had, she reminded the person that what they did to him, they did to her.

When evaluating a pastor, it is offensive for a form to include questions on evaluating the spouse, one pastor said; it should be avoided if at all possible.

Footwashing

A service of footwashing and communion followed. David Kruse (MacGregor) led singing in German

and English. Jeff Plett (Fort Frances) read from John 6. Klaas Reimer had the sermon, as adapted and presented

by Layton Friesen (Fort Garry).

“We must yield our all to Him without keeping anything back in our hearts and minds. Oh beloved I sincerely wish that we would thoroughly prepare ourselves for this love and memorial feast,” preached Reimer in 1829, “so that no one would appear before Christ with a lamp without oil or without a wedding garment.”

After the message, congregants knelt in prayer facing backwards (as in earlier KG practice). There was more singing in English.

Most people present participated in footwashing before joining in communion. Layton Friesen then pronounced a benediction and a coffee time followed. Finally, there was a time of sharing and prayer.

– Terry M. Smith

Cathy Klassen serves Helen Froese as part of a footwashing and communion service.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 13

Convention 2012

Conference Council deals with current tasks and the future In the near future, the EMC will be asked to consider entering a process of revising its Statement of Faith, conference council delegates were informed on July 7, 2012, at Providence University College, Otterburne, Man.

Nominating Committee

Devotional

After discussion, conference council voted to accept Iglesia Emmanuel (Emmanuel Church, Calgary) into the EMC. A Vision Statement has been drafted and is being revised, Tim Dyck said. The Harmony Project is needed as thorough work is needed on difficult issues, said moderator Richard Klassen.

Building on the Board of Leadership and Outreach’s desire, the General Board authorized it to begin a review of the EMC’s Statement of Faith, Klassen said. BLO chair Layton Friesen later clarified that at November’s conference council, the BLO will propose a process of how to revise the 1993 statement.

Kelly Lesser (Roseisle) drew upon Psalm 8 and a storm that caused him to marvel at a force of nature and the God behind it. We are God’s greatest creation, he said, but get sidetracked and fail to notice God who acted for our reconciliation in Jesus.

Election Results Vice Moderator Abe Bergen (Kleefeld) Reg. 8 Board of Church Ministries Brigitte Toews (Heartland) Reg. 8 Rick Bettig (Steinbach EMC) Reg. 8 Board of Leadership and Outreach David Funk (Abbeydale) Reg. 2 Kim Stoesz (Braeside) Reg. 7 Jacob Enns (Leamington) Reg. 9 Glenn Plett (Morweena) Reg. 5 Alvin B. Plett (Heartland) Reg. 8 Board of Missions Warren Kroeker (Braeside) Reg. 7 Len Barkman (Heartland) Reg. 8 Fred Buhler (Pineridge) Reg. 3 Board of Trustees Tony Hiebert (Ridgewood) Reg. 8 Jake Elias (La Crete) Reg. 1 Nominating Committee Alvin Rempel (Rosenort Fellowship) Reg. 6 Arnold Thiessen (Braeside) Reg. 7 Sid Reimer (Fort Garry) Reg. 7 Hilda Koop (Heartland) Reg. 8

14 The Messenger • August 2012

Alvin Plett (Heartland) led in elections. All positions were filled by acclamation; they received support levels of at least 90 percent.

General Board

Board of Church Ministries

Churches are asked to encourage and assist youth leaders to attend TRU, our national youth leaders’ retreat (Oct. 12–14), said Gerald Reimer, conference youth minister. TRU provides good content and does not want cost to be a barrier to attending, he said.

EMC archival holdings are being moved to Winnipeg, said Terry Smith, executive secretary. The EMC “urgently needs” to have materials translated from German. “Voices from

Moderator RIchard Klassen

our history—writings in our vault— are being silenced by our conference’s inability to read them,” he said.

Brigitte Toews, BCM secretary, read a letter from chair Wes Kroeker.

In May the BCM reviewed the decision to publish the creation series and decided it “fell within the mandate of the magazine,” and that it “would be helpful to have a diversity of opinions represented in the same issue and for pastors to have a heads-up….”

“Let us dialogue with sincere love,” Kroeker wrote. “Let us jealously guard the other’s well-being. Let us seek to make God look good.”

Board of Missions

Outgoing chair John Bueckert said it was the BOM’s task to “put missions in your face.” The Discovering Your Ministry Potential weekend will be held in Grande Prairie, Alta. (Sept.

21–23). Tim Dyck, general secretary, reported on visiting workers in Europe and participating in a MWC missions conference in Switzerland. Heidi Plett (Prairie Rose) said Namibia needs teachers.

Board of Trustees

Leonard Plett said a Treasurer’s Day

Convention 2012

was held. Designated funds are available to help “handicapped” people. The year 2011 ended with a $42,000 surplus (after $20,000 was reallocated). The audit went well. The financial year-todate is better than in 2011.

Board of Leadership and Outreach

While Tim Dyck travels to Madrid, Paris, and Basel, Ward Parkinson, conference pastor, said he travels to Picture Butte, Hudson Bay, and Stevenson and gets the better end of the deal.

Chair Layton Friesen interviewed Charles Koop about church planting. What’s exciting about planting churches? The people who will come, Koop replied. Layton encouraged churches to invite Koop.

Friesen said there are spiritual benefits to reviewing the Statement of Faith. He suggested a lengthy process involving “grass roots” participation.

The ministerial would deliberate and form a committee. The committee would revise the Statement, which would then be submitted for examination, and approval, by the ministerial and conference council.

In looking at the creation series, the BLO took into account the Statement of Faith, the 1985 statement, and what has been taught at related Christian institutions, Friesen said. It concluded that the EMC has held the door open to several interpretations.

In November the ministerial will hold a teaching day, looking at Christian strategies in reading Genesis, he said.

While Tim Dyck travels to Madrid, Paris, and Basel, Ward Parkinson, conference pastor, said he travels to Picture Butte, Hudson Bay, and Stevenson and gets the better end of the deal.

Affiliate Organizations

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is responding to social issues, Tim Dyck said, and a short video on human trafficking was shown. The Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies is going through changes, said Bert Kornelson.

Why did Jesus say to help others? asked Janet Plenert of Mennonite Disaster Service. Because they need it, she replied. MDS is to stand with people on the “margins” and those who serve are changed in our faith.

Ebenezer

Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer (Ebenezer Christian Church), in Brandon, brought greetings through its delegate Abraham Gilberto Contreras, who spoke of the congregation’s newlypurchased meeting place, which is now being renovated.

– Terry M. Smith

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15

Convention 2012

Saturday afternoon workshops

Bruce Penner,

Dallas Kornelson

Missions in the 21st Century: The Board of Missions’ workshop included two aspects of ministry that are challenging in different ways.

One couple talked about the widespread need for beginning creative businesses in restricted access countries. They shared how working through business gives opportunities to serve real people with real needs. A Kingdom business brings Jesus into the marketplaces, which are centres of influence for every town, region and nation.

Bruce Penner, chair of Mid-Way Christian Leadership (formerly Continental Mission), shared a renewed vision, through which the board and mission has sharpened their focus on specific roles to embrace the “Kingdom of God” in northern Manitoba. Bruce talked about specific steps that the board is taking to walk alongside northern Christian leaders.

– Ken Zacharias Foreign Secretary Deeping the Faith of a New Generation: With the goal to equip parents, presenters talked about how they minister to students under their care. From a para-church perspective, Dallas Kornelson spoke about the development and challenges facing teens.

Tim Reimer talked about shared experiences as a teacher. David and Marie Dyck talked about the joys and sorrows of parenting. Andrew Krahn highlighted building relationships within the local church setting. Lots of questions were asked during the panel discussion and informal conversations carried on following the workshop. Many resources were handed out and recommended as well.

– Gerald Reimer Conference Youth Minister

Becoming a Welcoming Church: Charles Koop played a video reflecting experiences in MacGregor. Anthony Reimer (Blumenort) spoke of the challenges of an established church opening itself to the wider community. Angel Infantes (Braeside) spoke of greeters, getting to know about other countries. Zac Klassen (The ConneXion, Arborg) spoke of eating together, participation, caring rather than being busy.

See You in 2020: The EMC is going through an envisioning process, and a draft Vision Statement was presented to receive feedback. Ward Parkinson, Tim Dyck, and Garry Koop guided this discussion. (There will be further opportunities for input as the process continues.)

The Land of the Kleine Gemeinde Beginnings: Photos, descriptions, and personal responses were shared about the Bicentennial tour to Ukraine (May 21 to June 7). See a description of the tour elsewhere in this issue.

Based on attendance figures and comments received, the workshops—held twice on Saturday afternoon—are worth considering within future convention events planning.

– Terry Smith Executive Secretary

Tim Dyck Participants at the Becoming a Welcoming Church workshop.

16 The Messenger • August 2012

Convention 2012

As part of the EMC’s Bicentennial celebration, 42 people journeyed to Ukraine, the land of their spiritual and cultural roots.

The members of the Mennonite Heritage Tour started for Ukraine on May 21 and returned on June 7. Of the 40 tourists and two guides, 23 are active in the EMC or have roots in it and 17 come from other Mennonite groups (such as Sommerfelder and Mennonite Brethren).

The group easily developed into a community of faith, encouraging one another spiritually.

The tour involved Kiev, Molotschna Colony, Chortitz Colony and Borsenko Colony. We visited key villages that used to have Kleine Gemeinde (now EMC) people living in them.

Some of the group took side trips to villages where they had connections. One lady expressed joy at walking on the streets of the village where her mother had walked, as well as seeing the house where her parents had lived.

For EMCers it was exciting to walk and see the villages where our forebears had lived before migrating to Canada and the USA in 1874–75.

There are no structures remaining that were built prior to 1874. There are, however, many brick buildings— homes, schools, factories—built from 1895 to 1945. Some of the factories and school buildings are being used today Education flourished at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries among Mennonites. Also many brick houses built by Mennonites are being used today—recognizable by the round window frames in the gable ends.

A special time was our Sunday worship service at the mass grave and monument remembering those who had been massacred by Makhno and his men in 1919 in Ebenfeld, Boresenko.

Another special event was visiting the restored and currently active evangelical church in Petershagen, the village where Klaas Reimer lived. Now a Baptist church, it was previously used by the Mennonite Brethren. The church is also operating a home for older widows who have been pushed out into the street.

All on the tour said it was worthwhile and enjoyable to go back to their roots.

– Harvey Plett

PHOTOS COURTESY HARVEY PLETT

42 people visit their roots in Ukraine

A village lady, with a maiden name of Rempel, still knew a little Low German.

Baptists now use the restored Petershagen church.

The tour group stands in a field of wild poppies.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17

Convention 2012

So what if our hillbilly hot tub stayed cold, our fish were lazy, and our pump got plugged? These EMC youth were not going to let a few unplanned hiccups get in the way of a fabulous time with friends on Saturday, July 7.

The conference youth event began with 70 youth frantically filling balloons to create “muscles” under the jersey of their team’s body builder and then cheering these muscle men on as they competed in popping all their balloons with belly floppin’ fun.

Afterwards, Lyndon Epp (Rosenort Fellowship) got the “Hick Olympic” competition rollin’. Youth were challenged to set records at corn chuckin’, toilet seat tossin’, hand fishin’, seed spittin’, slip ‘n’ slidin’, and boot kickin’.

And the youth didn’t disappoint, for they were spittin’ watermelon seeds clear past the measuring line, slippin’ faster than greasy breakfast sausages, and huckin’ those toilet seats as if it were an international event.

Just before anybody got the notion of being tired, Travis Friesen (Roseisle) and Mike Thiessen (Pleasant Valley) dragged the slip ‘n’ slide

18 The Messenger • August 2012

away from the river and onto the open field. This was the highlight of the event for many; we tried (with varying success) several tug of war competitions, obstacle courses and races down that slippery slide.

We poured on the soap till it was gone and shouted with glee as we slid down that poly; spectators in the truckbox pool watched with excitement.

However, our hope was that the youth could be part of something bigger than entertainment on this day.

Jesse and Erin Penner (Pleasant Valley), Scott and Debbie Dick (Rosenort EMC) and Alyssa Thiessen (Pleasant Valley) set up numerous stations where youth were encouraged to get creative with paper, cameras, canvas, yarn, pictures, cards and musical instruments to bless our Conference missionaries.

Biographies of missionaries were posted at each station and leaders guided youth through the process of praying for and creatively encouraging them. The youth left us speechless at how they jumped into this service

PHOTOS COURTESY SCOTT DICK

EMC youth spit, serve, and worship

project and created many beautiful and meaningful works of art.

The pizza supper came just in time, and was followed by a surprise dessert: an eavestrough ice cream sundae. After everyone was done lickin’ their lips, the evening got off to a bold start with the band Reinstate performing a concert for the energetic crowd.

Next, a hillbilly skit was performed that built on the “missions” theme and helped prepare the crowd to hear from our speaker, Flo Friesen. A past missionary herself, Friesen shared personal stories while painting a picture of what missions is: actions that stem from a genuine response to God’s love.

Missions is not trying to fulfill all the needs in this world, but rather being faithful to listen and obey the God who loves us. Then, Reinstate led us in worshipping God through song.

And that is how the event ended, just as it should have, with all glory going to our Lord and Saviour.

– Scott Dick

Convention 2012

How do you start a race? Dr. Arden Thiessen had noted in his talk the previous evening that Mennonites don’t celebrate an anniversary with guns or cannons. I thought of a solution: three Swiss cowbells!

Participants had typical pre-race jitters on July 7, 2012, but as the cowbells rang the runners followed the red signs and the five-km walkers followed the yellow markers. The early morning sun hadn’t dried off the fog patches, so participants disappeared silhouetted into the horizon along the gravel road south of Otterburne, Man. The morning was cool. However, the July humidity was shown as runners came in wet from perspiration.

The five-km walkers and runners zigzagged along the beautiful meandering Rat River, heading to the Bridal Falls and back.

One runner missed the turn-in to the finish and headed out for the second round until some runners called him back.

One young five-km runner got so enthused he took off with the 10-km runners and just before the 7 a.m. start of the five-km run he crossed the finish line, only to be informed that his race was about to begin. The expression on his face was worth a picture or two.

The only team of three runners— Shannon Sawatzky, Bryan Warkentin and Gary Koop (Steinbach EMC)— received their baskets of fruit. All participants received EMC t-shirts.

There was good competition between the 10-km runners. Our two fastest EMC pastors turned out to be Garry Koop (Steinbach EMC) and Jared Schroeder (Westpointe in Grande Prairie).

All 33 participants enjoyed the event and seemed pleased with the special t-shirts and medals for the winners. Maybe next year we can do it again, increasing the numbers.

– Albert Martens Shannon Sawatzky

PHOTOS: JOHN SAWATZKY

The EMC Rat River Run attracts 33

SAVE THE DATE

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to the core FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012 CALLING TO CONNECT GALA With Special GueStS Janet Stewart, Wilma Derksen & JJ Lavallee

Reserve your tickets and tables today to this annual, sold-out event by contacting Laurie at 582-8779 or laurie@icya

The four fastest runners: Garry Koop, Jared Schroeder, Adam Schmidt, and Gord Penner.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19

Convention 2012

The Mennonite Landing Site at the junction of the Red and Rat Rivers is not just another picturesque green space beside some quiet water. It holds a very important place in Kleine Gemeinde history, the place where the first contingent of KG immigrants entered when they arrived in Manitoba in 1874.

“I was very moved,” says Diana Peters, who took the bus tour to the landing site offered on Saturday afternoon from the EMC Convention.

“I was wondering what the settlers might have been thinking as they stepped off the boat into the unknown.”

Cyndy Warkentin had similar sentiments.

“I thought especially of the women who had left their homes and belongings behind in Ukraine, and now were faced with feeding and clothing their families in a land where everything was unfamiliar,” she says. “It must have been overwhelming.”

Warkentin notes while we may know the history of the arrival of Mennonites in Canada, to actually visit the place evokes powerful images.

“It brings it very close to home,” she notes.

“This is my history.”

There is no doubt the immigrants had many fears, but there would also have been a sense of hopefulness and excitement in beginning a new life. They faced the future with a measure of optimism because they were convinced that God had led them to Canada where they had freedom to follow their spiritual convictions.

The first Kleine Gemeinde settlements in Manitoba were at Gruenfeld (Kleefeld) and Steinbach.

– Doris Penner

20 The Messenger • August 2012

Worship service goes back 200 years The starkly beautiful Old Colony Church at Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Man., was the scene of an historically significant service on July 1, 2012, as 150 people gathered to worship as the Kleine Gemeinde did through the 200 years since the conference was founded.

To appropriately set the scene, men and women were required to sit on separate sides of the sanctuary, and there was no prelude on piano or guitar.

At the designated time, two men dressed in severe dark suits stepped onto the podium and the service began with Henry Fast, a member of the EMC Bicentennial Committee, making a brief introduction to inform modern worshipers of the procedure.

The service included several a cappella High German hymns, silent prayer with the congregation kneeling at the benches, an opening sermon delivered almost 100 years by Heinrich R. Dueck (minister at Kleefeld EMC from 1916–1944) read

by Barry Plett, and a main sermon preached by Klaas Reimer (founder of the conference) in 1832 read by Menno Kroeker.

As the gathered congregation listened to the words of Rev. Dueck as he expressed his thoughts on the parable of The Sower and the Seed and the exposition of Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares as found in Matthew 13 by Klaas Reimer, it is evident that the early leaders were well acquainted with scripture and had a deep desire that the flock follow God daily in obedience.

The Kleine Gemeinde congregation of 1812 has expanded to 62 EMC churches across five Canadian provinces, said EMC general secretary Tim Dyck in closing.

– Doris Penner

PHOTO: DORIS PENNER

PHOTO: FLO FRIESEN

Mennonite Landing Site evokes strong images

Participating in the “retro service” at Mennonite Heritage Village are Menno Kroeker (as Klaas Reimer), Danny Reimer (as song leader), Tim Dyck (EMC general secretary), Henry Fast (Bicentennial Committee) and Barry Plett (as Heinrich Dueck).

Columns • archives alcove

Looking at a legacy

T

DREAMSTIME.COM

he Kleine Gemeinde (now EMC) has a history of standing up for the wrongly treated and the poor—so said Dr. Harvey Plett during his convention message, drawing upon several early KG stories.

Klaas Reimer opposed the beating of Russian servants. The KG intervened for Franz Thiessen and his daughter Anna, both imprisoned for alleged incest.

Church members were helped with land or travel costs. The KG intervened for Michael Makowski, a convert to Anabaptism. These are wonderful acts. However, questions linger.

Did Klaas Reimer or other KG leaders show concern for the general living conditions of people of Russian descent? Did the KG approach the Russian government for those who were not church members or of Dutch/German background? Historians can clarify this.

Early Anabaptist history does provide a legacy of opposing injustice. Partly shaped by the tragedies of the German Peasants’ War and Muenster, 16th century Anabaptist leaders were conscious of social matters.

Menno Simons, for instance, opposed unfair taxes that “suck the very marrow from the bones of the poor,” and denounced lords and princes, judges, lawyers, advocates, captains, knights, foot soldiers, “similar bloody men,” priests, monks, and preachers, “wicked merchants and retailers” for greed and abuses of power (Complete Writings, 367–368).

Layton Friesen said in his convention message that when it comes to considering others

beyond the Mennonite village, “…Evangelicals have shown us what it means to be Mennonite.”

Today our Conference’s Statement of Faith and Church Practices point us in a clear direction: “Instead of taking up arms, we should do whatever we can to lessen human distress and suffering, even at the risk of our own lives” (“The Life of Peace,” Statement of Faith, article 9). “Disciples of Christ commit themselves to righteousness, justice, peace and love, in their homeland and the global community” (“Commitment to Service,” Church Practices, article 6).

Makowski’s story brings out another central matter. It has become almost a cliché to say that the EMC “has missions in its DNA.” If so, history reveals that this missions gene was dormant for many years in both Russia and Canada.

When Dutch/German Mennonites negotiated their move to Russia, they agreed not to proselytize. How could Anabaptists agree to this limitation?

The early Anabaptist Church boldly claimed the apostolic legacy that it must proclaim Christ in order to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 4:19). In setting aside the Great Commission within Russia, part of the later Anabaptist Church decided otherwise. Can past persecution adequately explain or excuse this? With all due respect, I cannot say yes.

It is troubling to find only a single story of a non-Dutch/German family being welcomed into the KG in Russia. Were there more? If so, written KG history has hidden them well.

Years ago professor Ben Hoeppner said at SBC that Martin Luther’s reformation only went part way because he failed to apply Scripture to all of life. Using this same standard of judgment—apparently rooted in the Radical Reformation—how, then, shall we evaluate the early KG legacy?

by Terry M. Smith

When Dutch/German Mennonites negotiated their move to Russia, they agreed not to proselytize. How could Anabaptists agree to this limitation? www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21

With Our Missionaries

Involvement that includes the whole community PAUINGASSI

Because of the high costs, it is always a task to see how we can best pack and transport supplies— but this is a reality that residents live with.

22 The Messenger • August 2012

It was a really great camp and community experience, though with some challenges. Because of the high costs, it is always a task to see how we can best pack and transport supplies—but this is a reality that residents live with.

This year another challenge was the 35 C heat and high humidity. It made baseball almost impossible, so we spent time with the kids swimming in the lake. Two of our workers actually cooled off a bit in a deep freeze.

The seaplane flight, taking off and landing on water, can be a bit of an adrenaline experience. Sometimes it is quite bumpy and rough; some Gravol may be needed. It is a faith adventure—but, again, this is a reality that Pauingassi residents accept.

We look forward to going back next year, already having new ideas.

As a full-time Athletes in Action staff member, I am organizing three baseball camps this summer in remote First Nations communities, with about six to eight volunteer staff members working in each camp.

– Albert Martens

PHOTO COURTESY ALBERT MARTENS

What began as straightforward Baseball Camp nine years ago has developed into a program that includes the whole community—that’s our experience at Pauingassi First Nation, Man., with Athletes in Action (AIA).

Our AIA team was present from July 9–15, 2012, and while baseball is still an integral part of the program, there is much more: Bible classes, crafts and swimming for the kids.

Men were invited to a breakfast, ladies to their own breakfast, and the community to a wiener roast.

Forty-five men came for the breakfast of pancakes with bacon.

Each man received a fishhook as a gift. Forty-one ladies came for their breakfast, and each received a gift bag of goodies. Shortly past 10 a.m. we were worried only five ladies would show, but a busload of 36 women arrived.

At the wiener roast we served 300 hotdogs.

Over the years we have learned to know and appreciate the residents of Pauingassi.

This year I was privileged to

help local pastor Allan Owen, of the Apostolic Church, as he baptized Delores Pascal. She shared her testimony with the ladies at the breakfast.

The AIA group also attends the local church service and each one is expected to contribute. The service may carry on for three to four hours before everyone has shared a song, a story or some scripture.

About 30 children turned up for our first “Sunday School” class. They kept coming back each day for lessons and crafts.

One evening I wandered into the gym and the older teens were organizing a floor hockey tournament.

I immediately became the referee and spent the better part of the night in the gym with these young guys.

Personal friendships have developed between our AIA team and some local people, which is a joy to see.

The AIA team: (front) Winnie Fehr, Katrina Woelk, Bud Kehler, (middle) Linda Blatz, Stephanie Fehr, Abby Janzen, Albert Martens, (back) Walter Fehr. All but Martens are from Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Winkler, Man.

Albert Martens (Steinbach EMC) is an ultra-marathoner who serves with Athletes in Action.

Editor’s Note: Pauingassi First Nation is a Saulteaux/ Ojibwa First Nation located about 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, Man. In 2009 it had a population of about 600 people (Wikipedia).

With Our Missionaries

CINAG’s ministry continues, church grows NICARAGUA

Over the years CINAG has made concerted efforts along with family services to teach parents, to give them tools for parenting, to introduce them to Jesus.

PHOTO COURTESY LESTER AND DARLENE OLFERT

I have before me a photo of the children and staff taken in 2007. I let my mind wander and the memories come freely. It is a large group of “little” children who today are adolescents and young adults.

No one imagined how this ministry would develop and affect this group or the wider community. God, however, knew. It has been the mighty hand of God at work one life at a time, one year at a time.

Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones.” Years of intentional teaching and nurturing has produced a lovely group of healthy, welladjusted, educated young people.

Several are now in high school and others are already in university.

Another is in the police academy.

Among them are also a few young moms who now have the responsibility of raising their children. One youth mentioned he would like to work at CINAG when he finished school.

CINAG continues to walk alongside all of these people and helps them in practical ways, always speaking hope into their lives.

I also think of a young girl who did not escape the culture of the sex trade her mother was in, and today at 13 she is pregnant and devastated. She

Lester and Darlene Olfert (back left) with children and workers in 2007.

had always expressed her fear of this happening to her and did not want to be part of such a lifestyle. CINAG will continue to give her a hand up, love, care and refuge.

Over the years CINAG has made concerted efforts along with family services to teach parents, to give them tools for parenting, to introduce them to Jesus. Only Jesus will turn this cycle around if they will trust in Him. Gethsemane Church, adjacent to CINAG, has been making a huge impact on the community. The little church is now not so little both in adherents and size of structure. How we praise God for his marvelous workings.

They have outgrown their present facility and are in the process of building. They are looking to God for the finances to finish the walls, roof, doors and windows.

We thank the countless work team members and supporters who have put a lot of love and work into this project. Today CINAG continues to depend on God and carries on with the mission before them. We are called on to continue to support and pray for them.

The original group of children have grown up and found meaning in life, but today the new group of children entering the program, need the same care and teaching. They need to know God loves them and be taught life skills to prepare them for life.

Please continue to pray for director Elizabeth Vado and the staff as they faithfully and enthusiastically serve the Lord.

– Darlene Olfert Darlene and Lester Olfert (EFC Steinbach) have resigned from Action International, but continue their longtime interest in Nicaragua’s well-being.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 23

With Our Churches Kleefeld EMC

Baptism and grad recognition Kleefeld, Man.—On Sunday, June 17, 2012, our church family was happy to witness the baptism and membership reception of eight new members. All eight are youth who have grown up in the church and it was a blessing to hear their testimonies.

Coralie, daughter of Bev and Bert Dueck, testified as to how she had learned that “prayer changes things.”

Kayla, daughter of Phyllis and Ron Harder, read Psalm 13:5 and was reassured that God’s love doesn’t fail.

Zach, son of Lisa and Dean Kamstra, had made the decision to let Christ be number one in his life. Katy, daughter of Sharon and Pastor Darryl Klassen, was encouraged by verses 23 and 24 of Psalm 37; and Lukas, son of

Martha and Vik Sawatzky, chose verse 1 of Psalm 42.

Amy and Scott, children of Patti and Wayne Unger, both vowed to continue to follow Christ and to trust in the Lord completely. Cy, son of Karen and Rob Wiebe, was encouraged by Romans 8:31 to rely fully on the power of God. It was evident that the candidates’ families, their church, their experiences at camp, and even the illness of a friend had inspired them to commit themselves to God. We welcome you to the Kleefeld EMC and wish you God’s blessings in your walk with the Lord.

Graduate recognition took place on June 24. Not all graduates were

It was evident that the candidates’ families, their church, their experiences at camp, and even the illness of a friend had inspired them to commit themselves to God.

able to attend that morning, but the following were recognized and we extend congratulations to all who have completed their course of studies and wish them all the best as they continue on into the work force or further education.

Graduating from SRSS were Alairic Penner, Katy Fast, Yolanda Morran, Melissa Friesen, Hayley Toews, Tamara Banman, Mac Wiebe and Ryan Sharples. Other graduates were Michael Dueck (Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education), Christine Unger (Bachelor of Nursing), Kurry Dueck (Bachelor of Arts), and Ruth Friesen (Early Childhood Education).

“We pray … that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

– Louella Friesen

Births VADNAIS – to Ron and Arlana Vadnais of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Micah William Kenneth, on July 10, 2012.

PLETT – to Jeremy and Erin Plett of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Lauryn Joanne, on June 14, 2012.

PHOTO: LOUELLA FRIESEN

PETERS – to Ron and Jamie Peters of Rosenort, Man., a daughter, Ryann Jade, on Apr. 26, 2012.

Baptized: (back) Katy Klassen, Zach Kamstra, Scott Unger, (middle) Lukas Sawatzky, Kayla Harder, (front) Cy Wiebe, Amy Unger, Coralie Dueck.

24 The Messenger • August 2012

DUECK – to Blaine and Melissa Dueck of Blue Creek, Belize, a daughter, Sadie Bluthe, on May 24, 2012.

BRANDT – to Justin and Krystal Brandt of Rosenort, Man., a son, Colton Josiah, on May 31, 2012.

BANMAN – to Frank and Mary Banman of Rosenort, Man., a son, Jaymian Jon, on June 23, 2012.

With Our Churches Pansy Chapel

Pansy, Man.—June is a pretty perfect time of the year, isn’t it? Located as we are in the lush outdoors, midst green grasses and oak trees, flowers and evergreens, robins, squirrels and hummingbirds, what could be lovelier?

Add a bubbling creek to the background; with a new walking bridge spanning it and, well, you get the picture. And for various reasons, some of our most celebrated church events coincide with this, coming up every June.

Let’s start with the party we like to put on for the grads. This year we honoured three.

Inviting the grads with their immediate families and close friends plus various church leaders, we began with a barbecue dinner at the pastor’s yard and later moved over to the church basement for both some hilarious fun and more serious send-off words of wisdom and prayers.

Then there was the baptism service on June 10. Ever since we adopted the idea of using Joubert Creek to create our own Jordan River experience, even damming it up when necessary, baptism has become, more than ever, a highlight. This year was no exception.

The inspiring worship singing, the timely message on the flags and colours of baptism, the vibrant testimonies by the candidates, and finally the moment when we all go down to the river for the ceremony.

Each part is special and adds to the whole, as does each person in the crowd of attendees. Baptized were Jennifer Funk (nee Derksen) and Renae Hiebert. We wish you gals, richly, God’s blessings and grace for the journey.

PHOTO: BETTY BARKMAN

Graduation, baptism, picnic at Pansy

Jen Funk and Ranae Hiebert were baptized in Joubert Creek on June 24. Pastors Ed Giesbrecht and Leonard Barkman stand with them.

Finally, June 24 had us winding up a good, bursting-at-the-seams Sunday School year, with an all-day picnic at the park. We are privileged to have a large lovely green park right in the community, and we begin by having our morning service in or around its shelter.

Here we were blessed with some lovely singing by Byron and Friends and an appropriate and powerful message by friend Len Friesen, Awana missionary from the Steinbach area.

The meal that followed was a chicken barbecue and potluck, enjoyed by

Subscribe to The Messenger electronically Prefer e-copy to hard copy? Issues of The Messenger are available electronically. You can sign up on-line at www.emconference. ca/messenger.

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close to two hundred people, while the various games, activities and treats following that offered fun for everybody.

Put it all together and rejoice.

God has been very good to us—both through the good times and the bad, but isn’t it strange how much easier those words roll off our tongues when good things happen?

– Betty Barkman

Weddings OLFERT – PLETT: Dean Olfert and Janna Plett were married on July 14, 2012, at All Saints Anglican Church. The couple lives in Winnipeg, Man. PLETT – WITTENBERG: Michael Plett and Heather Wittenberg were married on July 29, 2012, at Bethel Mennonite Church. The couple lives in Winnipeg, Man. PARKINSON – PLETT: Kyle, son of Ward and Janine Parkinson of Morris, Man., and Danae, daughter of Darren and Pearl Plett of Rosenort, Man., were married on May 12, 2012. The couple lives in Morris, Man.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25

With Our Churches Pleasant Valley EMC

Sunday School teachers appreciated Carl and Lisa Loewen, with their four sons, came home from the Philippines after 12 years of working with boys at Honest Hands. Both sets of parents—Dan and Florence Loewen, Reg and Marilyn Giesbrecht—hosted open house parties for the community to reconnect with them.

Loewens have moved into their newly-purchased home in Mitchell, Man. Their plans are to begin a ministry with Filipinos in the Steinbach area.

Sunday School teachers were treated to a delicious lunch after church in appreciation of their efforts.

On June 24, 2012, the church had a Sunday School picnic at the Rosenort Arena. The preparation of rollkuchen, a pastry, in deep fryers was a big hit.

People from many places in Canada enjoyed the EMC Convention,

which was held at Providence University College in Otterburne, Man. A birthday cake was served in celebration of the 200 years since the EMC started. Workshops and panel discussions were held and speakers were heard, with many interesting topics throughout the three-day weekend.

Children were entertained, with many well-prepared things for them to enjoy. Food was tasty at meals and coffee breaks.

A spruce seedling was given out, representing the convention’s theme, Rooted in Christ. Growing in Him. Thank you to the many volunteers.

Our senior youth went to Dallas, Texas, on a short-term missions trip.

A group of 14 was led by Mike and Alyssa Thiessen, Marshall Reimer, and Jackson Brandt The youth were involved with children, the homeless, and a prayer ministry with Adventure in Missions.

– Marilyn Kornelsen

PHOTOS COURTESY MARILYN KORNELSEN

Rosenort, Man.—The Ladies Fellowship held a shower for Danae Plett, daughter of Darren and Pearl Plett, and for Samantha Silvester, foster daughter of Ernie and Mary Ann Loewen.

Enjoyable speeches were told about the brides by Danae’s mom, Samantha’s mom and foster sister Jen. Delicious finger food and cakes were served.

Our newly-elected deacon couples are Keith and Lynn Rance and Pat and Kim Siemens. Rudy and Grace Loewen have stayed for another term.

All men, grade 10 and up, were invited to participate in a great weekend of fun and fellowship, work and worship in God’s beautiful outdoors at Gem Lake. This is a yearly weekend retreat for men. They came home with a great report of it being time well spent.

Senior youth who served in Dallas, Texas: (front) Mike Thiessen, Jennifer Penner, Alyssa Thiessen, Karen Friesen, Kari Plett, Destiny Ludwig, Rae Anna Schulz, Katelyn Sawatzky, (middle) Marshall Reimer, Mitchell Siemens, Alison Stevenson (back) Jackson Brandt, Riley Penner, Nicole Friesen.

26 The Messenger • August 2012

Parent-child dedication on July 22, 2012: pastoral couple Pearl and Darren Plett, Ron and Jamie Peters with daughter Ryann, Justin and Crystal Brandt with sons Cash and Colton.

Columns • focus on

Let’s keep the Word of God central!

Scripture memorization – Remember as a child when you needed to memorize your verse on Saturday night before going to Sunday School the next morning? Why does this become less emphasized when we become adults? In fact, we should become more adept at memorization as adults.

The Navigators are well known for Scripture memorization utilities, and there are also resources online. What initiatives do you have in your church to promote memorization of Scripture among the adults in the congregation?

Preaching the Word – Whether through expository preaching, topical messages, or any other method, is the message founded on Scripture? In a generation that emphasizes entertainment, the temptation is to make sermons interesting at the expense of everything else.

Are we as congregations prepared to sacrifice an entertaining message for a challenge from the Word of God? In his message, Layton suggested that it might take decades of being saturated with the Bible to effect changes within our churches—a sort of “marinating” process. Maybe these are areas where your church is already excelling, and I hope this is the case.

Let’s keep the Word of God central.

Does your church commit time during each service to the public reading of the Word? Is this segment a highlight of the worship service?

by Tim Dyck General Secretary

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cripture is the “prayer grammar of the Church”—this is how Layton Friesen described it during his message at Convention on Sunday morning.

This part of his message was a challenge to us as a Conference to take seriously the role of the Scriptures in growing deeper in our encounter with God, just as modeled by Jesus.

When Conference staff met with churches to discuss EMC core values, the value of Scriptural truth was always highlighted, so it seems that most of us would agree with this position. But just how well are we doing as EMC churches?

How does your church fare in the following areas in giving Scripture a prominent role in our worship services?

Public reading – Does your church commit time during each service to the public reading of the Word? Is this segment a highlight of the worship service? If not, it should be and it can be.

There are various books and online resources providing tips on how to effectively read Scripture in public. These tips include things such as effective use of pauses, practicing aloud in advance, and appropriate dramatization of the text.

Perhaps your church could consider training sessions for people who read Scripture publicly.

A dynamic and enthusiastic reading of Scripture would immediately impact the worship experience of any church.

Personal reading – Perhaps the most important thing you can do in your church is to encourage daily reading of the Word. The moment that I made the decision to read God’s Word daily was a turning point in my walk with the Lord, even though I had been a Christian for many years.

God’s Word is most powerful and effective when it is consumed regularly. What would happen in your church if every person attending made a commitment to read the Bible each day? What would it take to accomplish this in your church?

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27

News

Project Builders raises $24,000 at 18th EMC Golf Classic ICYA and Nicaragua to benefit

PHOTOS: LEN BARKMAN

STEINBACH, Man.—The EMC Project Builders Golf Clas- A critical need of the camp has been a clean and adequate sic is a popular, much anticipated annual event. This year water supply. was no exception as 154 golfers came together from across With a new well, pump and distribution lines the camp the province to participate in the event. will no longer need to haul water a distance of several This is one occasion where we have the opportunity to kilometres and will have the capacity to adequately supply relate with friends and business associates in an informal water for large groups using the facilities. The camp is used setting. The animated greetings and conversations affirm extensively by the national church for children’s camps, the role of bringing people together for a friendly, relaxing youth retreats, church and family camps as well as having a game of golf. Good weather is obviously important for great potential for rental to other churches and groups. an outdoor activity, and what a blessing it was to enjoy a Project Builders continues to sponsor numerous initiabeautiful warm day. tives each year. In addition to those mentioned, we are also Significant as the social aspect may be, our primary contributing to several Business for Transformation (b4t) purpose in hosting this event is to support several of the programs in Asia and North Africa, leadership training in numerous projects taken Afghanistan, a church building in the Demoon by Project Builders each cratic Republic of the Congo, a women’s shelter year. Sincere thanks go to in Central Asia, a senior’s shelter in Mexico, and our sponsors whose generan outreach fund for our church-planting team ous donations are so imporin Mexico. tant in making this event Project Builders provides an important minsuch a success. More than istry through assisting the national church and $24,000 was raised to help our workers throughout the world with capital fund two of our projects. resources to more effectively carry out their As we have done for work for the Kingdom. We are always open to each of the past eighteen new members who can, with a modest annual years, half of the proceeds Ed Barkman, Ray Plett, Lloyd Plett donation, make it possible for us to support raised go toward a project these projects. presented to us by Inner For information on how to become a memCity Youth Alive in Winber go to www.projectbuilders.ca. nipeg, Man. This year their – Len Barkman project was to provide signage on their property, both for community exposure as well as for providing identification and direction SBC foursome: David Reimer, Ernie Koop, within the building. It has Len Sawatsky, Rob Reimer been a great privilege for Project Builders to support the ministry of ICYA over these many years.

The other half of the proceeds will go towards a well for Camp Maranatha SEPTEMBER15 in Nicaragua. Project BuildSteinbach Bible College ers has made significant Tickets only $35 at SBCollege.ca or 326-6451 Find out how you can take this as a course for credit! contributions to this camp EMC Golf Classic organizer Ron Penner and over a period of many years. Inner City Youth Alive’s Lori Kozak 28 The Messenger • August 2012

News

CFGB appeals for donations for the Sahel $9.7 milllion committed for Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso WINNIPEG, Man.—A year ago, the world watched as a food crisis unfolded in East Africa.

What seemed like non-stop media coverage throughout the – CFGB executive director Jim Cornelius summer prompted millions of Canadians to help people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia The CFGB is responding through its caught by drought, conflict, member agencies and their partners. A and famine. The Canadian total of $9.7 million is committed to proFoodgrains Bank responded, grams in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. providing over $18 million These projects will reach over 257,000 of food assistance to 587,000 people in need. people.

When Cornelius visited Yapoa Lale, Another food crisis is a mother in Niger, she lifted up her shirt unfolding today, this time to show her small breasts that her baby in the Sahel region of West daughter, Martine, was trying to nurse Africa. There has been little from. “She sucks, but there is no milk,” media attention—despite over she said.

18 million people facing food “Many animals have already died,” shortages due to drought and said David Dale, another villager. “If the crippled harvests. situation persists, we are going to die.”

When CFGB executive Yapoa Lale and her daughter, Martine are among People can to donate through CFGB’s director Jim Cornelius visited those who need food assistance in Niger. website: http://foodgrainsbank.ca/ the Sahel region in May, he saw sahel_emergency_food_appeal.aspx; by that grain bins were already empty. mailing a cheque to Box 767, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2L4; or “Until the next harvest in fall, they will need help to by calling 1-800-665-0377. survive,” he says.

– CFGB PHOTO: CFGB

‘Until the next harvest in fall, they will need help to survive.’

New appointments at CFGB Michael Salomons has taking over the half-time been appointed to two Program Officer position half-time positions vacated by Vera at the Foodgrains Isaak, who retired Bank, Program in spring 2012. He Officer and Conserhas also accepted a vation Agriculture one-year contract Program Developas Conservation ment Officer.

Michael Agriculture Program Salomons will be Salomons Development Officer,

also a half-time position.

Foodgrains Bank.

Salomons begins his Macdonald holds a new roles in summer doctorate in Human 2012.

Nutrition (McGill).

Beginning on Macdonald reSept. 10, Barbara places Stuart Clark, Macdonald will who is retiring from serve as senior the CFGB after 14 policy advisor Barbara years. within the Canadian Macdonald – CFGB

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 29

News

Steinbach Bible College staff transitions Prayer invited as changes are made STEINBACH, Man.—SBC is currently experiencing several transitions in our faculty department. We invite you to join us in prayer for all involved.

LeRoy Barkman is retiring after serving as SBC/SCHS librarian for the past 10 years. Thank you, LeRoy, for your faithful service to God as librarian, teacher, missionary, and pastor over four decades. During LeRoy’s time at SBC,

the library added a periodicals room, moved the catalogue online, phased out the VCR, added online journals, and weeded over 2,000 books.

Dave Reimer has served well as Bible and pastoral ministries faculty for the past five years. Dave made his passion for ministry felt to pastoral students, in first year classes, and on the Student Ministry program. Dave is now serving as the bishop of the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference, but will also teach courses at SBC each semester in the 2012–13 academic year.

We are pleased to welcome Chrystie Kroeker-Boggs (Steinbach EMC) as the new librarian, Arlene Friesen (Gospel Mennonite Church, Winnipeg) as faculty in Bible and ministry faculty, and Hali Reimer (Steinbach EMC) as faculty in drama and counselling.

– Dr. Terry Hiebert, Academic Dean

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Terry Hiebert, SBC Academic Dean, presents a farewell gift from SBC and SCHS to LeRoy and Marcella Barkman.

emc 1812 ~ 2012

All are invited!

EMC

Community Celebration

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Program to start at 11:00 a.m., free barbeque lunch to follow Steinbach EMC parking lot 422 Main St, Steinbach, Man.

30 The Messenger • August 2012

New executive director at MCC Manitoba Ron Janzen to take over from Peter Rempel

WINNIPEG, Man.—Ron Janzen will take over as executive director at Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba (MCCM) effective Sept. 4, 2012.

Janzen comes to the position from his post as a vice president at South Eastman Health in Manitoba. He has also worked as finance manager at Steinbach Credit Union and secretary treasurer at Garden Valley School Division.

Ron Janzen Janzen has a long history with MCC and the community it serves. He was on the board of directors of MCC Canada and Ten Thousand Villages Canada. He has volunteered with Mennonite Church Manitoba and Mennonite Economic Development Associates.

Janzen takes over from Peter Rempel, who is retiring after seven years with MCCM. – MCC Canada

PHOTO: MCC

PHOTO: SBC

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News

SBC welcomes Chrystie Kroeker-Boggs New director of library services

PHOTO: SBC

STEINBACH, Man.—Steinbach Bible College is pleased to announce the appointment of Chrystie Kroeker-Boggs as director of library services effective July 1, 2012.

Chrystie brings enthusiasm for learning resources and a love for students to the position. She will develop the library collection for college and high school, assist with information literacy, mentor college students, and manage SBC bookstore services.

For five years Chrystie has provided excellent service as a library technician at SBC. She received a BA Chrystie from the University of Winnipeg, with Kroeker-Boggs studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Union University, Jackson,

Tenn. She is enrolled in the Master of Library Science online program at the University of Alabama.

“My hope is that by being a librarian who’s fun and approachable, I’ll be able to help students excel in their research as they study to become better equipped servant leaders,” says Chrystie. “My heart is also thrilled at the prospect of mentoring students as they learn who they are as God’s children. Being involved in student’s lives is what makes this such an amazing opportunity!”

SBC offers three and four year BA degrees, a diploma, and certificate with focus areas in Bible-Theology, Children’s Ministry, Global Mission, Peer Counselling, Pastoral Ministry, Worship Arts, and Youth Ministry.

– SBC

••

Make today count at SBC The journey, not just the destination, matters STEINBACH, Man.—I attend recruitment fairs where colleges and universities follow an advertising pattern: X years equals desired degree that translates into desired salary.

This formula has a problem: if the only value is the degree, the value of the education acquired every day is missed.

At SBC, the journey of education is as important as the destination. While attaining a degree and supporting yourself are important, SBC sees incredible value in the education happening daily. Students are learning, testing, and applying their studies in the classroom, in residence, and through ministry opportunities.

“I’ve been learning academically through classes, strengthening my biblical foundation,” says fourth-year student Sarah Barkman (Mennville EMC). “But even more so, being at SBC has given me the opportunity to grow socially, emotionally and spiritually as I’ve been given opportunity after opportunity to put my learning into action.”

Students come to SBC for many reasons, including an environment to make their faith their own. We call this

faith formation. A student can be formed in their faith while taking courses to assist their educational pursuits.

We constantly work with other educational institutions to maximize credit transfer. Students wanting a career in social work can transfer credits to Booth University College or the University of Manitoba. Students in education can transfer to Canadian Mennonite University and other Manitoba universities.

While many students pursue ministry, others become photographers, dental hygienists, healthcare professionals, farmers, and trades people. They share a broad gospelbased education allowing them to build a good foundation for faith development.

I am repeatedly reminded that students are here to make a difference. Students believe SBC not only prepares them to make a difference in the future, it enables them to make a difference today.

– Patrick Friesen, Director of Enrollment

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 31

In Memory

Calendar

Diana Mary Smith

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1929–2012 Diana Mary Smith was born at Abernethy, Sask., on March 9, 1929, to her parents, Herb and Grace How. They moved to the Pelly, Sask., area in 1931.

Diana married Robert Smith in 1947; to all the family he was Bob. They had seven children. Together they farmed on a small scale, so Bob worked at various jobs. They opened their home to a number of children, fostering and as a daycare for working moms. Diana continued to do so after being widowed. She had a great love for children.

Together with their family, they were faithful attenders at Pelly Fellowship Chapel.

When her health began to fail because of Parkinson’s disease, Diana managed in her own home as long as possible with help from her family.

She spent the last five years in Norquay Lodge. She accepted the change in lifestyle, where she was very well

cared for. Though her body would not allow her to do certain activities, she was bright in mind to the time of her sudden passing on June 8, 2012.

Diana is survived by two daughters, Joyce (Joe) Mussleman of Veregin, Sask., and Eunice (Ted) Vetter of Denzil, Sask.; four sons, Owen (Goldie) Smith of Wembley, Alta., Edward (Dot) Smith of Battleford, Sask., Glen (Gwen) Smith of Pelly, Sask., and Kevin (Judy) Smith of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Vic (Lorraine) How of Swan River, Man., and Dave (Helene) How of Saskatoon, Sask.; four sisters, Vivian (Lewis) Anfinson of Pelly, Sask., Barbara (Art) Capner of Taber, Alta., Shirley Abrahamson of Pelly, Sask., and Sylvia (Clifton) Abrahamson of Pelly, Sask.

Diana Smith’s funeral service was held on June 13, 2012, from the Pelly Community Hall, with Ferlin Abrahamson of Birch River, Man., and John Froese of Pelly, Sask., officiating.

Her six grandsons were pallbearers and her granddaughters gave tributes, expressing their love and appreciation for their grandma.

Diana was predeceased by her husband Robert (Bob) Smith, infant son Eric, daughter-in-law Brenda, and her parents Herb and Grace How. – Her Family

emc 1812 ~ 2012

Receipts and Transfers Disbursements Excess/Shortfall

Jan–June 2012 635,147 861,896 -226,749

Jan–June 2011 664,372 926,385 -262,013

– Board of Trustees

32 The Messenger • August 2012

Alberta Sept. 21–23 Discover Your Ministry Potential A weekend of self-discovery Westpointe Community Church Grande Prairie 204-326-6401, www.emconference.ca

Manitoba August 21 EMC Community Celebration Steinbach EMC parking lot see ad on p. 30 for details

Sept. 8 Head for the Hills Bike Rally Eden Foundation fundraising event Colert Beach, near Morden 204-325-5355 Register at www.edenhealth.mb.ca

Oct. 12–14 TRU'12: EMC Youth Leaders' Retreat Wilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre, Pinawa 204-326-6401, greimer@emconf.ca www.emconference.ca

Ontario Sept. 29 MCC Ride for Refuge Waterloo, Niagara, Brampton wendya@mennonitecc.on.ca rideforrefuge.org/partner/mcco Check website for more dates and locations

Oct. 13 MCC Ride for Refuge Markham wendya@mennonitecc.on.ca rideforrefuge.org/partner/mcco Check website for more dates and locations

Shoulder Tapping Pastoral positions Crestview Fellowship (www.crestviewfellowship.ca), an Evangelical Mennonite Conference church located in Winnipeg, Man., is prayerfully seeking applications for a senior pastor. If you feel God calling you to this position or if you have any questions about the position, please call Alex Wiebe at 204-837-2516 or send resume and references either electronically to the Pastoral Search Committee, Attn: Alex Wiebe (alex@flyinglow.ca) or by mail to Pastoral Search Committee c/o Crestview Fellowship, 271 Hamilton Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2Y 0H3.

Picture Butte Mennonite Church, a young congregation of about 200 people, seeks a full-time pastor to begin as soon as possible. Picture Butte is a small town in Southern Alberta approximately twenty minutes north of Lethbridge, the closest city centre. As our congregation consists largely of Mennonites who have settled here from Mexico, the successful applicant must be able to speak and present their messages in both the English and Low German languages. Please forward resumes with references and all other inquiries to: Henry Krahn, Box 891, Picture Butte, AB T0K 1V0; 403-732-5994 or krahn21@telus.net First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake, a small body of believers in northern BC, is looking for a part-time or fulltime servant leader pastor. We desire to find a person who shares our vision and will work with us to fulfill it. Our ideal candidate will have an exceptional ability to inspire discipleship, outreach, and a desire to embrace our community, while holding firm to sound biblical doctrine. Our candidate will agree with the Confession of Faith in the Mennonite Perspective. Please send your resume to FMC c/o Wilf Dueck wedueck@telus.net, phone 250-692-3455 or (cell) 250-692-6454.

New Life Christian Fellowship in Stevenson, Ont., seeks a senior pastor who has a heart for people and loves the Lord. We are an evangelical church located in Stevenson, Ontario. The church is mostly young families with average attendance between 80 and 100 people. The majority of the people attending have a Low German-speaking background. We seek a pastor who has the heart of a shepherd and a desire to see our church grow. He should have strong preaching and teaching skills and ability to develop leaders. Pastoral experience is preferred. He must be in agreement with our constitution and statement of faith. Anyone who possesses these qualifications and is interested in this position can forward their resume to nlcf@ciaccess.com.

La Crete Christian Fellowship Church (EMC) seeks a fulltime associate pastor.

La Crete, located in NW Alberta, offers rural lifestyle and a progressive outlook. With a range of family-oriented amenities, it’s a great place to raise a family.

LCCFC is a vibrant church of approximately 500 regular attendees who desire to spread the Word through a variety of ministries.

The associate pastor will provide direction to our care giving and outreach ministries as well as work closely with the pastoral team to strengthen the parishioners’ personal connection and commitment to Jesus Christ.

The applicant should be committed to a

personal Christian faith, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a willing and teachable leader, and a person whose love for the Lord is reflected in their ability to work well with others.

If the Holy Spirit seems to be inviting you to pursue this further, please contact Bill Neudorf at 780-814-1439, neudorfs@telus.net, or www.lccfc.ca.

Rosenort EMC, in southern Manitoba, seeks a senior pastor who will prepare and preach sermons that inspire, challenge and convict, emphasizing spiritual development. He will equip members, teaching and modelling local evangelism and missions and oversee the Leader-InTraining program. His ministry team includes a full-time youth pastor, lay ministers, deacons, and 250 members.

He will be a servant leader, modelling faithfulness and love for the Lord, caring for those with needs while guiding, directing, correcting and unifying the church with sound Biblical teaching. He views the Bible as the inspired and true Word of God, the authority for faith and action. Having a deep personal faith, strong convictions, and valuing family highly, he is a warm and loving person.

He relates to us as a listener; not afraid to reveal personal pain and struggles; a compassionate and godly man.

See www.rosenortemc.com for full ad. Contact: Arlin Scharfenberg, ascharfenberg@xplornet.ca, 204746-6154.

Ridgewood EMC is looking for a full-time senior pastor to begin August 1, 2012. This multi-generational family oriented rural church is located north-east of Steinbach, Man., with over 200 in attendance on Sunday mornings.

As the spiritual overseer, the senior pastor is the shepherd and guardian of the congregation. This ministry is accomplished by studying and teaching, praying and preaching, and visiting and visioning on the basis of the Word.

Ridgewood EMC members strive to be a people that minister to the whole family, worshipping God together, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in love, responding to needs around, and cultivating a culture of Biblical discipleship, prayer and fellowship—all for the glory of God. Applications along with a cover letter should be sent to Stan Hamm, stan.hamm@prov.ca, or Stan Hamm, Box 140, Blumenort, MB R0A 0C0.

Do you enjoy fishing? How about quiet community living? If you are God-fearing with a deep personal faith and seeking a full-time pastoral position, Treesbank Community Church (EMC) could be the place for you.

We are a small country church located in southwestern Manitoba, between the Souris and Assiniboine Rivers. If you are interested in this position, please contact Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475 or at lplett@mts.net.

Other opportunities The Morweena Christian School (MCS) is looking for a classroom teacher to serve on the teaching team in High School. Candidates with strengths in Math and Science will be given preference.

MCS is a rural school about 90 minutes North of Winnipeg Man., serving about 120 students.

The two-grade split classes range in size from 15 to 26 students. MCS was founded in 1966 by families of the local Morweena Evangelical Mennonite Church.

The candidate needs to be certifiable in the Province of Manitoba, needs to embrace the Evangelical Mennonite Conference Statement of Faith and be active in congregational life.

Send resume to Tim Reimer, Principal, timr@morweenaschool.org.

Steeprock Bay Bible Camp seeks passionate and caring individuals to fill the roles of senior cabin leader, junior cabin leader and lifeguard. There are also many volunteer opportunities with the camp for cooks, nurses, maintenance or other. No prior camp experience required, just a desire to serve and to learn. Police checks are required for people 18 and over.

Steeprock Bay Bible Camp is an interdenominational camp that teaches the Word of God and principles of Christian life so that children in this area may know the Lord Jesus Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. SBBC is located in northern Manitoba on the Steeprock River near Sapotaweyak Cree Nation.

Camps are for ages seven to 14, primarily First Nations children, and run from July 2–August 4. There is also a teen camp for ages 13–18 that will take place August 6–11.

See the Camp Info tab at steeprockministries.com for applications. Contact Bethany Abrahamson at 281-3583 or bethany@steeprockministries.com for information.

Inner City Youth Alive in Winnipeg, Man., is looking to fill the following positions: Senior counsellors are needed for Gem Lake Wilderness Camp. Join us for one week, 10 days or the whole summer throughout July and August. Applicants must be 17 and older, have good leadership skills, be outgoing, energetic, and ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

If this sounds like you, please contact Gord at gord@icya. ca or 204-582-8779 ext. 212.

Administrative manager to lead and manage the administrative team and give input for organizational direction to the ICYA leadership team. Full-time, permanent position, 40 hours a week from Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Go to www.icya.ca for details. Forward resumes to info@icya.ca.

Director of programming to work closely with the Executive Director in giving oversight to all day-to-day functions and future endeavours of ICYA. Primary attention will be given to providing leadership and direction to the program staff of Inner City Youth Alive. Go to www. icya.ca for details. Forward resumes to info@icya.ca.

The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; interMennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads are not to be for monetary benefit. To place an ad (150 words or less), e-mail messenger@emconf.ca or call 204-3266401 and ask for Rebecca Roman or Terry Smith. Ads will run twice unless other arrangements are made.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 33

Columns • pictures of god

Pictures of God: a reflection

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n the past five years I have written this column from the deep corners of three continents, from the heights of celebration and the dark night of my soul. Looking back over those times, I am honestly surprised that I so consistently was able to glimpse pictures of God. Even in seasons where I felt like I hadn’t heard from him for months on end, I still caught

by Joanna Enns sight of him enough to write and to keep moving forward in faith.

When Isaiah first encounters God and is given his commission to speak to the people of Israel, he hears seraphim calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

I have struggled to believe that the whole earth is full of God’s glory, especially living in intensely secular communities. Even studying history can make me a little skeptical about the truth of this claim.

I think one of my problems is that I look for glory in massive ways—in February 2007 revolutions, in revivals, in revelations. I want to see His glory shake up politics, economics or the media, or at least somehow spread across the whole sky in shocking awesomeness.

Reflecting on my five-year quest for pictures of God has shown me, however, that his glory that fills the earth doesn’t burst upon it, but permeates it. Most of the time it looks more like Jesus than like September 2008 a pillar of fire. It is clothed in the trappings of everyday life.

March 2009

34 The Messenger • August 2012

May 2010

If we look for God, we will find pictures of him in the oddest places and in unconventional ways. I stumbled upon him in night clubs and cathedrals, on streets and in airplanes, in conversations and on the news. Street signs, unmowed lawns and broken shoes triggered deep spiritual truth and growth.

As we arrange those pictures in our spiritual scrapbooks, we will begin to see not only his glory, but also glimpses of his work in our lives and patterns of his bigger purposes for us. My goal is to never stop looking for pictures of God and to periodically come back to my scrapbook to reflect on who God is and what he has done in my life.

I want to thank all my readers for looking over my shoulder at the pictures of God I have found, and I encourage you to keep looking for them in your own life. I conclude this stage of my quest with an encouragement from my Fall 2008 article: “Life is never defined by its seasons, but only in the big picture of the culmination of all of them and the greater purpose and vision to which each of them adds and points…

Therefore, do not look with contempt on the small things or despair in moments. Chase after God and follow his leading and he will do his big picture work. This is the role of faith in our lives—to persevere in seasons.”

Editor’s note: Joanna Enns (nee Plett) began serving as a columnist in February 2007 when she was single and a history major. She is now married and a law student. This is her final article as a columnist. We are grateful for her period of service during which she challenged us with thoughtful, well-written reflections on discipleship.

Joanna, thank you! May the Lord bless you June 2012 September 2011 and guide your future.

Columns • stewardship today

Inheritance

W

DESIGNPICS.COM

ills and estate planning is a hot topic of conversation, but it is certainly not new either in content or importance. The Bible has a lot to say on inheritance. In the NIV there are 500 references to inheritance.

While some Bible scholars suggest that the New Testament commonly uses ideas of inheritance in a spiritual sense, even the literal references to passing on material goods often hinge on right relationship and faithfully walking with God. There is also a caution that passing on wealth too soon, without adequate instruction, or to people who aren’t capable of handling the windfall, can have tragic consequences.

I’ve heard a number of stories of squandered inheritances, often because money was made available as soon as the beneficiaries reached the legal age of majority, but before they had the capacity to thoughtfully deal with the windfall. As U.S. estate lawyer Nathan Woolman puts it, “Giving money to someone who can’t handle it in hopes it will improve their financial situation is like trying to put out a fire with lighter fluid.”

In recent years charities, researchers and financial advisors have frequently cited the topic of inheritances. Many write hopefully about an alleged trillion-dollar transfer of wealth expected in the coming generation.

That prediction overlooks the impact of Canadians living longer lives—people aged 65 in good health today have a 50 per cent chance of living to 100—or the reality that one-third of seniors go into retirement with significant debt.

Many of these folks will leave no wealth to be transferred.

Successful wealth transfers require values transfers as well. That recognition is leading some families to make conscious efforts to

encourage philanthropy in their children and grandchildren, sometimes by matching the younger person’s donations. Others set up a fund and allow young relatives to choose recipients of gifts that flow from the fund.

U.S. studies conclude that 90 per cent of inherited wealth evaporates within three generations.

From shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves within a few lifetimes, as my favorite university professor was fond of saying.

by Mike Strathdee

A Wall Street Journal article suggests that wealthy families often breed reckless spenders, in part when expectations about the responsibility to be generous aren’t modeled.

A Wall Street Journal article suggests that wealthy families often breed reckless spenders, in part when expectations about the responsibility to be generous aren’t modeled.

The document written to explain what should happen after we die was once called a “last will and testament” because it provides the last opportunity for us to testify to our beliefs. Some years ago, I witnessed a conversation around differences in giving patterns between generations.

An older businessman lamented that his children weren’t as generous as he and his wife had been. How much did you talk about your giving, he was asked. “We didn’t,” was the reply.

“But they had to have known.”

Can generosity be caught by another generation if it is not taught? What does your will say about your values? Is sharing beyond the immediate family circle part of your plan?

Mike Strathdee is a stewardship consultant at the Kitchener, Ont., office of Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC). MFC provides stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning at no cost.

Contact your nearest MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 35

Columns • kids’ corner

A DRE

MST

IME.C

OM

As busy as a bee

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t’s summer break. No classes. No rides on the school bus. No homework.

So what are you doing? Do you sleep late? Do you play with your friends in the middle of the day?

Your schedule may have changed but many things happen in the summer time. You want to be outside. The air is warm; the grass is green

by Loreena and feels soft under your feet.

Thiessen You play baseball and have picnics in your backyard or at the park. You may be at camp where you swim in the lake, sing around the campfire Activity: Make honey shortbread and make new friends. cookies Plants are active too. (make sure you have an adult helping you) Warm temperatures signal Need: 2 and ½ cups flour, sprinkle of salt, ½ for them to begin to grow. cup butter, softened, ½ cup honey, mixing Buds form in early spring. bowl, cookie baking sheet, rolling pin, cookie In summer, leaves become cutter shapes, and a preheated oven of 350 larger and plants grow degrees F. taller. Flowers blossom; Do: fruit and seeds follow; pea 1. Mix dough: pods grow on the pea plant, - measure 2 and ½ cups flour into a pears on the pear tree and mixing bowl potatoes grow under the - sprinkle and mix a little salt into the potato plant. mixing bowl Insects become active.

- put ½ cup softened butter into the Ants scurry across the grass mixing bowl and sidewalk. Look closely - put ½ cup honey into the mixing bowl and you will see them carry 2. Squeeze and knead the mixture in the a leaf bit or some food or bowl until all ingredients are mixed in; maybe even another ant! shape in a ball.

In Proverbs 6:6 God says 3. Cool the dough in the fridge for about 1 the ant is hard working and hour. wise. Butterflies flit and 4. Roll out the dough until flat and smooth. flutter across the garden.

5. Cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutters.

What about bees? Bees 6. Place cookie shapes onto the cookie baking are the most important sheet. insect of all. Do you know 7. Bake cookies at 350 F for 12 minutes. why? It is because of bees 8. Take out cookies and let them cool for that we have flowers and 5–10 minutes. food that comes from 9. Eat cookies with milk and enjoy with a plants. friend.

What do bees do?

The bee is attracted to 36 The Messenger • August 2012

flowers. Flowers produce nectar, a sugary fluid.

Flowers also produce pollen, the sticky yellow powder you see in its center. The bee collects both. The bee will visit from 50 to 100 flowers in one collecting trip. It carries the nectar back to its hive to make honey.

It carries the pollen from one flower to another to fertilize them so they will produce fruit or seeds. Seeds produce next year’s plants.

Bees work hard. The bees’ wings beat 200 times per second—that’s each time you can say “One, one thousand.” One bee flies around three kilometres on a collecting trip. The whole hive flies 176,000 kilometres—over four times around the earth—to collect one kilogram of honey.

The bee has a tiny brain, the size of a sesame seed, but it learns and remembers which flowers have nectar and which ones have pollen. It knows where the flowers are and how far away from the hive.

It communicates this information to its own hive members. It recognizes and keeps out any enemy bees.

The Queen bee lives from two to five years.

She lays 2,500 eggs in one day. That’s a lot of new bees! Each one must be fed. And the hive must be cleaned every day. Are you as busy as a bee?

Honey is a pure food, which means that by itself it has enough nutrients; nothing needs to be added.

In Psalm 81:16 God says he will fill your mouth with honey, all the things you may need.

The Promised Land is called a land of milk and honey, a land with everything you need. Read about them.

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