The Messenger Vol. 50 No. 12 December 2012

The Messenger

50 years of promoting the EMC!

Volume 50 No. 12 December 2012

m t s i r a h s C l a a n d d ours n a c s s t i

p. 6

ALSO INSIDE:

A people on the move page 9 Who wants a happy meal? page 12 The heart of Christmas page 15 $2.00

Editorials

Advent, a season for inviting

“Y

ou are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Advent is a season for inviting and caring.

Who has influenced you during past Advent seasons? Who are you inviting this Advent season?

During Advent, our members, ministers and congregations across Canada will be tested on our hospitality in practice and from the pulpit.

People will enter our services having a mainline connection, evangelical roots, an Anabaptist tie, or no church background.

Beyond the label on our church door, the clarity and sensitivity of the Christian message

During Advent, our members, ministers and congregations across Canada will be tested on our hospitality in practice and from the pulpit.

and the quality of relationships keep people coming back. How will we respond?

Please don’t assume that your service style is self-explanatory or that people know each other.

Consider explaining briefly the service’s order and when calling people forward to guide parts of it, use more than their first name.

Consider how to welcome everyone without labeling some people as visitors. All who gather are part of the congregation for today—and, hopefully, longer.

When speaking, pastors are to be sensitive when dealing with the spiritual backgrounds of people. In Canada, even nominal linkages remain important, says sociologist Reg Bibby (see www.reginaldbibby.com, where a free book A New Day on trends and outreach is available).

Advent remains a season when many Canadians are open to invitations to our services.

May we help others to sing of Christ’s glory this Advent season!

– Terry M. Smith

••

Christ-centred pragmatists

T

here will be varying assessments of how open or closed, welcoming or excluding, faithful or unfaithful the EMC has been at various points throughout its 200 years.

We do not control this. What we can influence is what we do now as a conference. Will we be Christ-centred pragmatists?

Shall we aggressively plant churches in various regions, settings, and cultures in Canada?

Will we become a more multicultural church?

Will we effectively separate our evangelical Anabaptist faith from particular cultural forms?

Will we focus on our 16th century history in ways that relate to our lives in the 21st century?

Will churches across our regions become more attached to the wider conference? Shall those who, narrowly, emphasize Evangelical or Mennonite find ways to build on common strengths and be enhanced by each other?

2 The Messenger • December 2012

Let’s be pragmatic, removing unnecessary barriers to people’s being attracted to Christ. If offense occurs, may it be because of Christ, not our insensitivity (1 Corinthians 1:20–25); and may what might, at first, offend about Christ ultimately become wonderful to them.

Let’s leave room within our conference to hold varying views on many questions that are minor compared to the wonder of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7–11).

Some Canadians, sadly, use differences among or within denominations as an excuse to avoid the common centre of our faith: Jesus Christ our Lord. By our unity, let’s make this more difficult for them.

By the Lord’s grace, our conference of churches has many members—dedicated, gifted, having resources, and creative. Knowing this, let’s be pragmatic.

– Terry M. Smith

Table of Contents Features

Departments

6

2

Editorials

3

Pontius’ Puddle

9

Christmas: its scandal and ours Looking to Mary to resist our society’s distortion of Christmas – Chris Hughes

A people on the move

After 200 years, the EMC needs to continue to move towards a Kingdom culture – Tim Dyck

12 Who wants a happy meal?

Are we looking to Jesus only for “free bread served fast”?

– Scott Koop

4 Letters 17 With Our Missionaries 22 With Our Churches 28 News

page

32 Calendar

9

33 Shoulder Tapping

page

19

POETRY 15 The Heart of Christmas – Eleanor Lee Gustaw

Columns 5

page

15

Writings Shared

The Activist Impulse: Essays on the Intersection of Evangelicalism and Anabaptism

page

29

16 Archives Alcove

Bicentennial, GAMEO, and you – Terry M. Smith

34 Here and Far Away

Separating the truth from cultural trappings – Jocelyn R. Plett

35 Stewardship Today

Training to live generously – Milly Siderius

36 Kids’ Corner

Away from the noise – Loreena Thiessen

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

The Messenger

Letters

Volume 50 No. 12 December 2012

Praise the Lord for trailblazers!

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.

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Subscribe to The Messenger electronically

We were pleased to see your article on Susanne Plett [Nov.] and the legacy she left behind both overseas and here in North America. She influenced both of my wife’s parents into missions (Dave and Laura Sharp, New Tribes Mission) so her story is personal to our family. Praise the Lord for “trailblazers” like this. Christ’s gospel to all nations in this generation!

– Dave and Kim Field Waukesha, Wisconsin

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 by regular mail and by fax must contain a handwritten signature with at least the writer’s first and last names and an address. For letters by e-mail, the

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

For those who are not members or adherents of an EMC church, a $15 annual subscription fee applies; no additional fee applies if the full print subscription rate is paid.

writer’s name and e-mail address are deemed to be an electronic signature. The writer’s regular postal address is to be included in e-mail correspondence.

The writer’s name and general address are to be published In sensitive matters, names may be withheld.

Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less.

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. 1– January 2013 issue (copy due December 21)

4 The Messenger • December 2012

|| STEINBACH BIBLE COLLEGE

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE MARCH 1-2, 2013

CUTTING EDGE ANABAPTISM

WITH DR. STUART MURRAY Author of “The Naked Anabaptist”

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Columns • writings shared The Activist Impulse: Essays on the Intersection of Evangelicalism and Anabaptism, eds. Jared S. Burkholder and David C. Kramer (Pickwick Publications, 2012). 444 pp. $40. ISBN 9781608993305.

Reviewed by Michael Zwaagstra (EFC Steinbach), high school teacher and adult Sunday School teacher.

W

hat is the proper relationship between Anabaptism and evangelicalism? This is the question tackled by the editors of The Activist Impulse and the result is an informative 400-page volume. The various chapters, each written by a different author, detail the ways in which various Anabaptist churches and their leaders have answered this question.

While some prominent Anabaptist scholars, most notably J. Denny Weaver and C. Norman Kraus, have become known for their harsh criticisms of evangelicalism, The Activist Impulse strives to present a more balanced view. As many of the chapters point out, evangelicalism is a broad tent that includes people from a variety of theological and political persuasions.

However, I still wonder whether placing so much emphasis on carving out a distinctive identity for Anabaptism causes us to lose focus on our core beliefs.

Reviewed by Henry Friesen (The ConneXion, Arborg), part of the pastoral leadership team and business person.

N

olt provides a survey of evangelical expression and notes the historic Anabaptist concern regarding the evangelical fixation on inerrancy (25, 26), but also reminds us that Anabaptists benefitted from biblical studies at the conservative yet tolerant evangelical Biblical Seminary in New York (27).

Roth echoes the pivotal role of hermeneutics for both traditions (60, 66). Regrettably, support of Anabaptist distinctives (e.g., pacifism, 181, 186, 220) too easily counts as modeling core Anabaptist values.

Swartz explores affinities of Anabaptist thought with the “Evangelical left” and with broader core evangelical theology (274, 285). References to the example, life, and teachings of Jesus become more frequent in the final sections (267, 270f, 276f, 280), reflecting an enhanced grasp of core Anabaptist theology.

Evangelicalism is most closely identified with the following four areas of emphasis—the need for personal conversion, a high regard for biblical authority, acceptance of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the need to tell others about the Gospel. It is difficult to see how anyone could reject these tenets of evangelicalism and still be considered a Christian in the biblical sense.

Many of the authors in The Activist Impulse regularly talk about evangelicals and Anabaptists as if they were two separate groups. And yet this is the wrong way to think about them.

Far from being distinct groups of people, Anabaptists are evangelicals who happen to hold to several key theological distinctives. In fact, evangelicalism cannot be removed from Anabaptism unless we are prepared to sacrifice its very essence.

Bowden’s review of the evangelical-Anabaptist spectrum by comparing Schaeffer, Yoder, and Wallis is excellent. Among these, he deems Yoder as most authentically rooted in scripture (293n1).

Erdel reflects on the advisability of running a nation by the principles outlined in Jesus’ teaching, given that few Christians actually live by them, and many evangelicals debate their application to daily life. He concludes that evangelical passion for the Great Commission is best fulfilled by living according to the Sermon on the Mount (346).

While utilizing a decidedly evangelical hermeneutic (357), MacGregor proposes a biblical theology of the atonement that avoids the violence inherent in some evangelical theories, while Cramer shows that an evangelical hermeneutic necessarily results in precisely the Anabaptist ethic (380).

This book contains something for almost everyone interested in the intersection of evangelical and Anabaptist concerns. The extensive notes and bibliographies are rich resources for additional research. www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 5

DREAMSTIME.COM

Christmas

its scandal and ours

6 The Messenger • December 2012

by Chris Hughes

I

love Christmas and celebrating Christmas.

It is a day of wonder and joy coming in the most unexpected of ways: God as a baby.

For the twelve days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day, I celebrate, contemplate, and revel in the wonderful, gracious scandal that is Christmas.

For Christmas is an outright, no-holds barred scandal. Christmas rings with holy surprise and echoes through time with hope beginning to be fulfilled. For a baby has been born: fully human, fully God. God has embraced creation like never before: Immanuel, God with us. And all this begins when we were still far off from God, strangers, enemies to him and his will.

If you, like me, have heard this story many times it is far too easy to harden ourselves to its shock. This is compounded by our culture’s stretching of Christmas until it is distorted.

Instead of Christmas striking us with its fragile simplicity, it has become bloated with mere sentimentality. Instead of piercing with its momentous revelation, Christmas is stretched to allow more consumerism, more spending, more crippling debt.

Instead of a climax of anticipated hope, Christmas is used to enable instant gratification.

This, in and of itself, is sad, but not shocking. That the Church would participate in such distorted Christmas practices is our Christmas scandal.

The distortion

It is hard to resist the distortion because it is couched in language that we are familiar with: gifts, love, family, celebrate. I find my strength in resisting the cultural distortions of Christmas from the ancient practices of the church.

Our Christian heritage reminds us again and again that to walk the path of Christ we must be disciplined so we can celebrate, fast so we can feast. This wisdom is built into the Christian calendar. Christmas requires Advent as Easter requires Lent, a time of preparation.

The practice of Advent reminds me that the main focus is not “how many shopping days till Christmas” but “how I am preparing to meet my King at his birth.” I suggest we prepare for our King by following Mary, the mother of Jesus, our guide in preparing for Christmas with three practices of Advent: hope, anticipation, and openness.

I suggest we prepare for our King by following Mary, the mother of Jesus, our guide in preparing for Christmas with three practices of Advent: hope, anticipation, and openness.

Hope

See Mary, a person of no importance, female and young. See Mary from Nazareth (can any good come from Nazareth?). See Mary growing up under yet another occupation.

See her people crying, “How long, O Lord?”

They are crying with hope in a promise made long ago that all of the pain and sorrow, the struggle, the sin, all this shall be made right.

It is hope that sustained Mary’s people. In the practice of hope we discipline our eyes to see and our ears to hear what could be, but is not yet. In practising hope we tune ourselves to recognise hope when it comes knocking at our door.

I think Mary must have been a practitioner of hope to hear it so clearly and so quickly in the angel’s words. What else could have moved Mary from surprise at the angel’s words to acceptance?

Advent is a time for us to hear Mary’s wisdom that we must hope, though the wait may be long and our life circumstance trying. We must hope so we can recognise hope. For hope is the lifeblood of our faith.

It was hope that prepared Mary to say yes to God’s incarnation. Madeleine L’Engle captures this well in her poem “Annunciation”: To the impossible: Yes! Enter and penetrate O Spirit. Come and bless This hour: the star is late.

Only the absurdity of love Can break the bonds of hate (The Ordering of Love, 152).

The practice of hope forms us into a people who are ever expecting and are prepared for God. Hope underwrites the practices of anticipation and openness. 

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 7



Anticipation

people occur because Mary said yes. Christmas Anticipation requires waiting and hope. Hope is scandalous. gives waiting purpose, a focus that there is Our practice of openness to God is a something coming, something worth waiting response to the fragility of God’s purpose in us, for. Hope transforms waiting into an active for us and for others. God waits for our yes, our practice of anticipation. openness to schemes and possibilities entirely The practice of anticipation teaches us to foreign to us—like a virgin with child, like God make ready, to be expectant, to be wondering and as a baby, God with us once again walking in the reflecting. Mary is our guide to anticipation especool of the day. cially with her song in Luke 1:46–55. These words We are a part of the on-going redemptive that are the result of the hope born anew with the plan of God, and Advent teaches us that for angel’s words and now bursting forth in song of Christmas to come in people’s lives we must praise and anticipation of what it is to come. be open to God using us. We must recognise Go and read her song over and over again as and practise openness because part of God’s you prepare for Christmas. Join with Mary in scandalous redemption plan is that he depends marvelling and wondering at her expectation of on you and me to make it known. hope soon to be fulfilled.

The Church is once again The practice of anticipain a Second Advent as we Our practice of openness tion imagines and seeks what anticipate our King’s arrival our hope means in our daily to God is a response to the for the second time. People are life. Anticipation reflects and their own personal times of fragility of God’s purpose in in wonders of how our hope will Advent. We see their longing influence us and others. Anus, for us and for others. for God and we pray that Jesus ticipation focuses our Christmight come and enter their mas hopes and sustains them lives. as we wait. And perhaps this is We are all waiting for most fitting for us: anticipation Christmas. Let us celebrate teaches us patience and forms Christmas then, but first let us us into a people who depend make ourselves ready. and wait on God. I have found that the Advent practices of For we collectively are not good at waiting. hope, anticipation, and openness correct the We are much better at immediate gratification culturally scandalous practices of Christmas and and fulfilment. We have no discipline for waitallow us to be properly aligned to Christmas ing with hoping. God has a history of taking so we may truly celebrate and usher ourselves his time and we, God’s people, must discipline and others into the holy scandal of Christmas of ourselves to anticipate and be ready. hope, peace, and love.

May God bless you with an expectant AdOpenness vent and a Merry Christmas!

Christmas is so fragile. While the plan of incarnation is God’s, it depends entirely on a Chris Hughes, BA, MA person’s yes. It begins with Mary, alone; and an (Theology), began serving as angel who comes on behalf of God, asking, not associate pastor at Abbeydemanding; presenting, not pushing. dale Christian Fellowship in God waits for the response of Mary before March 2012. He is husband Christmas can be conceived. God risks her yes. to Rachel, the most tangible Advent, Christmas, all of Jesus’ life, baptism, means of grace in his life. He teaching, miracles, death, resurrection, and grew up under the tutelage the overflowing of resurrection power into the of faith and holiness from cosmos depend on Mary’s yes. the Church of the Nazarene. Chris doesn’t enjoy All of our salvation and sanctification is listening to carols until Christmas Day and is possible because she said yes. Centuries of often labelled “Grinch” as a result. His heart, he redeemed lives, saints in the making, the says, is not two sizes too small, but only because Kingdom of God being built and influencing of the grace of God.

8 The Messenger • December 2012

A PEOPLE ON THE DESIGNPICS.COM

MOVE

by Tim Dyck

T

RS

CE

EA

the world around it. It would be easy for us to remain in our comfortable churches with others who are just like us, but is this God’s purpose for our Conference?

Canada is a nation that has welcomed many ethnic communities throughout its history, including Russian immigrants who initially established the EMC in Manitoba. Christ gave us the command to go to all nations with the gospel, and now the nations have come to our neighbourhoods. How effective are we in reaching the nations in our communities?

In recent years, we have witnessed a shift towards reachNG 2 0 I T 0 Y A BR ing out to other cultures. There A Kingdom culture are specific cultural groups that I envision a church that is moving from have been targeted in our church a single dominant culture towards a planting initiatives, making us a emc 1812 ~ 2012 Kingdom culture. For much of the past more “multi-cultural” conference.

200 years, the EMC has often been However, these churches tend to defined as Dutch-German-Russian in remain culturally isolated, creating culture, influenced by a history that ethnic silos within our Conference. has been insular and somewhat distrustful of Some churches have moved beyond this to  LE

his year we have celebrated our bicentennial, 200 years of faithful movements. But what does our future hold?

The EMC has always been a people on the move: toward holiness and deeper commitment to God, from Russia to Canada, in styles of worship, in a missions movement to the ends of the earth. In each of these instances, there is evidence that the movement was a result of obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Will we continue to be a people on the move?

As I look towards our future, I envision the EMC continuing to be a church that moves as God directs us.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 9

A Church committed to a Kingdom culture will recognize and celebrate a diversity of ethnic backgrounds, and will set a course to transcend cultural elements.

 incorporate a multitude of cultures into a single

congregation, thus becoming an “inter-cultural” church. We need to celebrate these inter-cultural churches, since they are a reflection within a single congregation of what Christ desires for his church as a whole.

Yet our goal should not be simply a blending of cultures, but a redeeming of all cultures into one body that is committed to living according to God’s kingdom principles. This is when we become a Kingdom culture.

No culture is superior

No single culture is inherently superior to another, since God is the designer of all cultures.

And every culture has aspects that are marred by sin and in need of redemption.

A Church committed to a Kingdom culture will recognize and celebrate a diversity of ethnic backgrounds, and will set a course to transcend cultural elements. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus gave us glimpses into what a Kingdom culture would look like: a people who are reconciled to God and to each other, forgiving each other and loving our enemies, and passionately pursuing a deeper relationship with the Father.

From rural to urban

For most of our history, we have been a church that has remained mostly in rural communities, yet the majority of Canada’s population lives in urban areas. In fact, one third of Canada’s population lives in its three largest urban areas: Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. In the decades ahead, I envision the EMC moving increasingly from rural to urban areas.

We could be establishing churches in areas that are in close proximity to our current

10 The Messenger • December 2012

churches in cities such as London, Windsor, Edmonton, and Regina. Eventually, we could extend our reach into the major urban areas noted above. Given that most immigrants move to one of Canada’s urban areas, this would also reinforce the Kingdom culture shift.

Innovative methods

Some of you may wonder how the EMC will be successful in establishing new churches in urban areas when many existing churches are facing a sharp decline in attendance and commitment?

Perhaps the EMC will need to move from traditional methods of church planting to more innovative methods.

Maybe it is time to reconsider a particular style of service, or church buildings, or even the day of the week for gathering together. Some of the recent EMC church plants have transcended traditional methods and structures, with some success. It could be that one of the greatest inhibitors of church growth in the twenty-first century will be the church buildings that limit expansion.

I wonder what the Church in Canada will look like in 20 or 30 years. It could be that what we consider innovative today will in the future become mainstream. If it is truly our desire to be a movement of people towards a Kingdom culture, we may need to be more creative in our methods and structures to draw people into a relationship with Christ.

Great Commission

One of the distinguishing marks of the EMC has been the strong emphasis on foreign missions— sending missionaries from our congregations to other cultures to see churches established among the nations. A movement in Canada

defined by a Kingdom culture will naturally reinforce this conviction.

I envision a movement of people from many ethnic backgrounds in Canada being sent out by the Board of Missions in obedience to the Great Commission. I yearn to see the EMC initiating involvement within a new mission field every five years with the full support of all churches.

Every church would be connected to several EMC missionaries to reinforce ownership of this ever-expanding missions movement.

Not our basic theology!

One way that the EMC should not be moving is in our basic theology. There will be times when it is necessary to review our confession to ensure that it accurately reflects the teachings of Scripture. Yet, our understanding of God and the church is essentially the same today as it has been throughout the decades. In the past years, I have had opportunity to visit many EMC churches, and I have been greatly encouraged by the commitment to our evangelical Anabaptist theology.

Recently, we asked the EMC churches to describe what they believe to be our core values as a church, and overwhelmingly there was constant, strong support for the authority of the Word of God as a basic value. This was often accompanied by the values of obedience (to the Word), discipleship (living out the Word), and people (spreading the Word).

A passion that gives confidence

As I have visited EMC churches across the country, I have listened to church leaders share their heart about the future of the church. I have seen their passion to see the local church grow in love and commitment to God.

I have witnessed the devotion for a deepening prayer life and a desire to see a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit in our churches. This gives me the confidence to expect great things from God as we move into our third century as the EMC. Paul says that “Christ has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles” and that “his purpose was to create one people out of the two” (Ephesians 2).

Join us as we continue on this journey of becoming a Kingdom culture—one people from many nations committed to living for Christ.

Tim Dyck is General Secretary of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

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www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 11

Who wants a

happy e m al

by Scott Koop

?

I We see that in response to Jesus’ miracle, the crowds are following him in search of more DREAMSTIME.COM

free “happy meals.”

12 The Messenger • December 2012

sort of dove into the deep end with parenting and my son Josh has had to teach me the ropes. I guess he’s still teaching me.

One thing I’ve realized: we ought to go to McDonald’s for lunch, and there is no need to discuss what he will be having. He’s having a Happy Meal, of course.

Whether yours likes the chicken nuggets or the cheeseburger (not the apple slices), children tend to agree that what they want to eat is a Happy Meal.

(Some of us parents could probably use a few more happy meals ourselves.)

So what type of meal do you want to eat? Are we adults all that different?

John 6 opens with Jesus being followed by large crowds “because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed…” (6:2). As we read further we see him perform another miracle in their midst by feeding 5,000 with the lunch of a small boy (6:5–13).

We often pray for miracles like this in our own lives too, and wonder why God doesn’t respond to our requests. As we see here and throughout scripture, miracles don’t often get to the heart of the matter because by themselves they rarely change us. When we jump ahead we see that in response to his miracle, the crowds are following him in search of more free “happy meals” (6:25).

‘Free bread served fast’

It says that they wanted to force Jesus to become king (6:14), which sounds good on the surface. Under the surface was simply the desire to fill their stomachs with, as Paul Metzger puts it, “free bread served fast.”

They didn’t want Jesus. They wanted what they could get from Jesus.

Jesus responds, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food.

Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you” (6:26).

This chapter starts with Jesus feeding the five thousand and moves to the disciples being tossed on the sea by a storm. Jesus is literally walking on water to get his message across, and they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (6:30).

He just fed them; they wanted more. Here it looks like they’re trying to get him to compete with their Moses traditions. They didn’t want Jesus himself, just what they could get from him.

What do you want?

What do you want? John 6 is built to present what Jesus is and will do in contrast to what we want him to be and do. The key is when Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (6:35).

Jesus lays it on the line, saying, “I’m it.” “I’m what is on the menu.” Yet the crowd doesn’t want healthy life-giving food; they want happy meals.

And so they begin to grumble about him (6:41). Who did he think he was? They thought they knew Jesus because they knew his parents.

They thought they knew what God was up to because they knew the Scriptures.

They thought they knew, but they hadn’t internalized any of it. If they had allowed what they knew to affect what they believed, they would have recognized the Son of God. They would have understood the true value meal he was offering. If only they had allowed what they knew to affect what they believed!

Knowing and believing

Dallas Willard is a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. He writes, The educational practices that have developed in our society deeply injure our souls and impede the coming of the kingdom of God in our lives.

In our culture, one is considered educated if

one “knows the right answers.” I sometimes joke with my students at the university where I teach by asking them if they believe what they wrote on their tests. They always laugh.

They know belief is not required.

Yet belief only controls your life (emphasis mine).

If they had allowed what they knew to affect what they believed they would have understood the true value meal Jesus was offering.

We live in a world that has separated knowing from believing. We live in the information age, and we don’t have to believe in something in order to know about it. We know tons of things that have no bearing on our lives, like the mountains of information on Twitter.

Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life (6:44, emphasis added).

Let it become part of us!

Listen to me! We may not be showing up at church looking for free bread served fast; but just as often we come because we want to gorge on a spirituality that has all the qualities of a cheeseburger from McDonald’s, simply because it is convenient enough to fit into the lifestyle we want to maintain.

Jesus says to us, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” (6:53).

Do you know the right answers about Jesus or have you internalized what he said and did?

Have you taken up his life into your own so the  www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 13

two are gradually becoming indistinguishable from one Will we move beyond merely knowing the right another?

Isn’t that what happens answers and begin to actually believe what we when we eat healthy food?

The good stuff literally know, allowing the real life ingredients of Jesus becomes a part of who we are, giving us energy and the to transform the way we operate? capability to do things we wouldn’t do otherwise.

Will we continue to cling to our right doctrines and demand a convenient Scott Koop, BA, is entering his sixth year as lead lifestyle low on substance? Or will we move pastor of Fish Creek Christian Fellowship (Calbeyond merely knowing the right answers and gary, Alta.). He is married begin to actually believe what we know, allowing to Angela. They have two the real life ingredients of Jesus to transform boys, Josh (5) and Brennan the way we operate? Let us move beyond just (1). Scott is studying partknowing. time with hopes of finishing When the crowd’s appetite began to wane, an MA. When eating at McJesus asked if anyone else wanted to leave. Peter Donald’s, he orders chicken answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You nuggets. have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (6:68–69).

Believe and know.

Christmas Greetings from the EMC office staff Back: Diana Peters, Wannetta Fast, Gerald Reimer, Tim Dyck, Ward Parkinson, Terry Smith Front: Rebecca Roman, Erica Fehr, Charlie Koop, Ken Zacharias

14 The Messenger • December 2012

The Heart of Christmas

by Eleanor Lee Gustaw

Remember the story of Christmas, come back in time with me.

For the joy of the heart and the worth of the soul began in a stable so free

God came in the heart of Mary, God came in the heart of her beau to the wonder of His Son through her, the Saviour for all to know.

And gathered around that stable, God came in the hearts of shepherds who left their flocks behind, and wise men followed from miles afar in search of what God had planned.

This story of awe and beauty that God gave within His Son would change the broken hearts of all because of that child in the stall.

No longer would tears ever triumph in pain upon the Earth, for Jesus had come to rescue the lost and render pardon because of the cross by His grace and mercy in every day.

The glory would shine down through the years to brighten the souls of men for Christmas came in the Christ who was born, where the joy of the heart and the worth of the soul is wholly, alone, found in Him.

I DES

GN

PIC

S.C

OM

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 15

Columns • archives alcove

Bicentennial, GAMEO, and you

G

by Terry M. Smith

ot a question that’s nagging you?

Want to study about footwashing?

Women in leadership? Creation? Pacifism? Divorce and remarriage?

How did early Anabaptist churches deal with the matter of church governance? How have earlier generations struggled over language change?

There are articles touching on these and thousands of more topics in the free Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (www.

GAMEO.org). When have you last used it?

When members, adherents, or pastors have a question about Anabaptist history or theology, GAMEO is an accessible source of information about the worldwide Anabaptist church—the EMC included. While research will rarely end there, GAMEO is often a useful starting point.

Along the way, check out the story of your local congregation as listed in GAMEO. Type in your church’s name and see what appears. Congregational histories are included free within the Encyclopedia, which is wonderful.

In some cases, though, be prepared to be disappointed. Sadly, many of our EMC stories are

GAMEO is a great opportunity to provide information to tell part of your church’s history.

16 The Messenger • December 2012

scant, outdated, or missing. Whether it’s referring to our churches in Vanderhoof, Calgary, Swift Current, Blumenort, Aylmer—or others currently existing—more needs to be mentioned.

So, when there is much more to tell of our churches’ stories, what is happening?

While GAMEO does sometimes enlist a writer to provide a short article, church entries are dependent upon the local congregation assigning someone to do the work, supervised by an editor at GAMEO. In other words, it’s largely up to the local church to tell the story.

GAMEO is a great opportunity to provide information to tell part of your church’s history.

Under Resources, there is help for Congregations.

It explains how to write the entry and its structure; it also provides a sample entry.

Stories can range from being short and simple to the more complex; there is a maximum length (500 words in some cases, 750 in others).

Within an increasing number of our members developing blogs and writing on the Internet, why not enlist one of them to update the GAMEO listing about your church?

A GAMEO editor (not me!) reviews all submissions to ensure that they are fitting and conform to expected standards. When a submission does, it is approved for inclusion.

Why doesn’t the Archives Committee do the writing? It is a hard-working handful of people currently seeking to transfer archival materials to the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg.

In the past, it contacted our churches about updating their GAMEO listing, but it prefers that local churches do the updating; after all, the committee would rely upon the churches for information, anyway.

When local churches draft materials for submission to GAMEO, I am willing to look them over to assist in a small way. However, to better retain the flavour of each congregation, it’s wiser for each church to tell the story it wants, rather than how I might put it.

Each church’s story is—at its heart—a testimony to Christ’s grace. As a response to our bicentennial year, updating our GAMEO listings seems a fitting activity for our churches.

With Our Missionaries

CEMM holds annual pastoral retreat MEXICO

more games with an excellent and enjoyable time together.

At the beginning of each session we had times of praise led by Brother Antonio Gaxiola, pastor of the Oranteño church. They were times of deep worship where we felt God’s presence.

Before we ended, gifts were given to each person who attended, and were distributed through an interactive game followed by taking pictures of each participant.

In the closing worship session, we had the Lord’s Supper, followed by a time of prayer where every pastor shared about his work and his needs.

We then prayed for each pastor and their church, and closed with a prayer for each pastor who was not at the retreat for various reasons.

– Walter Rempening Walter Rempening is pastor of the Ebenezer church in Cuahuhtemoc.

Ofelia Garcia Pedroza also serves on the Mission Commission of Mennonite World Conference. The article was translated by Ken Zacharias.

PHOTOS: WALTER REMPENING

The Evangelical Missionary Conference of Mexico (in Spanish, CEMM) in Chihuahua state, Mexico, had the blessing to have its sixth annual pastoral retreat. We are grateful for the EMC who encouraged us to begin having these retreats, and we are especially grateful for your financial support so we can have this retreat year after year. Thank you very much!

The retreat was held in one of the hotels in the city of Chihuahua from November 2–3, 2012, with 19 people in attendance. Attending the retreat were pastors and their spouses.

The theme was The Seven Shared Convictions of Mennonite Anabaptist Churches, based on Alfred Neufeld’s book What we Believe Together. Our lecturer was Ofelia Garcia Pedroza who pastors El Camino del Senor (The Way of the Lord) church located in the city of Anahuac.

The topic was chosen mainly to strengthen our identity as Anabaptist

Mennonites. We answered questions like: what is it that we really believe?

In which ways are our distinctives different from other evangelical Christian groups?

The teaching was tremendous, with a deep understanding of our identity. It was interesting to renew our convictions and to see them from a perspective that is clearly Anabaptist.

Those that attended left no doubt that they strongly desire to continue embracing our identity, and are discouraged to see so much divergence in churches today. Many of those in attendance applauded the topic, and we had to admit that our identity is something that we have laid aside for too long.

The time together was wonderful. We had lots of fun as we played games. During the meals we had good conversations and exchange of ideas.

In the evening we had a talent show where each pastor presented something different: from singing, playing an instrument or sharing an experience. The day ended playing

Pastors and spouses attended a retreat in Chihuahua Nov. 2–3, 2012.

Chepina and Walter Rempening

Letty and Antonio Gaxiola

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 17

With Our Missionaries

Walking the road of grief WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

In the past year at Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) we have been walking the road of grief with many of our friends in the neighbourhood. We all need to know that we are not alone, especially when we experience tragedy, loss, and grief.

We need to know that someone else knows and cares that we are hurting. For our friends in the North End of Winnipeg, we feel called to be that “someone else.” When we can’t change the circumstances of people’s lives, when we can’t stop the painful things from happening—and most of the time, it seems, we can’t—what we can do is come near to those who are hurting.

We can do our best to stay there, having faith that Jesus is there too and that our presence somehow makes Jesus’ presence more tangible and powerful.

In addition to walking with several

other families suffering loss, Amie and I have been most personally affected by the deaths of two individuals who were close to our family. In January, an elderly woman we have been supporting, and who regularly came to church with us, passed away suddenly.

Norbert Richard, our dear friend, died in June at 41. Norbert has been a

When we can’t change the circumstances of people’s lives, what we can do is come near to those who are hurting.

close friend of mine and our family for many years and was living in the basement apartment in our house.

Norbert has been connected with ICYA since the 1990s and for the past year he was on our team here as the building janitor. He had a big heart and a deep faith in his CH EGE beloved Saviour, Jesus A B L N I COL STE S E Christ. Norbert’s family, BIBLESENT PR T friends, and co-workers C A IMP2013 have all been blessed by his compassion, courage, humility, gift of encouragement, and passion for God. In the springtime T DUL a team of staff and A G UN & YO ENT volunteers and I hosted HIGH IP EV R SH NIO A SE CIPLE the Alpha Course with 20103 13 DIS , 7 1 2 young adults. During the , 5 T 1 S 1 AERRBYY FEB. A & MUSICN,BIGY NITE nine-week series and on U R M IO IST DRA CREAT ANT FPREEB W ER RV an overnight retreat we -REG EAK IN NE REE SE P S E T ST &F T GUE IPPENS ER A A KL had many meaningful GIST LEGE.C HEW E T R T L O MA SBCCALL 478 conversations and opOR 0.230.8 0 9 1.8 DES GRA D portunities to pray for FOR UP ANDERS ANDIR LEA each other.

THE 9 T: $6 COS Nurturing faith community continues to be

18 The Messenger • December 2012

an emphasis in our ministry here. This fall I have begun meeting with a group of young men who want to support each other in living for God in the midst of the everyday struggles of life.

Other highlights: Amie accompanied a woman with whom we have become friends as a support during her labour and the birth of her son.

SOUL, the urban Bible school I am involved with as a board member and teacher, continues to train leaders in the inner city.

The two young adults weekends at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp, which I led together with some ICYA teammates, were filled with fun, friendship, and spiritually significant conversations.

My teammates and I continue with a regular presence at the Manitoba Youth Centre (youth jail in Winnipeg) by leading chapel times and having Bible studies with incarcerated teen gang members.

Please continue to pray especially for the hurting families we are connected with and for us our teammates as we offer support and spiritual care.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

– Andrew and Amie Reimer

Amie and Andrew Reimer (Steinbach EMC) serve with Inner City Youth Alive in Winnipeg’s north end.

With Our Missionaries

Call to Redcliff

PHOTOS: ABE BUECKERT

ALBERTA

In 2001 my wife and I sensed a call to Gospel work among Low Germanspeaking people. We already had the language and understood the culture to quite an extent.

This call took us to Southern Alberta where we sought an area where this kind of church planting was needed. The Picture Butte area was pinpointed and, thanks to God, today has a growing church.

As a church planter I asked myself rather frequently where I should go next. The area of Redcliff, Alta., came up numerous times. In the summer of 2011 my wife Anna and I “tested the waters” in that community and found an open door.

About fourteen families sent their children to a VBS that we put on. It was an exciting week as we realized God was working. Numerous affirming things happened that week as we waited upon the Lord to guide us.

The following winter and spring we made the two-hour journey from Picture Butte to Redcliff about every second week to conduct an evening of Kids Club and an evening of fellowship and singing (Singstund). We again sensed both openness and hunger for these kinds of events. Although numbers were not always large, God seemed to encourage us in one way or another that he was in on this.

Low German-speaking people of Redcliff are primarily from Mexico.

They come seeking employment where their families can also be involved in the work. A lot of their employment is in the greenhouses or related work.

Many Low Germanspeaking people of Redcliff are employed in greenhouses or related work.

Their connections with Mexico often stay for a long time. This is reflected in many of them going back there during the winter to visit; some of them stay for as long as a few months when greenhouse work is not as busy.

By God’s grace we hope to make a difference in their lives. Respecting and building upon their faith and background, we seek to help people find more of what Jesus Christ desires for all of us.

Along with the Apostle Paul we say: “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9). Where God is at work, Satan is prowling around to destroy that work. Through the power of prayer the Church of Jesus Christ will prevail.

We seek to help people find more of what Jesus Christ desires for all of us.

Here are a few areas where prayer could be helpful: That God would give us favour among these people that we love and, as such, that we would know how best to express that love. May we would grow in our love for the Lord and people and have wisdom in knowing how to reach whole families with the love of Jesus. May God guide us each step of the way.

– Abe Bueckert

Abe and Anna Bueckert are involved in church planting in southern Alberta.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 19

With Our Missionaries

CANADA/PNG

We’d like to share with you Joanna’s thoughts on life as a missionary kid from Papua New Guinea.

What are you looking forward in going back to Papua New Guinea?

I’m looking forward to seeing my old friends, living in the dorm, and enjoying the delicious tropical fruits and my favourite PNG foods, like deep fried scones.

What will be the hardest thing about living in PNG? The hardest thing is being away from family. My brothers are staying back in Canada. Also, when I come back to Canada after graduating, my friends will have moved on to other things and we won’t connect as well.

What will you miss about living in the Canada?

I will miss the prettiness of winter, but not the cold.

What’s different about life in PNG compared to life in Canada?

It’s always warm in PNG. Relationships are different. Here in Canada everyone is busy with so many things.

In PNG, it’s a much slower pace and much more time is spent with friends.

What is life like as a missionary kid?

It’s awesome. It can also be hard because people don’t understand me and I don’t always fit in.

Where will you live in PNG? I’m going to live at the New Tribes mission base in the Highlands. It’s called Lapilo.

20 The Messenger • December 2012

Tell me about your school in PNG. There are kids from all over the world, from many different cultures. The teachers really care and take time for you. They have a great sports program. I can hang out with other kids after school.

Would you rather be in PNG or in Canada?

PNG, for sure.

Why do you think your parents want to go back to PNG? Because they feel like God has called them to finish the work they started many years ago. He has given them a heart for the Pukapuki people.

What will they be doing when they go back?

They will be working in the village of Pukapuki in the Sepik region. They will translate the Bible into their language and help build a church there.

How will you be involved in missionary work in PNG? I will be interacting with my national friends around Lapilo, showing them God’s love by caring for them through my actions. When I’m back in Pukapuki, during school breaks, I will be helping my Mom and Dad by being friends with the girls there. I would

“

I have always loved PNG and the people there. I want to be a missionary when I grow up. I’m thrilled about going back.

”

PHOTO: TIM SCHRODER

Going back to Papua New Guinea

Joanna Schroder in Pukapuki, PNG

like to be a good example to them by living for God. How has the Lord confirmed in your heart that this is what he has for you and your family?

I have always loved PNG and the people there. I want to be a missionary when I grow up. I’m thrilled about going back.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse?

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).

– Tim and Laurel Schroder Tim and Laurel Schroder (Pelly) are returning to Papua New Guinea to again serve in a church planting ministry. They have three children, Joanna, Rylan (with wife Alyssa), and Jesse.

With Our Missionaries

World AIDS Day PARAGUAY

December 1 has been designated World AIDS Day. Is it a day to celebrate?

True, there have been many advances in the treatment so that Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA’s) are living better and longer with this disease than ever before.

But when looking on the other side of the coin, I see another picture: A single mother with HIV who has three children and sells her body to feed her children. Single men who go through life with multiple partners, but without any responsibility. A 12-year-old who is high, pregnant, and diagnosed with HIV.

Can we celebrate? Perhaps, but it should be on our knees crying to the Lord for mercy in a society that is turning its back on their Creator.

When I look behind the pictures I see another scenario: A whole generation of young people and adults who consider sex as a way to have fun. A government that promotes freedom of sexual orientation. AIDS groups that promote and distribute condoms as the best way to prevent HIV infection.

Can we celebrate? Perhaps, but it should be on our knees crying to the Lord for mercy in a society that is turning its back on their Creator.

When this has happened in the past, the results are disastrous.

The prophet Jeremiah says, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water” (2:13). “Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people.

And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them. The neighbour and his friend shall perish’” (6:21 NKJV).

Please take some time to intercede before the Lord for our “neighbours and friends.” Pray for those who are

victims of a disease that is causing so much suffering.

God is at work healing broken hearts, and is using even AIDS to bring souls into the Kingdom. Thank you. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

– Dave Schmidt

Judy and Dave Schmidt (Rosenort EMC) serve with Alto Refugio (High Refuge), a ministry to people living with HIV/AIDS and education that challenges against discrimination and encourages sexual purity.

Information evening Thursday, February 7, 2013 7 p.m., SCHS Chapel 50 PTH 12 N, Steinbach, Man. SCHS is now accepting applications for grades 5–12 *$150 tuition discount until March 15 for new applicants

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 21

With Our Churches Rosenort Fellowship Chapel

Rosenort, Man.—On Oct. 25 the RFC held a “Blue Sky Meeting.” All members of the congregation were invited to come and openly share any and all ideas where “the sky is the limit.”

The purpose was to look for direction for the church, ways to improve participation and attendance, and in general to look for ways to enhance the church experience to bring more growth to God’s kingdom through RFC. The group opened up in prayer, asking God to rain down His Spirit upon us and to give us clear direction.

We set up some large poster papers to put down the ideas as they flowed.

Immediately it became apparent that a key word was “revival.” Our church is in need of revival. We need revival of the Holy Spirit within our congregation.

We need revival in different areas and age groups of people who attend RFC. We need a revival of outreach activities, and intentional ministries to connect with others in our community who are looking for Jesus.

We need revival in our connections as a family of Christ within our church. We need a revival of disciples and mentors to come forward and be willing to take others by the hand, showing them areas that they are gifted and encourage them to use those gifts. We need a revival of personal recognition of God-given gifts, and how they can be used within our church.

These gifts may seem mediocre or mundane, but they are all equally important to the church—just as the Bible says: “God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; 22 The Messenger • December 2012

PHOTO: HEATHER PLETT

Clear blue skies

We want to come back to our first love, making it the priority in our lives so that we can be better stewards of the gifts God has given us for his glory. but they all originate in God’s Spirit.

God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!” (1 Corinthians 12:4–10, The Message).

Can you please join with us, the congregation of RFC, as we pray into this revival that we feel God is calling us to? Please pray that we will see a pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us like never before.

We want to come back to our first love, making it the priority in our lives so that we can be better stewards of the gifts God has given us for his glory. We ask for prayer for direction and leading in the areas that need growth and revival.

We can feel the excitement growing within the walls of the church as we pursue this calling to revival. There is a bubbling fountain of renewed energy within RFC these days, and we cannot wait to see what will come from it once it fully springs forth. To God be the glory!

– Heather Plett

Radical Followers of Jesus John Huss, Felix Manz, Michael Sattler, Elizabeth Dirks, Menno Simons, the Hutterites, Johannes Reimer, Siegfried Bartel, and Sam Martin—all Radical Followers of Jesus. This DVD series, produced by the Evangelical Anabaptist Fellowship, is available from the EMC office ($11.20 each, plus mailing). To order, call 204-326-6401 or e-mail rroman@ emconf.ca.

With Our Churches Fort Garry EMC

‘Are you living a good story?’

PHOTOS: PAUL KLASSEN

Winnipeg, Man.—The raccoons Greg Wiebe, who has begun in our church attic may be gone leading a youth mentorship for good—or perhaps they are program teaching carpentry and respectfully silent over the life skills at Inner City Youth departure of our pastor Layton Alive. Some of our own youth Friesen and his family for greyer were involved in summer camps, pastures in Oakville, Ont. including Sydney and Kara This summer we held an apReimer at Fisher Bay Bible Camp preciation event for the Friesens Youth pastor Andrew Krahn, with son Judah and a white and Keenan Reimer at Red Rock where our congregation thanked alpaca at the Community Picnic in the Fort Garry EMC Bible Camp.

Layton and Glenda for their parking lot.

This summer Sid Reimer leadership and friendship and and Gord Buczko travelled to musicianship, and showered their archery, climbing, petting farm Ixtapa, Mexico, as part of an on-going children Marcus and Carmen with animals, or miniature golf. project; they are helping to coordinate Winnipeg Blue Bombers gear to wear Our guest speaker was Kent the construction of a home for elderly in their new home (a pretty big “ask” Dueck, a former Fort Garry member and sick adults whose families cannot after the last season). who now directs Inner City Youth support them and who have nowhere Layton is now studying theology Alive. He asked us, “Are you living else to go. at Tyndale, so we wish him well and a good story?” and told a few good Serving closer to home, a new look forward to reading, or at least ones of his own. There were also two Caregiving Team was commissioned displaying, the books he writes. Their baptisms that went down at church in September: Audrey and Kurt Friabsence in our church is notable, but camp, or rather two baptismal candiesen, Einar and Debbie Sandland, and nature abhors a vacuum. The pastoral dates—Brooklyn Friesen and Camille Mel and Corinne Klassen. Their role search committee, the remaining Plett—down into the frigid waters of will be to assist with pastoral work, ministerial staff, guest speakers, and a an artificial lake. especially the day-to-day caring, hunew Caregiving Team, are all helping Another baptismal service saw man side of a church’s mission. to keep the community vibrant. water poured over the heads of Jackie This is a brief snapshot of a church A centrepiece of the summer Reimer and Daniel Salo as they made and her summer. There are many ecclesiastical calendar at Fort Garry is their confession of faith. Meanwhile fine individuals, and fine stories, the annual Church Camp at Winkler the congregation remains as fecund that slip through the coarse net of Bible Camp. A record number of as ever with a recent five-baby printed media. As the Red River cools people attended and had a good time, dedication. and freezes, we look forward to the through conversation, games, fireMany members are involved in growth and change that will fill the works observation, singing, stories, Christian service, including carpenter next update.

– Paul Klassen

A new Caregiving Team was commissioned in September.

Fall 2012 Baby Dedication: Lauryn Plett (Jeremy and Erin), Lucas du Plooy (Warren and Susann), Micah Vadnais (Ron and Arlana), Emily Eidse (Keith and Stacey), Nadia Loewen-Watson (Brent and Tanya), Zachary Muehling (Tim and Arlene)

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 23

With Our Churches Pleasant Valley EMC

Appreciation, Tagalog voiced

PHOTOS: EARL LOEWEN

Rosenort, Man.—Darren and 100 people show up to play, Pearl Plett, our lead pastoral cheer, and socialize. Carl couple, have served in the has a short devotional and a Pleasant Valley congregation prayer for the teams before for almost 15 years. They each game. have also been married for As a pastoral and mis25 years. In September, their sionary couple, Carl and Lisa children surprised them with have concerns about people’s a celebration, and their home spiritual needs. In early Octowas filled with many well ber they started weekly Bible wishers. studies, also in the Tagalog Their love for people is language. This is a powerful shown in many different ways. reminder that God is preparDarren serves in the Rosenort ing a way for this ministry. and Area Recreation District Florence Loewen has and is active in that commitstarted a ladies sewing circle tee. Pearl is also active in the Children decorate pastor Darren Plett for pastor appreciation. here, remembering our mothfood committee. They have ers and older ladies who three daughters, Tara, Danae (with Man. After praying, they saw Jesus would sew for the needy. On Nov. 6 son-in-law Kyle), and Kerri, and one open up a chance to use the Tagalog we sewed bags that store sleeping bags son, Dion. language in a weekly basketball league for the Living Bible Explorer campers As well, at church the children got that started in September. in Winnipeg. to decorate pastor Darren Plett with On most Friday nights more than – Marilyn Kornelsen stickers, flowers, and a hat. His wife Pearl got a taste of some decorations too. The children surrounded the couple and prayed for them.

The adults got to pick a day on the calendar to pray and give an encouragement to our pastoral couples.

Ernie and Mary Ann Loewen, our assistant pastoral couple, and senior pastoral couple Darren and Pearl Plett got gift certificates.

Carl and Lisa Loewen, with their four boys, served as missionaries in the Philippines for 11 years. Honest Hands is a place where boys get to stay in a building and play basketball every morning, working off some steam. It was good to see the rough and tough students open up their Bible and learn together about Jesus.

Over the summer Carl and Lisa Loewen and family have settled into a new home in Mitchell, near Steinbach, The ladies sewing circle gathered on Nov. 6 to make bags for Living Bible Explorer campers.

24 The Messenger • December 2012

With Our Churches Roseisle EMC

Roseisle hosts Remembrance Day service Roseisle, Man.—On September 9, Cam and Pam Dyck publicly shared their desire to parent their daughter Tessa in such a way that she will learn who Jesus is and what it means to have a personal relationship with him. As a church we want to partner with, support and pray for them in this awesome responsibility that God has given them. consider what we might Our church family came do to bring peace to our together to enjoy a potluck communities, workplaces Thanksgiving lunch but to and homes. He closed with also say farewell to Ed and Ed and Alice Siemens were presented with a framed print of the the Prayer of St. Francis of Alice Siemens on October former Roseisle elevator as a farewell gift.

Assisi.

14. They have been part And with the Christmas of our community and members of shared his testimony and transferred season almost upon us, may that our church family for the past 45 his membership to Roseisle EMC. same prayer help us to focus on being years. They have decided to retire to He spoke of a good childhood and of instruments of peace, love, pardon, Morden. We, and the surrounding more difficult times during his teens faith, hope, light and joy to our world, communities, will miss their many and into adult life. Struggles were communities and families as we celacts of service. overcome as he felt God’s nudging ebrate the birth of our Saviour.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, Matt Friesen and calling him back.

– Eleanor Friesen He also shared of answered prayer for a life partner and the joy of having a child. We welcome him as a member, and look forward to working and serving together with Matt.

Roseisle EMC again hosted our community’s Remembrance Day service on November 11. Pastor Kelly Lesser reminded us to consider the cost of conflict and encouraged us to pursue peace.

He shared with our community that Jesus promises to take away the weight of our burdens and that true peace is offered through Jesus Christ.

We see battles continue in our world, our community and possibly in our Pam and Cam Dyck with daughter Tessa at own homes and lives.

Matt Friesen became a member of Roseisle their parent-child dedication on Sept. 9.

Pastor Kelly challenged us to EMC by transfer on Nov. 4.

PHOTOS: ELEANOR FRIESEN

Pastor Kelly Lesser reminded us to consider the cost of conflict and encouraged us to pursue peace.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 25

With Our Churches Prairie Rose EMC

Much has been happening at Prairie Rose couple, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and many friends on July 21. It was a special occasion for all the family to be together at home in Landmark.

Edwin and Lillian’s daughter Heidi is on furlough after serving with Africa Inland Mission in Namibia. Heidi has been working as a classroom teacher in Rehoboth and is going back to Namibia Amanda Reimer, Nancy Hiebert, and Gillian Plett, standing in January to teach in with pastor Mike Plett, were baptized on April 29. a less formal setting at Otjiwarongo. We are thankful for October. They are optimistic in the Heidi and pray that she will remain face of difficult challenges in high encouraged as she ministers with needs situations. We pray they will be tenderness and gentle spirit to those energized and receive insight as they who need Jesus. live by example and teach the Word Drama is a highlight at Vacation of God. Bible School and this program ran A token of appreciation was given for a week at the end of August. during a Sunday morning service in Enthusiastic staff, babysitters, music October to our pastor and leaders directors, and actors all worked to of the church. We have much to be make VBS a huge success again. grateful for in our faithful, dedicated It was with mixed emotions that leaders. we bade farewell in August to Wilf Nathan Plett, our youth leader, and and Shirley Hiebert and their chilhis brother David left in November dren, Eric and Ashley. We were sad to spend time with their brother Josh they were leaving and his wife Jocelyn and family in us, but thankful Madagascar, where Josh is a pilot flyfor their obediing with Mission Aviation Fellowship. ence to God’s Our current sermon topics have call. They have focused on Don’t Waste Your Life. since begun their That is our goal and purpose: to know work in Santa and follow the plan God has for each Cruz, Bolivia. of our lives—to not waste our time, We conbut to be joyful in service, worship, tacted them via and fellowship. telephone at – Eva Peters our missionary Shirley and Wilf Hiebert with their children, Ashely and Eric, are conference in serving in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

26 The Messenger • December 2012

PHOTOS COURTESY EVA PETERS

Landmark, Man.—Spring and summer were marked with activity, joyful occasions, and opportunities for learning and teaching at Prairie Rose Church. Our joy was frequently mixed with sadness for two families from our community who lost precious loved ones through motorcycle accidents.

April 29 marked the baptism of three young ladies. Gillian Plett, Amanda Reimer, and Nancy Hiebert shared meaningful personal testimonies as we rejoiced at the work that God had done and is doing in their lives.

Our annual church camp followed in May. Michael and Jessica Richardson, missionaries stationed in Mozambique, southeast Africa, were on home assignment and shared of their work and God’s leading. Michael also spoke at the Boys Club’s spring outing.

Another highlight was the annual picnic on June 10 on our neatly groomed church grounds. After the outdoor worship service the children were surprised and delighted when parents showed up with motorbikes and offered rides.

Edwin and Lillian Plett, who previously served our church as pastoral

With Our Churches Portage Evangelical Church

Pastoral family goes to discipleship centre Portage la Prairie, Man.—My Dad, Glenn Loewen, took a sabbatical for three months after pastoring for nine years. Our family went to a discipleship centre/Bible school in Windsor, Colorado, called Ellerslie. We stayed there for nine weeks, but the impact on us will last forever.

The themes were the centrality of the Word of God, the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, the impossible life is embraced, the gospel, holiness, intercession, and honour (decorum and how to treat others with respect and dignity).

Here are some spiritual truths that made a huge impact on us.

Dad (Glenn): Christians in the past carried a majesty, wonder, and glory that are rarely seen now. Our pampered lives seemed meager compared to the warriors of bygone years. What happened to the George Mullers, Amy Carmichaels, Hudson Taylors, C. T. Studds, John Wesleys, Gladys Alwards, and John “Praying” Hydes?

Mom (Mary): The gospel we are called to share and live is a costly one.

When we proclaim, teach a gospel that costs nothing, it is false. Jesus desires our surrender to his lordship in every area. I want to be a person who fights for that which is near and dear to the Father’s heart: defending the weak, orphan, fatherless, widow, and unborn.

Christian, 16: “He must become Greater and I must become less.” Life is all about bringing glory to Jesus.

Christ is our everything; he is our victory and strength. The Christian life to which we are called is impossible, but Christ has made provision through his blood, and all things are possible in him.

Anicka, 14: You can ask Jesus to be your Saviour, but he must also be your

Lord. Lack of surrender can prevent you from having effective prayers. I learned that God doesn’t ask you to give things to him because he’s a bully.

He just wants to know that he is first in your life.

Marcus, 12: That I must die to self, put away the old and put on Christ Jesus. I must give Christ full reign of my body. I also learned about

surrendering everything to Christ Jesus. I learned that being in Christ means that I go where he goes and do what he does.

Natasha, 9: I learned about focusing on God and not myself—thinking about others and serving them. We need to forgive others, even if what they did was huge.

– Anicka Loewen

Region 3

And so they came Hudson Bay, Sask.—Len and Faye Barkman came from Landmark, Man., representing Project Builders. Harold Penner came from Winnipeg, representing Mennonite Foundation of Canada.

Kelvin and Joan Funkner, with sons Caleb and Johnathon, came to lead the children’s sessions. Guest speaker Henry Ozirney, and his wife Linda, came from Stonewall, Man. From each of the Region 3 churches, people came.

On Sunday, Oct. 28, we at Pineridge Fellowship Chapel welcomed all these guests to our annual Region 3 Family Get Together for a day of worship, fellowship, and encouragement. Holding a one-day fall conference is a longstanding Region 3 tradition.

A part of the day is hearing about and taking an offering for outreach projects. This year we focused on the Bible camp ministries at Steeprock Bay and Ketchen Lake.

Our theme was Staying Faithful for the Long Haul. Using the

examples of Moses, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, Dr. Ozirney taught us how to handle the challenges of discouragement, disillusionment and staying faithful even when our message isn’t popular.

Sharing from Scripture, and drawing on over forty years of pastoral ministry in the same location, Dr. Ozirney inspired us by his teaching and example to aim at “finishing well.”

This annual event is a full day.

Inspirational sessions, great singing, special activities for children and youth, fellowship over meals and, of course, gallons of coffee make for a busy day. A person new to church life once said, “I never knew people drank that much coffee!”

The only disappointments were not having enough time to visit with everyone and missing those who didn’t or couldn’t attend. At the end of the day, we can say, “Jesus was honoured. People were encouraged. We were blessed.”

– Fred Buhler

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 27

News

Advocacy central to MCC’s programs, editors learn Canadian Anabaptist editors take learning tour with MCC Ottawa

PHOTO: TIM SCHMUCKER

STEINBACH, Man.—“Advocacy is not a program of MCC,” said Paul Heidebrecht, Mennonite Central Committee Ottawa Director, during a learning tour for Canadian Anabaptist editors sponsored by MCC Ottawa Nov. 5–7, 2012.

A group of editors representing The Recorder (EMMC/ Go Mission!), The Messenger (EMC), Canadian Mennonite (Mennonite Church Canada), Courier (Mennonite World Conference), and MB Herald (Canadian Conference of MB Churches) heard that MCC’s advocacy work is a resource that anyone working with MCC can draw on. The focus is on effecting change for program partners, Heidebrecht said, not necessarily the people in the pews.

Editors and MCC staff pose in front of the parliamentary buildings.

In a later session, Heidebrecht gave an overview of CRA’s regulations governing political activities for charitable organizations. Under CRA’s current definition, much • Joe Gunn of Citizens for Public Justice: It’s chalof MCC’s work is considered charitable, not political (such lenging to get political parties to work together on as communicating with the public or public officials to issues that touch on the common good, since partifoster public awareness of its work). sanship and competition drives them to disagree.

Tension between the charitable sector • Don Hutchinson, Evanand the government is nothing new, he gelical Fellowship of Canada: said, highlighting news headlines from the Activism is to be beyond the 1970s. While some politicians feel that My thanks go to the staff of MCC’s four walls of the church— charities have no place in policy debates, Ottawa office for organizing an eyeour relationship with Christ others seek to build up the charitable opening tour, which afforded me the is to impact our whole life sector. opportunity: and our whole world.

Jenn Wiebe, Policy Analyst, said advo• To see firsthand the cooperative • Jim Creskey, founder cacy is a tool or mode of MCC’s work, and work of MCC with other organizaand publisher of The Hill gave recent examples of MCC’s advocacy tions to further the cause of justice Times and the Embassy work, including an invitation to testify at for the poor and oppressed in (independent newspapers committee meetings regarding Bill S-10: Canada and around the world on federal politics): Former Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act. • To be less than impressed at the prime minister Jean ChreTim Schmucker, Public Engagement grandstanding of MPs during tien used to ask, why do I Coordinator, described how his work Question Period have to find out what went involves education about MCC’s program.

• On the other hand, to view how on in caucus by reading The The goal is to move people from a basic political parties can and do work Hill Times? awareness of causes and affects of global together, as demonstrated in a • Lloyd Mackey, pubissues to arrive at involvment and action. parliamentary committee hearing lisher, writer and journalist, During the learning tour, editors also • To hear that the Christian faith is founder of Canada’s first heard from: alive and at work in the nation’s community Christian • Dennis Gruending (author of Pulcapital, both within government newspaper. pit and Politics blog): Since jourand in spite of it Subject to availability of nalists covering the religious beat • To hear from Lloyd Mackey—to their representatives, editors are now virtually non-existent, me, a veritable legend in Christian were also able to meet with it accentuates the need for faith journalism. their local MPs. journalism and publications.

– Rebecca Roman – Rebecca Roman

Personal reflections

28 The Messenger • December 2012

News

Fort Frances wins EM Cup for second year in a row East bests West in friendly competition STEINBACH, Man.—In a final battle of East versus West, Fort Frances defeated Westpointe 3–2 to take home the EM Cup for the second year in a row.

The 2012 edition of the EM Cup took place on November 9–11, featuring 14 teams from three provinces.

Fort Frances (Ont.) and Westpointe Community Church (Grande Prairie, Alta.) made the final game fun to watch. Leading 1–0 into the third period, Fort Frances scored a couple more and held on to win. Even though the two teams that traveled the Teams from three provinces played with spirit. well as a fire alarm that delayed farthest were playing in the half the games on Saturday afchampionship game, there was a good turnout of about ternoon and evening; it forced everybody outside into the 150 people. snow and sleet. Even with the inconvenience, everybody These two teams had played to a 2–2 tie on Friday night stayed in a great mood. to open the tournament and finished third and fourth Steinbach EMC, Steinbach EFC, Ridgewood, and in the standings after the round robin. Fort Frances beat Prairie Grove were the four teams that competed on the Blumenort 5–3 in their semi-final, while Westpointe domi- recreational side, playing spirited games and bringing in nated Rosenort 7–2 on the other side. the best fans of the tournament. No knock on any other The other teams participating in the regular draw were church, but the fans from Prairie Grove outshone the rest.

Ridgewood, SBC, Heartland, Pleasant Valley, Morweena, Dressed in purple with shakers and horns, they could be and Kleefeld. These teams battled through each game, as heard in both arenas, cheering their team on.

Ten teams played in the regular draw while four participated on the recreational side. The tournament featured the lowest number of teams since 1993, yet that didn’t dampen anybody’s spirits.

This year’s tournament committee looked a little different as Josh Plett and Keith Barkman took over. As first time organizers we would like to thank all the players, officials, fans, volunteers, and arena staff for helping us to make a great tournament.

We look forward to seeing everybody and more next year for the 29th edition.

– Keith Barkman

PHOTOS: TYRELL HARDER

No knock on any other church, but the fans from Prairie Grove outshone the rest. Dressed in purple with shakers and horns, they could be heard in both arenas.

The East’s dominance continues: Fort Frances poses with the EM Cup.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 29

News

Youth reach new heights through BC employment program Confidence building, skills, and prayer merge

PHOTO: MCC BC

ABBOTSFORD, B.C.—Crossing a vast expanse might not Activities teach them problem solving, leadership skills, seem like a hard thing unless you’re 33 feet off the ground the ability to work with others—all skills that will be valuand your footholds are a series of wooden slats suspended able in life and to any future employer. YKW participants by rope. As Breanna Longden watched her peers making learn how to write resumes, cover letters and conduct a job their way across the Bosun’s Steps she search. was sure she would never do it.

Another component is time spent in Longden was taking part in a team a community service project in which building day at Camp Squeah, in Hope, they learn valuable workplace skills on B.C., as part of Youth Keep Working a project benefiting a local community (YKW), an employment program for organization. youth with multiple barriers. The high John Dawson, Agora manager, beropes course “was way beyond my lieves that the church can play a vital role boundaries,” Longden recalls, but by the in helping youth move to new heights. end of the day, she conquered the Bosun’s Prayer support for the program, its staff, Steps and much more. and youth is greatly valued.

YKW is offered through Agora EmEmployers also play a role. “We’d ployment Essentials Inc., in Abbotsford, love to place youth in a work place with a company owned by MCC BC to deliver people who understand our mission and its employment programs. It provides life Breanna Longden reaches new want to make a difference in the life of a and employability skills training to youth, heights as she tackles a high ropes young person,” Dawson said. assisting them to connect them with paid course at Camp Squeah in Hope, B.C. To learn about Youth Keep Working, employment or return to school. visit findingyourway.ca; contact Cherie Program facilitator Cherie Lynn Wagar says that expeLynn Wagar at 604-859-6790, ext. 316; or email ykw@ riences like the team building day are essential because of mccbc.com. the confidence and trust that are built.

– MCC BC

••

World Fellowship Sunday resources now available Each year Mennonite World Conference (MWC) encourages Anabaptist-related churches around the world to worship around a common theme, on a Sunday close to January 21. On that day, in 1525, the first Anabaptist baptism took place in Zurich, Switzerland.

World Fellowship Sunday provides an opportunity to remember common roots and celebrate worldwide community (koinonia) by planning a worship service that will help participants enter into fellowship, intercession and thanksgiving with the global faith family.

30 The Messenger • December 2012

The 2013 worship materials include biblical texts, prayers, song suggestions and sermon ideas. They are the fruit of the joint work of members of Colombia’s three MWC member churches: Iglesia Christiana Menonita (Mennonite Church), Iglesia Hermandad en Cristo (Brethren in Christ) and Iglesias Hermanos Menonitas (Mennonite Brethren).

The material is available on MWC’s website, in English, French and Spanish: www.mwc-cmm.org (select “World Fellowship Sunday” under “What we do” in the top navigation bar).

– MWC

News

MCC holds successful relief sale at Abbotsford

PHOTO: MCC BC

MCC Festival for World Relief ‘an inspiring sight’

Auctioneer Clyde Dougans works the crowd at the MCC Festival for World Relief. “More than Hearts and Roses” was the highest selling finished quilt at $4,000.

ABBOTSFORD, B.C.—The annual MCC Festival for World Relief held at the Abbotsford Tradex in September was a success in support of MCC’s relief, development and peace work in more than 60 countries.

“What an inspiring sight to see thousands of happy people under one roof, enjoying themselves, visiting and spending money,” said Dora Hoeppner, relief sale coordinator, “and at the same time doing it all for a hungry world in the name of Christ.”

About 100,000 food tickets were sold. Among items consumed were, 25,200 perogies, 1,600 lbs of farmer sausage, and 466 pies with 75 buckets of ice cream.

The tally, thought to be more than $650,000, was not confirmed at press time.

– MCC BC

••

Fewer hungry people, but situation still precarious No reason for complacency, says professor and author WINNIPEG, Man.—First, the good news: The number of people in the world who are chronically undernourished is less than feared.

Now, the bad news: there are still too many hungry people in the world—and many more could end up that way unless western nations address some of the structural problems affecting the global food supply.

That’s the view of Jennifer Clapp, professor at the University of Waterloo and author of the new book Hunger in the Balance: The New Politics of International Food Aid. “It’s good there are fewer hungry people in the world,” says Clapp, referring to a recent UN report that found there are 868 million hungry people today, compared with almost a billion in 1990–91.

For Clapp, what makes the situation precarious for the world’s poorest citizens is the reluctance of the richest nations to address issues that keep people hungry and threaten many more with hunger.

Many governments have recognized things are unfair and attempted to make some corrections. But, says Clapp, “on the whole, efforts to fix the broader structural

problems that affect food security have fallen short. Overall, it’s a pretty poor performance.”

One bright spot, she says, are recent changes to the Food Aid Convention, which provides donor countries with greater flexibility when it comes to dealing with food crises.

At the same time, “Under the new guidelines, rich countries can make commitments to help poor countries in terms of dollars, not amounts of food,” she says. “If we have sharp rises in food prices, this could mean that money from rich countries won’t go as far as it used to, meaning there would be less food for poor people.”

For Clapp, this means that Canadians need to encourage the government to maintain its high commitment when it comes to helping the world’s hungriest people.

Clapp is hopeful for the future. “I believe we can make sure everyone in the world has enough to eat,” she says.

“But to see that happen we need to keep working on the structural issues that prevent people from feeding themselves, and advocate for a fairer system.”

– CFGB

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 31

News

Calendar

EMC shows support for motion

Alberta

Upheld EMC’s view on “the sanctity of all human life”

July 5–7

STEINBACH, Man.—Acting on behalf of the EMC, moderator Richard Klassen and General Secretary Tim Dyck recently supported a motion intended to lead to a fresh parliamentary study of Canada’s “born alive” legal definition of “human being.”

Canadian law says a child becomes a human being only “when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother.”

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada considered this antiquated and sent

Manitoba

a letter of support for the motion.

Church leaders were invited to sign it.

Klassen and Dyck signed EFC’s letter. The EMC’s Statement of Faith says “we believe in the sanctity of all human life, regardless of age, ability or stage of development” (The Dignity of the Human Race).

On Sept. 26 a majority of Members of Parliament voted down Motion 312.

– From EFC and EMC materials

••

A theme at SBC: make today count Online courses approved, transfer credits increase STEINBACH, Man.—Special occasions call for looking special. So with some new things happening on the SBC campus, we decided it was time for a new look in our promotions as well.

We have been working hard at launching a big bold initiative. In early July SBC’s accrediting agency granted us approval to offer online courses.

We are now offering a certificate in ministry studies—a program designed to equip lay leaders in churches to effectively minister in their context, without having to leave their context for training.

In the coming years we plan to expand our course offerings in order to provide opportunities for people to complete their degrees online, and for high school students to get advanced placement.

Another exciting development in August was the discovery of transfer credits to the University of Manitoba.

32 The Messenger • December 2012

Without having to modify our curriculum, our students are receiving excellent transfers into the university.

This means that students can come to SBC for a year or two, and have most or even all of their courses transferred.

These exciting events call for a new look! We want our promotional material to reflect our desire to make every day of a student’s experience at SBC count for the kingdom of God. Our students come not wanting to make a difference “someday,” but to make a difference today.

– Patrick Friesen Director of Enrollment

Living as Kingdom People EMC Convention 2013 Speaker: Tim Geddert La Crete Christian Felllowship, La Crete 204-326-6401

Jan. 13 EMC Day of Prayer Your local EMC church 204-326-6401

Mar. 1–2 Cutting Edge Anabaptism SBC Leadership Conference Speaker: Stuart Murray Steinbach Bible College www.sbcollege.ca

Saskatchewan May 17–20 Rooted: Abundant Springs youth event Briercrest Bible College, Caronport www.abundantsprings.ca

Shoulder Tapping Pastoral positions Christian Fellowship Church (EMC) in Birch River, Man., is currently seeking a part-time pastor. We are a small community church located 500 kms north of Winnipeg, Man., next to the Porcupine Provincial Forest, which lends itself to excellent hunting, fishing and camping opportunities.

We are a friendly congregation with approximately 40 attendees and a vibrant community youth program. We have a history of long-term pastors with a heart for our community and varying levels of education.

We also have strong ties to Steeprock Ministries, which runs a Bible camp that touches the lives of 300-plus children from local First Nations communities every summer.

Interested applicants may apply by sending a resume to Greg Thiessen at g.thiessen@yahoo. com; to Greg Thiessen c/o Christian Fellowship Church, Box 10, Birch River MB R0L 0E0; or phoning 204-734-8395.

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.

La Crete Christian Fellowship Church (EMC) seeks a full-time 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 780814-1439, neudorfs@telus.net, or www.lccfc.ca.

First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake, a small body of believers in northern BC, is looking for a part-time or full-time 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.

Ridgewood EMC is looking for a full-time senior pastor. 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 Do you have a passion for working behind the scenes, being organized and in charge of daily office administration within a team that is mentoring and discipling people for Jesus?

Are you willing to become a part of a northern Manitoba community of believers? Mid-Way Christian Leadership, formerly Continental Mission Inc., is Growing Christian Leaders in the North.

We are seeking a caring team member to be a full-time office manager based in Thompson, Man.

It begins as a paid position and moves into a raisedsupport funding model.

The right individual will be committed to keeping regular office hours, processing financial paperwork, coordinating mailings, and managing our digital and paper media.

We are building a team of committed individuals passionate about following God by discipling people into mature Christians, and ultimately replacing our leadership positions from those we work with.

Please email generaldirector.mcl@gmail.com for a full job description or inquiries.

A Rocha Canada is an international Christian organization that, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects. We are seeking applications for the position of offsite director to lead the work of A Rocha Prairie Canada. A member of its national leadership team, this individual will provide leadership for all Prairie and Pembina Valley Interpretive Centre initiatives, including fundraising. For a full description of this opportunity, please see our website at http://www. arocha.ca/ARPC-director-search.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please forward a brief cover letter, résumé, and the names of three references in confidence to the Search Committee co-chair, Antoinette van Kuik at avk@ mymts.net. The position will remain open until it is filled, but the processing of resumes will begin November 25, 2012.

The EMC seeks an administrative assistant/assistant editor in a one-year term full- or part-time position to begin mid-February 2013.

The position supports the communications strategies of the EMC, particularly the Board of Church Ministries and, within it, The Messenger magazine.

Administrative assistant duties: consignment sales, assist with church resource needs, design promotional materials, prepare mailings, receptionist and clerical work.

Assistant editor duties: design a monthly 36-page print magazine, prepare and distribute its digital version, manage circulation, assist with reporting.

Needed: effective written communication, skill in computer layout and design, self-motivation, ability to cope with deadlines.

Accountability: to the Board of Trustees and to the BCM’s Executive Secretary/Editor.

The EMC is a faith-based organization.

National office staff are to agree with the Statement of Faith, live an appropriate lifestyle, and be involved in an EMC church.

A full description is available at www. emconference.ca/serve. Contact Terry Smith at 204-326-6401 or tsmith@emconf.ca.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 33

Columns • here and far away

C

by Jocelyn R. Plett www.writewhatyousee. wordpress.com

hristmas in Madagascar has been a struggle for me. The hot weather in December and the subsequent discord with everything I normally associate with the Christmas season has been disorienting.

What do you think of when you think Christmas? My list identifies me as a Canadian: snow, cold weather, cozy indoors and sparkly decorations, fires in the fireplace, Christmas in Madagascar is more likely to include the sea and pine trees in the living room, cookies, hot sun than a fireplace and pine trees. chocolate, turkey and stuffing, Christmas carols, manger scenes, family gatherings.

But even there I was met with blank stares.

I asked my South African friends what they “Christmas carols? What’s that?” I confess I got thought of when they think Christmas, and they a bit upset about the whole thing. How can you told me their list includes the beach, camp fires celebrate the Messiah without Christmas carols? and marshmallows, and barbecues (which they What God has taught me through this highly call a braai). One friend wrote, “When I grew up disorienting transition is this: the trappings we always camped at the coast over Christmas, of man-made Christmas can be distracting so I always think of the sea, sun and swimming. anywhere you live in the world, no matter if you Also the smell of suntan lotion reminds me of associate Christmas with pine trees, snow and that time. And, of course, barbecues.” certain musical tunes, or the beach, a braai and the scent of sunscreen.

What’s important is that the Messiah has come and has achieved his good and perfect will while he was on earth. The ways in which we adore him for that are inconsequential; what matters only is that we do adore him and give him glory alone. Or else the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40).

Let’s not let the rocks cry out praise because we’re giving and taking glory for ourselves, distracted with how best to celebrate while not giving of our time and attention directly to the My struggle in our first years here to recreate One we’re celebrating. a northern Christmas in a tropical environment To be sure, despite my own initial confuwas discouraging. It just doesn’t feel right to me sion on the matter, I’m not suggesting that to put up a Christmas tree and stockings beside decorations, presents, Christmas parties and a cold fireplace, cold because it’s ferociously hot indulgences are bad in and of themselves. outside and we’d rather be at the pool than cozy I am saying that they are highly capable of by the fire. distracting us from what is really important.

These are outer, cultural things we associate Let’s not throw the Baby out with the bathwater, with Christmas, understandably strange to those or the crumpled wrapping paper. from other cultures. But in church, surely, there This disorientation—celebrating Christmas we could find some similarities. We’re celebratin the tropics—has done me good. I have ing the same Emmanuel, after all, no matter learned to forego that which is unimportant and which human culture we come from. celebrate only he who is.

The trappings of man-made Christmas can be distracting anywhere you live in the world, no matter if you associate Christmas with pine trees, snow and certain musical tunes, or the beach, a braai and the scent of sunscreen.

34 The Messenger • December 2012

PHOTO: JOCELYN R PLETT

Separating the truth from cultural trappings

Columns • stewardship today

Training to live generously

T .CO ISTOCKPHOTO

M

his summer, as I watched the Olympics, I was amazed by the performances of the athletes. I was even more impressed by their stories of determination, dedication and discipline.

Years before competing at this level these

athletes are determined to be the best. They dedicate their lives and, in many cases, their own resources, to achieve their goal. Their unwavering discipline pushes them to train every day, rain or shine, to earn the honour of representing their country.

I was reminded of Paul’s athletic metaphor to “run the good race” as Christians, focused on the goal of service to God. I wondered what would happen if we had the same commitment to live generously?

by Milly Siderius

During this season, a time when we celebrate God’s goodness, will you consider the benefits of a determined, dedicated and disciplined plan for your giving?

Siderius is MFC’s director of stewardship services Kitchener, Ont.,—Mennonite Foundation of Canada welcomes Milly Siderius as director of stewardship services. In this role, Siderius will lead the team of eight consultants in offices across Canada.

Prior to joining MFC, she was director of stewardship services at Canadian Council of Christian Charities. She has also served on the pastoral leadership team in her home congregation, Hanover Evangelical Missionary Church.

Milly has 20 years of experience in the banking industry. She is a certified minister with Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada and has completed the PFP (Professional Financial Planner) and CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) certification.

Siderius began her role on July 9, and her office is in Kitchener, Ont. – MFC

Many of you already have made that commitment. You prayerfully and thoughtfully have determined your goals for generosity. Then you dedicate your resources to the work of the Kingdom.

In many instances, you have the discipline to regularly set aside a portion of God’s good gifts to share with others. Your example of determination, dedication and discipline are an inspiration for us all.

At Mennonite Foundation of Canada, we believe that our God is generous and that our generosity is a reflection of God’s character. We believe that God owns, and we are charged with being good managers or stewards of, his bountiful blessings.

We also believe that God invites us to share this bounty with others. Giving is an act of worship that proves our words of faith are true.

Generosity is faith in action.

During this season, a time when we celebrate God’s goodness, will you consider the benefits of a determined, dedicated and disciplined plan for your giving?

Make this coming year one when you take another step towards putting your faith in action and discover the joys of living generously.

Milly Siderius is the Director of Stewardship Services for Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) working out of the Kitchener, Ont., office.

For stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 35

Columns • kids’ corner

Away from the noise

T

by Loreena Thiessen

he city of Bethlehem was bustling.

Families originally from Bethlehem had arrived to register for the census, an official count of the population.

The hotels and inns filled up quickly. There was no vacancy.

Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem as well; it was their city too. By the time they arrived no room was available for them. And so they found shelter outside of the city, in a stable.

The night was quiet. The hills all around were dark. There were few animals in the stable, perhaps a cow, some pigeons, and Mary’s donkey.

Mary and Joseph were alone. This is where Jesus was born.

On the hills around Bethlehem there were shepherds watching their flocks through the night. They were awake, keeping an eye out for wolves or other dangers that could hurt their sheep. Sheep need protecting.

Suddenly, without warning, a blaze of light

Activity: The birth of Jesus puzzle Across 3. The shepherds found the baby in a ________.

4. The magi saw an unusual 3 _______.

6. The magi brought _____.

1 2

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

4

36 The Messenger • December 2012

lit up the night. An angel stood in front of them.

The shepherds jumped back. Who was this?

They were very afraid.

Immediately the angel assured them, “Do not be afraid! I have come with wonderful news for everyone!”

Then he told them that Jesus had been born.

He told them where they would find him and to go at once to see him.

The sky filled with light and angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men!”

Then they were gone.

What a surprising night! The shepherds hurried off to find Mary and Joseph and the baby, Jesus, just as the angel had said.

The shepherds knew this was God’s message, that Jesus was their Saviour, the one they had been waiting for.

For a time Mary and Joseph and Jesus lived quietly in Bethlehem. Then one day the magi appeared. They were important men with knowledge about the stars and heavenly signs.

Down They had seen an un1. Mary and Joseph travelled to usual star. The star meant _____________. a new king was born, the 2. The angel had wonderful King of the Jews, God’s _____. people.

5. The angel said, “do not be The magi came to see _________.” him and brought gifts to honour him. Like the 5 shepherds they knew he was the promised king.

Quietly, away from the noise, the promised one had come. He was the one promised by the prophet Malachi, who calls him, “the Sun of Righteousness,” 6 who will heal his people and free them from evil.

Read Malachi 4:2.

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