The Messenger a publication of the
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Volume 57 No. 4 July 2019
Abundant Springs 2019 pages
18-21, 28
ALSO INSIDE: Our Daily Bread—And What About the Future?
page 6
My Forgiveness Journey page 10 Logical Fallacies Explained to Mennonites pages 13
STEPHANY WIEBE
Be Still, My Soul pages 15
Editorials
On Naming Churches Today
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s we plant new churches, naming them, as always, is best done carefully. For various reasons, the EMC has periodically favoured words such as Gemeinde, EMC, Fellowship, Chapel, and Community. What might we keep in mind as we name congregations today? Christianity—and Anabaptism within it—sees the Church as people, not a building. Early Anabaptists met in homes, forests, and caves. Yet wherever they met, they were committed to Christ and to each other. In light of this, a name does well to focus on people, not the building—Church rather than Chapel. What about Mennonite? If the term is used within circles where it has a rich, attractive meaning, it can be effectively used. What about Community? If its use means a congregation is located in a setting (village, town, or corner of a city) where it seeks to warmly welcome people of all
cultures and church or non-church backgrounds, it’s a rich term. Canada needs more community churches. These are only a few of many names used by EMC congregations. Some key questions: to whom is the church’s name to speak? Those who attend, or it seeks to attract, or both? And what signals are intended to be given? In a few words a church’s name can build bridges or barriers. In my view, a church’s name does well to join the faith and a local setting while avoiding barriers. In some locations, a simple name such as River Bend Church would serve its purpose, I suggest. A name serves well if it attracts newcomers as intended. What happens next is up to the people (the congregation) they meet. Do you think differently about some of this? That’s okay, of course. Who said naming children was easy? – Terry M. Smith
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When Can A Rite Be Wrong? In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Whereas, the Church of _____, is no longer to be used for acts of worship, And whereas the Church building and the land upon which it is erected is about to be/ being sold; now, therefore, we, by Divine Permission . . . do declare that the Church of ____ , once duly dedicated and consecrated to the Divine worship of Almighty God, has by virtue of this our sentence, lost said dedication and consecration. (U. S. Anglican rite)
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he Church is people, not a building. Yet if a Christian group sells or gives a building used for worship to another part of the Church, please do not deconsecrate it first. Why? In such an instance, deconsecration seems a weak witness to the wider reality of Christ’s Church. Years ago, two Anglican congregations merged in Flin Flon, Man., and one building was sold to a Mennonite Brethren congregation—yet a deconsecration service
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occurred. More recently, a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania took over a building from a Polish Catholic congregation; again, a deconsecration service was held. Why were these particular buildings deconsecrated? Perhaps the rite happened before there was any knowledge of another church’s interest. If so, it makes sense. Or did it happen despite a church’s expressed interest? If so, it wouldn’t make sense. Were these buildings originally consecrated, in the eyes of God, only for a particular rite, whether Anglican or Polish Catholic? This would be too limiting. The above U.S. Anglican rite, for instance, mentions that “acts of worship” would not continue. Yet, in Flon Flon and Pennsylvania, Christian worship was to continue. “When I see a wall between Christians,” John XXIII said, “I try to pull out a brick.” Leaving the consecration intact on buildings to be used for further Christian worship fits his example. – Terry M. Smith
Table of Contents Features 6
Columns
Our Daily Bread—And What 5 About the Future? – Kevin Wiebe
10 My Forgiveness Journey – Gavin Michaels
13 Logical Fallacies Explained to Mennonites – Andrew Unger
15 Be Still, My Soul – Janice Loewen
Further In and Higher Up Saving Our Souls by Feeding the Poor – Layton Friesen
27 Archives Alcove
Spiritual Health and Patience with the Church – Terry M. Smith
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28 Focus On
Dozens of God Moments Bring Tears of Thankfulness – Gerald D. Reimer
18 Disciples Called to Share the 31 Writings Shared Gospel 'Everywhere' – Jaime Loewen and Stephany Wiebe
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page
30
– Myra Kroeker
32 A Reader's Viewpoint
Departments 2 Editorial 3 Loaves and Fishsticks 4 Letters and Notices 22 With Our Missionaries 26 With Our Churches 29 News 33 Shoulder Tapping
I am Ambivalent About the EMC – Josh Friesen
34 Guest Column
Pity the Lost Soul Who Fears Double! – Karla Hein
35 Stewardship Today
Do Your Retirement Plans Include Generosity? – John Longhurst
page
35
36 Kids’ Corner
Be Your Best – Loreena Thiessen
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3
The Messenger
Letters and Notices
Volume 57 No. 4 July 2019
Church Unattractive if Disharmony is Obvious
EDITOR TERRY M. SMITH tsmith@emconference.ca
ASSISTANT EDITOR ANDREW WALKER awalker@emconference.ca
Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconference.ca. The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. 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.
It is published 12 times per year, six in print (also online at www.issuu.com/emcmessenger) and six in a website format at www.emcmessenger.ca. To get the most out of The Messenger, viewing both versions is encouraged. 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 (under review) 1 year print subscription $20 ($26 U.S.) Manitoba residents add 8% PST. Single print copy price: $2 Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.
The latest edition of The Messenger included a fine article written by the Board of Church Ministries regarding the importance of conference unity in spite of differences of perspective on some church practices [A Note About a Note, May]. What was useful was their reminder to us that “some groups and individuals have not felt welcome” when churches are preoccupied with disputes and
Notable Perception!
My March post has just caught up to me, including the profoundly titled article “Who Am I Now?” by Lois Thiessen. I rarely run into such clear insight. As astonishing as it may/ should be, some Missions which are run by non-cross-cultural people actually find it difficult to see the necessity of member care! I’m not recalling, at the moment, a lot of seminars at Annual Convention, but Sis Thiessen needs to be heard more somewhere!
disagreements under the guise of Christian orthodoxy. The significant decline in church attendance in North America is attributed by many as a sign that the church is unattractive if disharmony is obvious. Thank you, BCM, for your insights. I am looking forward to your further contributions. – Ron Penner Winnipeg, Man.
Within the same March issue I, of course, enjoyed as ever Brother Albert Martens’ invariably wry, gently mischievous story telling. I’ve read The Messenger since the 70’s, and had assumed that every Conference has its equivalent. Not so! Some much larger denominations have no in-house magazine at all, to their substantial weakening as a united section within the Body of Christ. We must definitely not take for granted our Family Newsletter! – Arlyn van Enns Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Messenger is available for free to all online at: www.emcmessenger.ca If you wish to sign up for our email newsletter. Pleaase contact Andrew at: awalker@emconference.ca. Digital copies are free. 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@emconference.ca www.emconference.ca/messenger Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba. ISSN: 0701-3299 Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362 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@emconference.ca.
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Note on Discussion Within The Messenger Every communitywill have a diversity of views and opinions, which provides opportunities for us to learn from each other, being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Our discussions are inevitably impacted by our own experiences, and the experiences of people in our lives.
These discussions should also reflect the reality that some groups and individuals have not always felt welcome in Christian communities. We welcome your responses to articles and topics discussed in The Messenger. – Board of Church Ministries
Column • Further In and Higher Up
Saving Our Souls by Feeding the Poor
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by Layton Friesen Conference Pastor
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id you know that according to Jesus, unless you feed the poor you can’t be saved? Actually, it’s even stronger. Jesus says you are saved by caring for the poor. At first glance, that looks heretical from a Protestant perspective. We have a 500-year history of teaching that we are not saved by works, that nothing we do in obedience to God’s commands could ever contribute to our salvation. As Protestants, evangelicals, and as EMCers, we have basked in the assurance of salvation that is ours when we grasp that no works save us—only the grace of God. But! There are many passages where Jesus sure seems to teach we are saved by giving to the poor. Look at Jesus’ conversation with the young man in Matthew 19:16-22. The young man asks a question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Look at that question. As evangelicals we would immediately know to answer: “Silly! You cannot have eternal life by doing a good deed; only believe in Jesus and receive his free grace.” But this is not what Jesus says! First, Jesus gives him a brief on the Ten Commandments, saying, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Why don’t we say that when we share the gospel with our neighbours? “You want to go to heaven when you die? Keep the Ten Commandments.”) The young man replies, “I have kept all these. What do I still lack?” This man is clearly not playing along with the traditional Protestant conversion story. He is supposed to say, “But, Jesus, I tried to keep the commandments, but I just couldn’t do it, and now I feel so guilty!” Jesus, however, accepts the young man’s claim. He does not accuse him of legalism. He simply says, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” This story is not a one-time blip in Jesus’
teaching. He says similar things in Matt. 6:3-4; 25:31-46; Luke 6:35; 10:25-37; 12:32-34; 14:1214; 16:1-9; 19-31; 19:1-10. But! How do we reconcile Christ’s teaching that we are saved by feeding the poor with Paul’s teaching on salvation by grace? Here is how I understand it, and this gets me excited about the Anabaptist view of conversion. Jesus arrives in the world (and in your life) announcing news of great joy—forgiveness and God’s abundant life. Along with this wondrous news he pours the power of the Spirit available to all who perk up their ears and hear the good news. Yet now there awaits a response from us before conversion truly takes place. The saving response to the arrival of Jesus and his free grace, without which there is no conversion, is feeding the poor. That is what faith looks like. Do you see the difference? Faith is not mere “belief.” The faith by which we are saved in the Anabaptist understanding is joyfully, powerfully, doing what Jesus commands. Jesus commands us to feed the poor. If we are not abundantly hospitable to the poor, we are not responding to God’s abundant gift in offering to abolish our poverty. With God’s abundant favour to us comes the joyful question: would you imitate God’s amazing grace by giving amazing amounts of your possessions to the poor? If yes, Jesus says, you are near the Kingdom of Heaven.
But! How do we reconcile Christ’s teaching that we are saved by feeding the poor with Paul’s teaching on salvation by grace?
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 5
The Lord’s Prayer 2019
Our Daily Bread—And What About the Future?
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By Pastor Kevin Wiebe
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ur culture is one that is full of differing diets: glutenfree, paleo, ketogenic—and that is just the beginning. Many of these diets cut out or reduce carbs. So, when Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” many readers may not be so appreciative of bread. Or perhaps you are appreciative of it, and are mildly irritated because it brings to mind a food you are craving that your diet prohibits you from having. Please do not let this be a stumbling block to your dieting efforts, but graciously journey with me through this section of the Lord’s Prayer—even if you don’t join me when I go to the bakery later. This section of the Lord’s Prayer is the first petition in the prayer that we pray for ourselves. There are subtle differences between the passage in Matthew and the passage in Luke, differences which, in fact, bring further clarity to both versions. This simple request has much to teach us about humility, contentment, trust and hope.
Comparing Matthew and Luke
In Matthew, the text in KJV says, “Give us this day our daily bread,” while the Luke version says, “Give us day by day our daily bread.” The difference is subtle. One is asking for simply today’s bread and the other asking for bread day by day. Neither version is asking for stockpiles; neither is asking for great riches. One asks for simply today’s need, which could be understood as a one-time request, but the other version helps clarify. The Luke passage asks for bread day by day. It asks the Lord to continually provide. In light of this, when we re-read the Matthew passage, it is more than a simply one-time request, but
We come to God with our petitions not with a disposition of being boastful or entitled, but as humble beggars in need of God’s provision in our lives.
rather a greater principle about relying on God each day to provide for that day’s need.
God’s Beggars
Saint Augustine wrote about this passage, observing that in praying this prayer it turns us all into beggars. He writes, “When thou sayest, ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ thou dost profess thyself to be God’s beggar. But be not ashamed at this; how rich soever any man be on earth, he is still God’s beggar.” This reminds us of our humble place before God. Augustine continues on this line of thinking to remind us that no matter how rich a person might be, they are still beggars in God’s sight. Think of the story of Job, where one of the richest men of the time was brought to ruin simply because God removed His hand of protection. Furthermore, whatever wealth someone might create through their work, it was God who gave them the ability to work, an ability which can also be taken away. We come to God with our petitions not with a disposition of being boastful or entitled, but as humble beggars in need of God’s provision in our lives.
What is Bread?
Defining what was meant by the word bread has been the source of much discussion by scholars. Early church fathers often talked about this figuratively, Saint Augustine concluding that, “Our daily food then in this earth is the word of God.” Others read it as simply being our literal food for today.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 7
Like many passages in Scripture, this has layers of meaning, which are not contradicting each other, but help bring about richer understanding and application of this passage. Bread can simply mean literal, home-baked, soft and warm; it reminds you of your mama’s kind of bread, which was a staple food in the days of Jesus. Therefore, asking for “daily bread” is asking for God to provide for physical nourishment each day. This brings to mind the Exodus story and how God provided manna in the wilderness for the people every day. Diving a bit deeper, the request for bread could mean a request for all their physical needs for the day, and going deeper still it can be representative of the holistic provisions needed for someone to do the will of God for that day. Michael J. Wilkins writes, “In the same way that manna was only given one day at a time, disciples are to rely on daily provision for life from God, helping them to develop a continuing, conscious dependence on him.”
This Day
As Jesus teaches us to pray, we are taught to ask for daily bread. This is very consistent with what Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” As we pray we are, therefore, taught to not get overwhelmed with all the worries of tomorrow. We are not to become obsessed with all of tomorrow’s needs, but to live our lives being present in the moment, while being wholly dependent on the Lord. This does not mean that we are to be irresponsible and squander the resources we have been given to steward. After all, Jesus teaches elsewhere about stewardship and the importance of it in Matthew 25:14-30. What this does mean is that we are not to fill today with tomorrow’s troubles. If we were on a journey of 1,000 miles, it would mean not focusing on the daunting task of travelling 1,000 miles, but rather on the steps that we have to take today.
We are not to become obsessed with all of tomorrow’s needs, but to live our lives being present in the moment, while being wholly dependent on the Lord.
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Comfort
One way people get through seasons of difficulty is simply by taking it one day at a time, one hour at a time, or even one minute at a time. This is a basic strategy in addictions recovery and a basic principle for dealing with grief. In these seasons of difficulty, when people look at the valley ahead of them that they have to walk through it can seem overwhelming. It can even be hard to see where it will end. When focusing on such a huge journey, many get overwhelmed at the daunting reality of what they must go through. Yet when the direction is set and a commitment to moving forward is there, one step leads to another and progress eventually happens. As a pastor, I have often met with people facing various life challenges. I don’t know if I can count how many times I have heard the phrase, “I just can’t do it anymore.” This portion of the Lord’s Prayer speaks exactly to that. Of course, they “can’t do it anymore.” This comment is so often spoken with exhaustion because of how much they have had to deal with over such a long time; it is often spoken with tones of hopelessness because there is no end in sight. And, of course, they feel this way!
When we think about the gravity of those journeys, it is paralyzing. We can no more handle those big problems in a single day than we can stockpile a lifetime’s worth of food in our kitchen pantry. It is a big-picture view of the struggle. Sometime we need to think smaller. If you are in the middle of a struggle, you are not being asked to keep doing this forever. You are asked to be faithful for today. You are taught to pray that God will give you what you need for today—and I absolutely believe that God’s provision will be enough for you to be faithful to Him for today. So, what about tomorrow? Well, let me put it this way: when bread is stored too long it gets stale, so we can be thankful that God is up long before us every day to make us something fresh. Kevin Wiebe, BA, is senior pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship that meets in Stevenson, Ont. He serves on the Board of Church Ministries.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 9
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The Lord’s Prayer 2019
My Forgiveness Journey By Pastor Gavin Michaels
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efore “Once upon a time” and “Happily ever after,” there was a plan. The Creator himself, the originator of the “beginning and end,” put in place a forgiveness plan. He ordained each moment of each life. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”(Psalm 139:16). Though God chooses all to be His children, God foreknew that not all people would accept His forgiveness plan. Forgiveness is a journey that is a matter of choice. My responsibility as a believer is to extend forgiveness as Jesus did. His servant-heart led Him to humble Himself and wash the feet of his followers. Never did he hesitate, even when it came to washing the feet of His betrayer.
sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). It is my responsibility to embrace and live out the message of the cross. It might look something like this … It was a hushed courtroom as the victims came forward to share their stories. They were stories of what had happened so long ago, but were recalled as if they had just happened. The memories and feelings were seared into the depths of their souls. Sexual abuse, it has been said, violates the sanctity of the inner soul. I remember being called to the stand. It was the first time I recalled having a voice. As a victim, I got to tell our story. It was somewhat tainted by the defence lawyer trying to twist an already twisted story of horrific abuse. It was almost as if I was not there, but I was. I remember focusing on the prosecutor. I vaguely remember seeing the perpetrator, my stepfather. I was to tell them my story, yet how do you face one who has wounded you so deeply? A few short months later the sentence was handed down. “The facts involving this man are about as ugly as the court has ever seen,” Judge Peter Doherty told a hushed courtroom.
Forgiveness is a journey that is a matter of choice. My responsibility as a believer is to extend forgiveness as Jesus did.
The Message of the Cross
The forgiveness journey is completed in my ability to forgive others. Scripture tells us, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your
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“It’s hard to imagine a greater abuse of parental power.” I still recall reading the news story and thinking that hard to imagine moment was my reality. The judge continued, “He has destroyed their lives.”
Jesus Shares These Words
Apart from divine intervention, that would be true. However, I believe in and embrace the journey of forgiveness. Without forgiveness, I could not and would not heal. In the model prayer given by the Lord himself, Jesus shares these words: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” I have come to a place where I believe that forgiveness is an immediate moment by moment choice as well as a process. I have asked the Lord many times for the ability to forgive as He does. I need to be able to recognize my need for forgiveness in my personal journey before I can extend it to others. I can be forgiven only to the extent that I have received, embraced, and extended that forgiveness to others.
my feelings about someone else’s maltreatment is a separate and distinct issue that needs to be addressed. To define forgiveness requires me to recognize that embracing unforgiveness is actually self-harming. The two definitions of forgiveness I believe in are: The willingness to let go of self-harming or ineffective forms of anger, choosing instead to turn over ultimate resolution of the wrong doing to God.— Choosing to Forgive Workbook To cease to feel resentment against an offender; to give up claim to requital from an offender; to grant relief from payment—The Courage to Heal To begin the journey of forgiveness requires me to step out of my comfort zone and to step into God’s comfort zone. I must relinquish my right to be compensated and I must give over my journey to God’s plan.
I must relinquish my right to be compensated and I must give over my journey to God’s plan.
Defining Forgiveness
It is not within me to forgive in human terms. Forgiveness starts with me recognizing that
Processing Abuse
So many people spend so much time embracing the pain and hurt of what they have gone through. I, too, have moments where I struggle with the pain and hurt caused by the wounds that have impacted my soul. The pain is caused because we had hoped for a safe, caring, emotionally intimate relationship. When that is betrayed, we feel violated. We then begin the journey of bereavement as we try to recoup our lost dignity. As a therapist, I teach people how to process the memories and feelings associated with abuse: Identify, acknowledge, embrace, validate, own, explore, put down, and let go.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 11
The Choosing to Forgive Workbook is one of my favourite books. It has had a profound impact on my ability to embrace and extend forgiveness. Through it, I have gained some insight into understanding forgiveness. I must first recognize what forgiveness is and is not. Forgiveness recognizes that there are healthy forms of anger. It is when I embrace bitterness and resentment that I let unforgiveness own my soul. Forgiveness is not… Allowing others to disrespect your needs and boundaries Telling the wrongdoer that the past is no longer significant and everything’s fine now Pretending to go back to normal relations as if nothing happened Denying that you may still have to live with the pain caused by the wrongful deed To live with the pain caused from the wrongful deed is to live a forgiveness journey moment by moment. So, what does forgiveness look like? You will let go of the demand for repayment, particularly as you have exhausted all reasonable attempts at restitution or restoration. You will choose to give up any obsessions regarding the wrongdoer, recognizing, instead, that you have better things to give your attention to You will be willing to refrain from the ongoing temptation to insult the wrongdoer You will give yourself permission to make life choices that will lead to contentment and peace
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How Would I Know?
Contentment and peace can only be experienced as I embrace receiving the Lord’s forgiveness. His compassion and grace in my life allow me to share that with others. I was once asked how I know I had forgiven my perpetrator. My response was, “I guess I’d know if he were to walk through the door.” Maybe we should reflect on author Sean Sellars’ words penned from his jail cell after his conversion: Hatred and vengeance is like a hot coal. When we grab a hold of it, it burns us. The longer we keep a hold of it, the more we are scarred. The only way to let go is to release it. The only way is to forgive! And forgiveness is NOT an emotion… Forgiveness is a DECISION. It is a conscious act of your will. Actually, I know that I have forgiven my perpetrator because I want to, and choose to, so I can move forward in my forgiveness journey. I have only two options: to be bitter or to be better. I can only live in kindness, caring, sharing, and compassion to the extent I have received it through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Gavin Michaels, BA, MA (Biblical Counseling), is the pastor of the Church of Living Waters in Tillsonburg, Ont., “an amazing group of people.” He has also been a family and trauma therapist for the past 23 years. He and his wife Jude “are blessed to be ministering to the people of Tillsonburg.”
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Discussion and Discernment
Logical Fallacies Explained to Mennonites By Andrew Unger Editor’s note: This article is published by the Board of Church Ministries to explore how to discuss and discern together. It appeared in The Daily Bonnet (Dec. 18, 2017), an online publication of gentle satire. The Anabaptist-Mennonite church is global with many cultures and languages, though in the article some Germanspeaking members are highlighted. Whatever our background, there is a common challenge: how to talk and decide together.
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ennonites are pacifists, so we can’t use physical violence to achieve our goals. So, how do we get our way? Well, by winning an argument, of course! We use words, not swords. In order to make a good argument, however, we need to learn to be logical and not resort to reasoning errors. Therefore, to aid Mennonites in this quest, The Daily Bonnet has created this handy guide to common logical fallacies (i.e., bad arguments), each one explained in a way that Mennonites can easily understand. Ad Hominem – This is a personal attack in place of an argument. When your opponent runs out of good arguments, they usually resort
to insults. For example, Mrs. Friesen argues that vereneki (perogies) are better boiled than fried. Since Mrs. Penner can’t think of a comeback, she simply retorts, “Waut es mit die, du ola Schnodda Näs!” (What is it with you, you old snot nose!”) Ad Populum – This is arguing on the basis of popularity, but it’s not a good argument. Even though all church decisions are made by committee, it doesn’t matter how many people believe in something; that doesn’t make it true. The whole world could believe Menno Simons was a mermaid; that wouldn’t make it true— although that would be pretty awesome! Appeal to Pity – This fallacy is when you’re using pity and emotion rather than logic to win an argument. So, for example, Mr. Klippenstein wants to get a new hitching post in front of the
The Daily Bonnet has created this handy guide to common logical fallacies (i.e., bad arguments), each one explained in a way that Mennonites can easily understand. www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 13
MCC shop. Instead of using a rational argument to make his case, he appeals to pity and says, “Na, junges (No, boys), you wouldn’t want your old Opa (grandfather) to have to hitch his horses in front of the Co-ops across the street, now would you?” Appeal to Tradition – This is self-explanatory. Just because something is traditional, doesn’t mean it’s correct. This is basically the Mennonite defence for everything: gender roles, church start times, Mr. Toews’ parking spot. Everything seems to be defended by simply saying, “Ach, that’s the way we’ve always done it yet!” It’s a bad argument. False Dilemma – A false dilemma is when someone provides an artificially limited number of options in order to make one (previously undesirable) option seem more desirable. “You don’t want to eat chicken livers tonight? Well, it’s either you eat your chicken livers or you’ve got manure-spreading duty for a month. You decide!” Personal Incredulity – This is when someone argues that something must be wrong just because they, personally, don’t find it believable. Your uncle does this one a lot, I’m sure. “Women wearing pants? Makes no sense to me!” or “Drums in church? It doesn’t give such!” Red Herring – Mennonites don’t eat a lot of fish, but we do use a lot of red herrings. This is the use of distraction to change the subject from the original argument. So, for example, Andrea Wiebe says that the church should order 12 dozen raisin buns for the next funeral because they ran out the last time. In typical old Mennonite man fashion, Mr. Doerksen retorts, “Yeah, well, who’s going to shovel the sidewalk in front of the building?!” The meeting is then diverted into a lengthy conversation about icy sidewalks and Miss Wiebe’s original perfectly reasonable request is completely forgotten.
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Slippery Slope – The slippery slope fallacy occurs when someone argues against one thing on the unfounded basis that it will lead to something worse. “You want people to be able to purchase a glass of wine with their meal? Well, if we allow that, then the next thing you know we’ll be legalizing cocaine, we’ll all become addicts, then there’ll be no one to harvest the grain, our entire society will collapse, and Kleefeld will never be the same again!” Straw Man – This is when you distort someone’s argument to make it easier to defeat (like a straw man). Say, for example, Mrs. Loewen argues that the church should allow women to enter the building without a head covering. Mr. Plett retorts, “Yeah, well, you’d probably like to come into church completely naked.” I’m afraid, Mr. Plett, you’ll have to do better than that, as this statement is a fallacy. Tu Quoque – From the Latin for “you also.” This is related to ad hominem, because it’s a personal attack in which you point out someone’s hypocrisy in order to diminish their argument. However, an argument must be judged on its own merit. Being a hypocrite does not negate an argument. Like when Mr. Peters suggested changing the communion wine to non-alcoholic Welch’s grape juice, but Mr. Fehr pointed out that Mr. Peters was the biggest boozer in town so who is he to talk. And then Mr. Peters said that Mr. Fehr’s wife Alice was known to down her fair share of real Mexican vanilla. And then Mrs. Fehr said that Mr. Peter’s wife Susan enjoys those brandy beans at Christmas a little too much, “not to mention the rum balls and boozy fruit cake,” and then Mrs. Peters said that…. You get the idea. So, there you have it! The next time you see a Mennonite friend making a fallacious argument, just show them this article. Problem solved. Oba yo! (Definitely yes!) Andrew Unger (Stony Brook) is a teacher in Steinbach, Man.
Be Still, My Soul
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By Janice Loewen
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magine, four days of silence, never talking to anyone. A silence which means no use of WIFI, phones, emails, computers or anything else that would distract you from this intense silence. Silence is not the way our usual day to day world operates. Our lives are filled with busyness and noise. We seem to like it that way. Silence is more than a quiet time with the Lord. In our quiet times we do most of the talking. Our own chattering and talking must come to an end. This type of silence involves being still and knowing that He is God.
some of us, it is just downright hard to let go of our work or responsibilities. Richard Foster puts it this way, “Genuine experiences of solitude undercut all pretense. In the very act of retreat we resign as CEO of the universe.” It was no different for Arley and me. When the invitation came to us, my first response was one of pure joy and unbelief that we were offered something so wonderful. This had been something on my wish list for many years. Arley, however, saw it as a daunting task and one that might lead him into many sceptical thoughts. How could someone as busy as he is, do nothing for five days! But in the end, we chose to go.
For some of us, it is just downright hard to let go of our work or responsibilities.
Our Response
Let’s be honest. We all would respond to an invitation to a silent retreat with a variety of different thoughts and emotions. For most of us this is something completely new and strange. It most certainly takes us out of our comfort zone. The thought of total silence can be frightening because we fear it might reveal rough edges of our heart. We are not sure we are ready to confront our own naked heart. It cuts us off from the world and leaves us alone with God. For
Orientation
We were seven couple along with the mentors. Most of us had OM connections. We gathered together at a Catholic monastery in Thailand which had beautiful grounds and facilities for hosting a silent retreat. Our group was allowed to come in and use their facilities for our own silent retreat.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15
Each of us had our own individual bedroom with a small bathroom attached. Yes, husbands and wives were separated, each in their own room. We began with a half day of orientation. Why come to such a retreat? What brought you here? For those of us who come from the West, this type of retreat seems out of character, a timewaster, unproductive. Our culture screams at us to be doers. To retreat is a difficult thing for an active soldier to do—it is seen as failure. Yet as we look through the Gospels, we see that Jesus was also bombarded by crowds and demands from people. He was often on the move, going from place to place. And we read in Luke 5:15-16: “Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus needed to hear from the Father. To stop, to rest, to enjoy and delight in the Father. This is what we came to the retreat for. Not to tackle world issues or theological problems, not even to solve our own personal problems. We have come to rest and delight in the Father. To be silent and hear from Him. So like Elijah, who ran to escape from the demands and dangers of ministry, we stopped and asked ourselves these questions: What are you doing here? What is your desire? Longing? What is your expectation deep inside? It was in stillness and quietness that Elijah heard God speak to him. Both Arley and I wanted and longed for a fresh encounter with God, and so the days of silence began.
Daily Routine
The mornings began in silence, no alarm clocks. We woke to the rising of the sun. Some things continued as usual. Each morning, Arley and I separately went for our morning walks and prayer time. Meals were served in a dining hall and we silently joined many others who were also on a silent retreat. All of us ate in silence, enjoying the quiet and meditative music that was played. We were encouraged to slow down intentionally and to pay attention to what was around us. For
16 The Messenger • July 2019
me, meal times were special, relaxed and lengthy times of meditating on the many good and wonderful things I have received from the Lord. There was no rush, no hurry to be somewhere else. Each morning, after breakfast, we had a morning devotion as a group. We met in a small chapel. The mentors read scripture and presented thoughtful questions and other passages that we could read throughout the day. We as participants remained silent at this time and enjoyed the quietness, the contemplative music and the Word of God. The rest of the day, we each made our own routine of where we wanted to go and spend time with the Lord. There were several small chapels on the grounds. Outdoor benches and tables with coverings to protect from the sun and heat were scattered around the grounds. There were also paths for slow, meditative walks. Something we all loved was the labyrinth, a place to walk while we ponder on Scripture, or questions or thoughts that had come up during the day or to reflect on what the Lord has done in our lives. In the centre of the labyrinth was a
large rock which represented Christ. All of us felt it was a “journey” worth taking each day. Each evening we met again as a group for a time of communion. It was such a relaxed, unhurried time and each of us by turn went up to the communion table and spent time with the Lord before taking the bread and wine. It was amazingly calm and refreshing. And throughout the day and the various times spent with the Lord, we journaled and journaled, writing our thoughts and our hearts deepest moments spent with the Lord.
sensitive to God’s presence and His voice. We experienced a calmness and slowness that brought a fresh peace and quietness. Indeed, silence slows you down! Silence is a great equalizer – no one is left out, no one dominates the conversation. It was wonderful to walk and eat in silence alongside our friends and know that they too were experiencing a deep and quiet time with the Lord.
We experienced a calmness and slowness that brought a fresh peace and quietness.
Scripture
We spent much time meditating on Isaiah 55:113, to come, to listen and to delight, to seek God and to call upon Him; then to go out with joy and be led forth in peace. We also spent much time in John 4:1-14, meditating on how Jesus provides the water of life which should become a spring of water within us, welling up to eternal life. I personally enjoyed becoming much more
What Next?
Arley and I are now developing new, spiritual disciplines in our lives. We do not want to lose the wonderful gift of drawing away from the rush and hurry of life, to be near to God in a special way of silence and to learn from Him and delight in Him. If someone were to ask us, “Would you go on another silent retreat?” or “Would you recommend a silent retreat to others?” My answer would be a resounding, “Yes!” Janice Loewen has been serving the Afghan world with OM since 1982.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17
Abundant Springs 2019 STEPHANY WIEBE
Disciples Called to Share the Gospel ‘Everywhere’ By Jaime Loewen and Stephany Wiebe
H
ere we are again, two years later and another amazing weekend was spent connecting, growing and worshiping at Abundant Springs. On May 17, the youth of Kleefeld EMC, our home church, along with 23 other EMC youth groups across Canada made their journey to Caronport, Sask. A total of 364 youth and 176 leaders and staff joined together in building memories, relationships and taking steps towards knowing and loving Jesus more.
Friday Night
Everyone arrived at Briercrest College and Seminary, settled into their dorms and acquainted themselves with the campus before dinner. Following dinner, we gathered together for our first session with speaker Kent Martens. Kent is a father, a husband to his wife Pam, and has been on staff at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church in Steinbach, Man., for 19 years and is currently working with kids, youth and parents as the Family Ministry Pastor. Kent made it very easy to follow sessions as he delivered his messages with humour, making the sessions enjoyable and relatable. Our main theme for this year was “Everywhere,” based on
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the verses found in Matthew 28:18-20 which showed us that as followers of Jesus we are to share the gospel wherever we are. This first session, Kent brought three stories to light from Acts 8:26-40: My story, Your story, and God’s story. Within My story we learned that God intentionally pursues us personally. In Acts we read that Philip’s story was mixing with God’s story; he was asking questions and was curious. He learned and connected God’s will to his own personal story. At the end of this session, Kent invited anyone who wanted to remember this lesson to come up and collect three beads on a paperclip to symbolize the three stories.
After each session we enjoyed delicious cookies provided by each youth group attending, giving us energy to participate in the late-night games or concerts. Friday night we participated in a concert by the band “The Boy + The Sea.” Completed with glow sticks and beach balls, we enthusiastically worshiped our one true God.
Saturday
Breakfast is served at 8 a.m. At this time, some of us barely pull ourselves out of bed while others spring up much earlier to get in a jog around the campus. Once fueled for the day we gather in the sanctuary for worship and information on the day ahead. The mornings are set aside for youth and leader workshops, which is a time where students gather into classrooms to hear different speakers talk about different topics. On Saturday morning, we were able to attend two workshops of our choosing and another one on Sunday morning. Some of this year’s workshop speakers were: Brenda Brown who manages a high-risk youth program with the RCMP. She spoke to us about “friends helping friends” who are affected by substance use or abuse. Patrick Friesen spoke on the practice of prayer and how to keep our focus on Jesus. Sara Dacombe enlightened us on “how to like yourself on social media.” Her workshop was all about social pressures, increasing our self-respect and how to practice time management concerning social media.
Jeremy and Adrienne Penner ran the workshop “called, equipped, sent: living life on a mission.” They took time to look at the way Jesus calls each of us to be missionaries with the youth, how He prepares us to answer our calling, and how each of us is sent as His ambassadors. After a morning of exercising our minds we have a time of “Active Engagement.” This is a time for multiple sports tournaments, crafts, and a time to get to know one another in a relaxed, unfocused setting. Many took part in the street hockey, basketball, soccer and volleyball tournaments; some played dodgeball or life-sized Dutch Blitz. Our second session with Kent was focused on becoming an everywhere follower of Jesus, personally and actively, not only maintaining the faith we grew up in, but continually taking the next step towards knowing Jesus more. Kent reminded us that we are all a work-in-progress and continually under construction.
Speaker Kent Martens
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19
rest in the Lord. While being a part of leading Abundant Springs is eyeopening and inspiring, a time just for ourselves to let down and be in awe of God was very welcomed.
Christian Cruz
Using the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:110, we were shown that Jesus came to earth to love and connect with each of us. Zacchaeus’s response to Jesus was active and eager to make changes to follow Jesus. Kent encouraged us to make our faith active, not to be passive in our faith or lazy in our relationship with God. At the end, the invitation was offered for people to come forward and accept his calling, to be active by being open. To trust Jesus. To take the next step forward and be obedient. A time of reflection was much needed after hearing Kent speak about being a follower of Jesus. Youth groups shared and prayed in small groups and connected with one another deeply. We ended the day with lighthearted fun back in the sanctuary with The Showdown, an evening of games participated by all. This year we played Family Feud. Teams on stage attempted to best one another by taking turns answering questions. Most answers had the viewers howling with laughter, which made it a great time for all.
Sunday
After enjoying another breakfast and worship time, we had our last workshop of the weekend. Students attended a workshop of their own, and once again this year, leaders had a workshop just for them. Leaders were welcome to come and be without responsibility while worshiping and listening to a small devotional delivered by Mo Friesen, ending with a time to reflect and
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We had a guest speaker via Skype after our workshops. Christian Cruz was supposed to fly out from Ixtapa, Mexico, but did not receive his visa in time. Thanks to technology, though, we didn’t have to miss out on hearing his amazing testimony of how God has been working in his life and the amazing things he has done. He shared how he was imprisoned at one point for sharing the gospel and how the Lord was with him the whole time. Christian shares the gospel in many different ways, but one of his favourites is through rapping, which he was able to share with us.
‘Smuggler’s Run’ Wide Game
You may wonder, can 541 people really play one game all together? Yes. Yes, they can! With much preparation and help from many leaders we were able to pull off another wide game this year. This year’s game was comprised of many little “booth” games where students, in teams, would run across campus to different stations where they would perform tasks or games to get a signature. The goal was to solve clues in order to find the location of three “underground” churches where they would deliver Scriptures that they so desperately needed. The
with a great concert performed by the alternative band from Edmonton “West of Here.” They are a group of brothers who find passion in inspiring people to live life to the fullest in Christ through their many amazing songs and talented voices.
Monday
tasks or games consisted of throwing a mini marshmallow in a teammates mouth, leading a blindfolded teammate through a maze of tires, eating a cracker covered in hot sauce, dancing or singing and many others. Once a team received all the necessary signatures they had to race back to the main building before the other teams. As if that wasn’t difficult enough, teams must also avoid getting caught by the “authorities,” other leaders roaming the grounds. This large group game is always a great time and a highlight for many. Later in the evening Kent jumped into teaching us about how we have an “everywhere” assignment: to become an ambassador and help others become right with God. We are called to be part of God’s story and others stories, but sometimes we choose to run and do the opposite of God’s will. Kent used the story of Jonah and Moses to portray this. Jonah and Moses were afraid to complete the task set before them, but God partnered with them and completed the journey alongside them. He said that 2 Corinthians tells us that Christ’s love compels, motivates and inspires us. Two questions were brought to light: Where does God want me to be a light and who does God want me to build a relationship of encouragement and love with? We ended with a time of prayer, led by Patrick Friesen, for countries around the world, personal requests, our neighbours, and with the Lord’s Prayer. Our last night at Abundant Springs ended
Our fourth and final session took place Monday morning. We listed to Kent explain the cost of cooperation with God by hearing the story of Esther. She had to take a major risk with her life to save her people and her response was, “If I perish, I perish.” Jesus tells us plainly that there is a big cost to following him: to sacrifice. Often, we only give God a tiny part of our lives, but He wants it all. He wants our time, work, money, media, and our future. Just like Esther had the confidence to take the risk, we learned that God is calling us to take up our own cross and that the Holy Spirit is with us always. We were told to continue to say Yes to God, and back up the big Yes with little everyday “yeses.” After a wonderful, busy, eye-opening weekend it was time to pack up and return to the bus. With minds full of messages to ponder and hearts full and content, we completed the journey home. We were determined to continue to say Yes, to relinquish more of our lives to God, to trust and obey. We know that God will continue to grow us and use us in amazing ways if we follow, serve, and trust him “everywhere” we go. The article and photos were provided by Jaime Loewen and Stephany Wiebe, both youth leaders at Kleefeld EMC.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21
With Our Missionaries
What is Your CV? OCEANIA/NORTH AMERICA
beggars and orphans • Loved my wife and been transported by the birth of my four children • Wept at the death Harvey and Brenda Thiessen of my first grandchild • Walked with God in sorrow and joy • Experienced the pride of accomplishment and the humility of personal failure • Been enraptured by worship and mortified by repentance • Spoken to tens of thousands • Been afraid to speak to a child • Been the target of terrorists and the object of derision • Felt security in the identify of my family • Held the pain-wracked hand of my mother as she slipped into eternity • Cried as hardened men gave way to God • Smiled as my granddaughter took my hand The responsibilities I have taken up while I walk this journey: Oceania and North America Leader, Operation Mobilization; Chairman, Board of Directors, MoveIn; Board of COMMA; Board of Canadian Centre for World Mission; Board of Pamir Productions; Board of Operation Mobilization USA; Executive Committee of Evangelical Mennonite Conference Canadian Network of Ministries to Muslims. Year to Date Financial Report How do we describe who we are to the From January – May outside world? These days in the hot contest of groups and ideological alliances, we are General General pushed to “tribalise” our identity by who we Fund 2019 Fund 2018 associate with, quote or support. These things Income* 559,489 515,745 influence but do not define who we are. The Expenses 760,871 718,266 Bible clearly demonstrates that our actions Excess/Shortfall -201,382 -202,521 and interactions draw the picture for God when he asks, “Who are you?” What is your We give thanks to God for the continued strong support of CV? Matthew 7:20. EMC ministries, and we acknowledge the contributions of EMC churches and individuals who give so generously. Harvey Thiessen (Wymark) is Oceania - The Board of Trustees and North America Leader for Operation *Income includes donations and transfers from other funds (e.g., estate funds). Mobilization.
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BOM
From time to time I am asked for my curriculum vitae (CV, the course of your life) to introduce me to a whole new set of people that have not known me. Presumably, this is meant to help the readers understand what value I bring to the activity or discussion for which I am being considered. Usually what is expected is a list of stuff I have put in my head (education) and my accomplishments (as measured by the organizational positions I have held). When I was asked again recently by a group of academics forming the Lausanne North American Diaspora Strategy Group, I relooked at what I should send them and realised that what they asked for was not what primarily made me who I am or even what they would get if they invited me to participate with them. So, instead, I sent them the following: I have • Walked the highlands of Papua New Guinea • Sipped tea in the comfort of a Beduoin tent • Sailed five of the seven seas • Been drenched by monsoons, pushed around by typhoons, and one decision away from being engulfed by a volcano. • Taken up residence in nine countries • Faced down an angry mob intent on beating a man to death • Fled in fear from a knife-wielding thief • Walked with men transformed from killers and liars to servants and givers • Shaken the hands of kings, princes, and governors • Sat, laughed, hugged, and enjoyed the company of
With Our Missionaries
‘Love in Action is a Harsh and Dreadful Thing’
In Touch With Tough Times
Life in the North End, on the corner of Salter St. and Aberdeen Ave., brings a person into touch with tough times. In my first few months here I’ve spent a lot of time working with our fearless leader Kent Dueck. He has spent 33 years walking alongside people as they claw their way through some very difficult situations. Not a lot of people have that kind of staying power. But its effect was apparent to me lately when a local family was about to have their baby apprehended by the authorities. Who did they call on to be their advocate? Kent. In some situations, Kent has three generations of relational connection—he knows the grandparents, the parents, and the children. He has been up close and personal for a long time, so he has a much fuller understanding of the situation. His love has balance. For example, while one distant-but-powerful authority might say, “These are bad parents,” another opposing but equally-as-distant group says, “These are good parents!” However, someone who knows the families well can do a much better job of evaluating the truth of a given situation, because of the hard work of relational connecting that has been done over years. Beyond that, a relationally-connected person likely has far more authority to speak into the lives of someone going through troubled times. Generally, people are far more likely to listen and change when they know they are loved and that you are going to stick around.
ICYA
WINNIPEG
I am kind of the new guy at Inner City Youth Alive. After six years at Siloam Mission and a decade in Japan previous to that, I have finally landed in the place I’ve been hearing about since I first came to Winnipeg from our little farm in Killarney, Man. So far it seems like a really good fit, because at ICYA they wrestle with a theme that has been front and center for me lately. My spiritual journey took a serious turn in the last few years. Life conspired to shine a stage light on the idea that love—and what it means to act lovingly—isn’t as simple and obvious as I once thought it to be. I should have seen it coming. I’ve long been attracted to a famous quote from a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky who wrote, “Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.” If I were to interpret what this wise old Russian was trying to say, it might be that deep understanding comes only from living through tough times.
I think “love” without relationship can get really unbalanced. When “the people with the answers” are distant from the problems they think they are solving, they tend to see things as much more black and white than they actually are. The actual complexity of a problem can seem simple from a distance.
Deep in the Dirt
Understanding grows when you are deep in the dirt and stress that comes with long-term relationship. It doesn’t get simpler, but it can get a lot clearer. Anyone in a healthy family knows this dynamic. How often have you seen someone with a simple and rigid opinion, then transition to a gentler opinion when someone in their family is affected? When we love someone, we listen long and investigate carefully, because we want to know the truth. Only a true diagnosis will lead us to solutions that bring us to health. Mr. Dostoevsky might have said that this very thing is the “harsh” love that is so different from love in dreams. Dream love is really only niceness and a sort of detached fandom — it’s not the kind of love that brings us into the fullness of all that we are meant to be because it values us too much to accept anything less. The blessing of life at Inner City Youth Alive so far has been that staying in that warm, fuzzy, dream-love realm is not an option. John Janzen is Director of Development at ICYA. He attends Faith Covenant Community Church in Winnipeg, Man. Many EMCers are involved in the ministry of ICYA in Winnipeg’s North End.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23
With Our Missionaries
A Look at Missionary Home Teams A letter similar to this one was recently given to all EMC Administrative missionaries (Mexico, Bolivia, Paraguay) who, in turn, have sent it to a list of their supporters whom they have invited to be on their Home Team. (This is the letter used by Dallas and Tara Wiebe, who serve in Guadalajara, Mexico.) We share this letter to inform you on how Home Teams will assist EMC missionaries as they serve with EMC Missions in their country of service. Would you have interest in being on a Home Team? Please consider this opportunity to consider becoming part of a missionary’s home team. Thank you. Ken Zacharias, Director of Global Outreach
Greetings from Guadalajara! A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Hello, Hope this email finds you well! We have greatly appreciated your support and interest in our lives over the years that we have been in Mexico, and we are writing you to invite you to consider an opportunity to be part of our own personal support team! We realize that as members of the same Body that we need one another in order to stand together, and we value this interdependence that God has created in His family. We know that we as missionaries cannot do this alone and that we need other believers to surround us in prayer and
stand with us even from afar. For this reason, the EMC Board of Missions has taken the initiative to ask each missionary to form a Home Team, or a personal support team, in Canada.
What is a Home Team?
Our Home Team will be made up of six to eight members in Canada that will make a personal commitment to work closely with one another and with us to ensure that we are being supported well in each of the six areas outlined in this letter. Each person would be responsible for a specific role that would match their individual gifting, but all members would work together as a team. We desire that the heart of the Home Team be a commitment to prayer, as all other areas will flow out of our dependence on God’s power. As missionaries, it can be difficult to continue having and retaining all of the support (spiritual, emotional, financial, etc) that we had before leaving Canada. We find that as we serve we are often the ones giving guidance and spiritual support to others and it is essential that we have this in place for ourselves in order to thrive long-term. EMC Missions will provide a training session for you as a team and assist you in creating a plan as to how you can best lend your support to us. The team may be asked to meet together approximately once every three months and to communicate with us on a regular basis. As the Home Team idea is new for all of us, it is difficult to say exactly what your role would be on the team. However, here is a general idea as to what you would be committing yourself. The team would serve in six practical areas of support, and as mentioned, you would be committed to your specific area of support.
BOM
Moral Support (Encouragement): The Home Team would desire to be a sounding board for us, encourage us, pray for us, and assist us in resolving our challenges if able to. You would continue to check up on how we are doing emotionally, spiritually and physically and ensure that we are connecting with those who can encourage us in these areas.
Tara and Dallas Wiebe with three of their children
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Prayer Support: The Home Team would commit to praying regularly for us and to help us communicate prayer requests to our other supporters and churches. As you get to know us better you will know what to pray for as you listen and be a sounding board. Our desire would be to see a
ISTOCK
With Our Missionaries
prayer group meet regularly for ourselves personally, and for our community and ministry. Communication Support: We try to communicate regularly through social media and through personal contact with our supporters in Canada. The Home Team would give us ideas as to how to do this better. The Home Team would also be our mouth piece in churches and with individuals when we are in Mexico. The Home Team would communicate with our family to see if they are aware of any current needs that we have. Financial Support: The EMC Conference has recently changed the way that EMC administered missionaries will need to raise financial support. Until this point we have received 100% of our financial support through the EM Conference, as they have received donations from our EMC churches and from individuals in Canada. This has changed this year, however, and as missionaries we now have the responsibility to raise 40% of our financial support, which includes salary and ministry expenses. The implementation of this model does not begin to take effect until 2020; however, we already want to make our supporters aware of this as 2020 is coming up quickly. (If you would like more information as to the reasons for this change in policy please don’t hesitate to contact the EMC national office.) Raising financial support may be difficult for us to do from a distance. This is where the Home Team comes in. We would ask you to assist us in raising the 40% that we are responsible for by helping us connect with potential supporters in Canada when we are out of the country. Logistics Support: There are times while we are living outside of Canada that we need practical help with
details that are difficult to do while we are away. This could include, for example, income tax filing or driver’s license renewals. Although our family in Canada has done these things for us until now, there may be times where we need this help from others. For our home assignment in Canada, which is every two to three years, our home church (Kleefeld EMC) has the responsibility to help us with accommodations and vehicle expenses. The Home Team would connect with our home church and ensure that these details are not forgotten. Re-entry: Sometime in the future, we may decide to return to live in Canada and no longer minister cross-culturally outside of Canada. The Home Team would assist us as we find jobs, find schools for our children and would give emotional support in making a big change such as this one. As the Home Team is something new that EMC is working towards, it is something that is fluid and flexible. The needs of each missionary will be different. Each of these areas might end up looking quite different than we are initially thinking but hopefully this letter will give you a general idea as to what we are looking for. Thank you for prayerfully considering whether you would be able to part of our Home Team! Please don’t hesitate to let us know if this is not something you can commit to, as we understand that life is busy for all of us. But know that we would love to have you join our team! If you have any questions about the Home Team, feel free to talk to ourselves or with Ken Zacharias at the EMC national office (kzacharias@emconference.ca). We look forward to being in contact with you in the next few weeks! Thank you so much! – Dallas and Tara Wiebe
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25
With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship
WINNIPEG, Man.—We are called to obey the government (Rom 13:1), love foreigners as ourselves (Lev 19:34), and protect orphans and widows (James 1:27). When the government says a destitute, divorced woman and her children must return to a country where she believes her children will be harmed by a group that practices witchcraft, what do we do? On April 11, 2019, Crestview Fellowship Church was faced with this question. Fatmata, along with her husband and two boys (Thaduba and Mathebeh), arrived in Canada in June 2016. After being abandoned by her husband who returned home, and while living in a basement in our neighbourhood, she began attending Crestview in the summer of 2017. People in our congregation had been involved with the immigration process. We prayed for favourable outcomes, but did not receive the answers for which we had hoped. On the eve of her deportation Fatmata was asking for sanctuary as an option. The church deliberated, being very torn on what to do. Out of concern for their safety, the leadership agreed to her request. Sanctuary in Canada is not legally recognized, but it is respected. The church has agreed to house and take care of them, and the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) has agreed to not enter the church to enforce the deportation order. CBSA does have a duty to enforce the law. Therefore, the family cannot leave the church, the children cannot attend public school, and playing outside is restricted. Teachers, doctors, and even dentists have offered to come to the church to provide various services. If there is
CRESTVIEW
Crestview Offers Sanctuary to Fatmata and Her Two Boys
Fatmata and her two boys
a medical emergency, we will take the injured or sick to the hospital and pray for God’s protection and mercy. To date, we have been impressed with the support we are receiving from lay people. However, the political climate of Western countries towards immigrants is shifting and we would be naive to expect smooth sailing. Sanctuary on its own will not change the government’s decision. However, we hope it will give us time to determine how to address concerns about how her case was handled, and time to help coordinate supports for her should she leave. Our desire is a resolution that maximizes the safety and dignity of the family. We have been asked how people can help. Here are some of our main concerns: Prayer—Guidance from God and power from the Holy Spirit to act in accordance with His will. Moral Support—This has been very stressful for Fatmata, the church leadership and for those volunteering to help. Political Experience—If there are those who have experience communicating with politicians and civil servants, their advice and guidance would be appreciated. International Partners—We are looking for agencies in Sierra Leone able to support Fatmata should she have to return. Financial Support—Funds towards legal, medical and incidental costs are being handled by supporters of Fatmata. Contact the church for more information. – Alex Wiebe, chair of Crestview Fellowship (EMC)
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Column • Archives Alcove
Spiritual Health and Patience with the Church
A
fter decades of studying wider Church and Anabaptist-Mennonite history, I suggest that a few words on any period of church history are inadequate for later generations to accurately assess the spiritual health of their predecessors. Often there were problems, yet I suspect there was also more spiritual health than is sometimes acknowledged. Anabaptists-Mennonites lived in PolandPrussia for more than 250 years, surviving with limited and shifting legal protection while under the scrutiny of the Roman Catholic Church. Today we might bring Elder Peter Epp’s assessment to mind: “Children, the only hope we have for the church is to move to Russia. Here in Danzig the church is finished; it is becoming worldly” (Harvey Plett, Seeking to be Faithful, 21). Epp knew and appraised the Danzig church; and, with that, as various people would say, there are cautions and lessons to learn. With all due respect to Epp, though, I’m reluctant to let his view of Danzig be the final word on the Prussian Period. Anabaptists-Mennonites moved to Russia about 1788 where many remained till 1874-75, others stayed till the 1920s or later, and many remain today. That’s a long time. The Kleine Gemeinde, part of which developed into the EMC, came out of a larger church. How alive was the Larger Church? Out of the Larger Church came renewal movements (the KG/EMC in 1812, the Mennonite Brethren in 1860). Renewal was needed; and yet I’m unclear how to evaluate those left behind. MB historian P. M. Friesen, who lived and died in Russia, saw spiritual life remaining in the Larger Church—Dr. Abe Dueck mentioned his view in a class I was in at MBBC more than 30 years ago. When I move away from inherited assessments and learn more about people, it’s less easy to form a harsh opinion. Permit me to remain cautiously optimistic about the Russian Period— as fragmented, unruly, and odd that time seems to me.
In Canada, the German-speaking KG held some views sharply different than my background: a suspicion of English-speaking cultures, other churches in general, and higher education. About 140 years ago in Steinbach, Man., this likely affected how they saw their neighbours, Scots of Presbyterian faith. Aware of this, it’s an interesting twostep for me to be partly Scots Presbyterian in background (though from Alberta) and an Anabaptist minister. Within this, it’s a privilege to supervise the translating of German letters and postcards written in the late 1800s and later and to glimpse Anabaptist spiritual faith amid the messiness of life. Here’s one story: In the 1920s a Mennonite couple lost a child to Scarlet Fever and a second child was ill and not expected to live. The writer repeated the words of Job: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” (Harvey K. Plett, translator, alerted me to this.) Presbyterians then likely had similar stories. In my view, Presbyterians and Mennonites have much more of a shared faith and life than differences. Today, professional, pastoral, and pew-sitting analysts describe the Christian Church in Canada and predict its future. At times, rather sweeping judgments seem to be made on the state of the diverse Church in Canada. I, too, have concerns—serious ones—in looking at various parts of it: a loss of truth (1 John 5:20), a wrong focus on “an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15), weak evangelism or social justice (Matt. 23:23, 28:18-20), and a decline in community (1 Cor. 12:12). Yet while doing so, I’m trying to avoid sweeping judgments on the Church as a whole. Having a mainline background while being re-rooted in evangelicalism and influenced by Anabaptism, I find studying church history to be instructive and humbling. Looking at the past has taught me, whatever my concerns, to appreciate and be patient with the Church of today.
by Terry M. Smith Director of Communications and Education
The past has taught me, whatever my concerns, to appreciate and be patient with the Church today.
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27
Columns • Focus On
Dozens of God Moments Bring Tears of Thankfulness at Abundant Springs 2019
F In small and big ways God has used Abundant Springs to transform people’s hearts. We would love to see every church send someone to Abundant Springs on May 21-24, 2021!
28 The Messenger • July 2019
JAMIE LOEWEN
Gerald D. Reimer Director of Youth and Discipleship
or some students and leaders Abundant Springs 2019 will be remembered as the weekend when they gave their lives to Jesus, they committed to reading their Bible more faithfully, they won the basketball tournament, they worshipped Jesus with thanksgiving, they confirmed in their hearts a desire to get baptized, and so much more. As someone who’s had the privilege of attending 14 Abundant Springs events through my lifetime, including 11 as an EMC staff member, I am continually amazed at what God does, not only at the event itself, but also during the few months before and after. I’m referring to the dozens of God-moments through the years that I’ve witnessed, and the hundreds more that I’m not aware of, that bring me to tears of thankfulness. In small and big ways God has used Abundant Springs to transform people’s hearts, especially teenagers who are wrestling with what Faith means and why they matter to an all-loving God. This year was no different. As our committee prayerfully worked our way through all the planning details (and, yes, the National Youth Committee spends the first 30 to 45 minutes of each meeting in the Word and in prayer), we reminded one another that students all across Canada, including EMC students, are in God’s hands and we can trust Him to accomplish His purposes, whether we get it all right in our planning or not. Yet this does not minimize the need for our diligence in doing our best to plan a high- quality event, paying attention to every detail and continually learning and adjusting every year. Whether it’s growing our prayer ministry and
counselling services, keeping our workshop topics relevant, strengthening our connection with Steinbach Bible College, stream-lining our First Aid services, or expanding our activity options both indoors and out, we long to find ways to make every component of the weekend point to Jesus. One segment of our schedule that stands out in terms of being meaningful for leaders to engage with their students is our “youth group” time. On Saturday and Sunday evenings of the event we set aside an hour-plus time for youth groups to meet and talk about what they’re all hearing and learning and being challenged on in their spiritual lives. This continues to be a critical component as leaders debrief with students and help them articulate their questions and personal decisions they’re making regarding their faith journey. We continue to look for ways to strengthen that aspect of our discipleship weekend. Several years ago we did a Re-imagine Abundant Springs study to find out if we should continue to run the event as is or make major changes to the content, location, time, and so on. We received overwhelming support from our churches to not only carry on, but to strengthen the impact a weekend like this has on the lives of our students and leaders. We are thankful for the support of our churches and would love to see every church send someone to Abundant Springs on May 21-24, 2021!
News
Djagalah Anak Kambing Koe (‘Tend My Lambs’) A Story from MWC’s Renewal 2027, remembering 500 years of Anabaptism
GKMI
Tee Siem Tat (1872-1940) was a successful businessman in Kudus, Central Java. He ran a big co-partnership printing company that progressed well and served government offices, companies and schools. In 1917, he became seriously ill. He visited necromancers and Confucian temples and tried the medication of doctors from Netherland. Nothing worked. He felt desperate. Sie Djoen Nio (1875-1962) remembered the stories she read in a Malay Bible she received from an aunt. Sie Djoen Nio loved to read the Bible and was impressed by Jesus: his sacrifice on the cross, his miracles. She wondered, “Can Jesus heal my husband too?” Sie Djoen Nio talked to her husband. They agreed to ask for help as in the Bible. But from whom? Many came to honour GKMI church founder Tee Siem Tat at his funeral. They remembered their uncle Oei Biauw An knew about Christianity. He introduced them to Lieutenant TanuTee Siem Tat based his evangelism strategy on Acts 1:8. hatu, a Salvation Army officer. Tanuhatu came to Tee Siem “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on Tat’s house many times to teach him about Christianity. Tee you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem (the closSiem Tat wanted to know Jesus. His faith grew strong and est family: husband/wife, children, son/daughter-in-laws, his fear and illness were gone. He was healed. grandchildren), and in all Judea (extended family) and He read the Bible diligently and earnestly, attended ser- Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (friends, co-workers, vices at the Salvation Army church and invited Lieutenant business relations, and those who don’t know about Jesus).” Tanuhatu to teach his friends about the Bible. However, he As new Christians, Tee Siem Tat and his friends had a disagreed with the Army’s adoption of military codes. huge spirit for spreading the gospel. Using Javanese-Malay He approached the Seventh Day Adventists, but dislanguage, they were accepted across ethnic boundaries and agreed with their adherence to Old Testament law. He were known as good people in business and good examapproached Salatiga Mission, but disagreed about child ples in life. In serving the poor and needy, Tee Siem Tat baptism. Finally, he approached an Anabaptist mission and took his principle from Matthew 10:8: “Freely you have felt that Mennonite teaching fit received, freely give.” well. On his deathbed, he called his So, on Dec, 6, 1920, Tee sons and his son-in-law. To them, Siem Tat held a baptism for 25 he spoke his last words: “Djaganew believers in his house. This lah anak kambing koe” (“Tend became the birthday of Muria my lambs,” John 21:15 in Old Christian Church in Indonesia Bahasa). His grandson believes (Gereja Kristen Muria Indonehis last words asked his children sia, GKMI). It has spread from and future generations to help the Mount Muria to Central Java GKMI stay faithful to an Anabapand the Indonesian archipeltist perspective. ago. Today, the GMKI has 61 Mennonite World Conchurches and hundreds of church ference’s next Assembly is in plants in Indonesia. Indonesia on July 6-11, 2021. – MWC
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29
News
SBC Graduates 50 Ministry Focused Students
SBC
STEINBACH, Man.—Fifty students graduated from Steinbach Bible College on April 26-27, 2019, with family and friends joining the events. Degrees were conferred upon 30 two-year Associate of Arts and three- and four-year BA graduates on Saturday, April 27, at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church. Valedictorian Tristan Klassen of Grunthal, Man., encouraged his peers to remember the power of prayer and the support of community. “Some of us will be like Moses, leading people and covering them in prayer,” he said, illustrating from Exodus 17. “Some of us will be like Aaron and Hur, holding up the arms of our leaders.” Dr. Don Thiessen, former SBC Among the certificate grads were Josh Fehr (Leamington), Nathan Friesen (The ConneXion), academic dean and founder of BerSarah Harris (Braeside), Bonnie Penner (EFC Steinbach), Colson Peters (Prairie Rose), Vanessa ean Schools, gave the commencement Peters (Rosenort EMC), and Brittney Schinkel (Kleefeld). address focusing on Heb. 12:1-3, the theme verse for the year. He encouraged graduates to life is contagious.” He notes that following graduation, the remember that, as in a relay race, we support one another class will continue along various paths with some going throughout life. into ministry, some on to further education, and some into “This is a really caring group, really ministry focused,” the workforce. Dr. Terry Hiebert, academic dean, adds, says Rob Reimer, SBC president. ‘’Their enthusiasm for “It’s been great watching them grow over the past three or four years. I’ve been able to see them grow in their understanding of the Bible and their love for God and ministry.” The Spring Concert on the preceding Friday included honouring 14 students receiving oneyear Certificate of Biblical Studies, five Pursuit Experiential Leadership Certificates, and one in memoriam; we remembered the loss of a student, Philip Thiessen, only a few short weeks ago. Along with reflection and tribute, the evening was a celebration of many accomplishments from the year with highlights by faculty members and various student musical features. We, at SBC, thank God for His faithfulness throughout this year and look forward to seeing these graduates continue into the next phase of their lives as servant leaders who follow Jesus, Among the Pursuit graduates was Morgen Penner (Blumenort). serve the church, and engage the world. – SBC
30 The Messenger • July 2019
Column • Writings Shared Love in a Time of Hate: The Story of Magda and Andre Trocme and the Village That Said No to the Nazis, Hanna Schott (Herald Press, 2017). 224 pp. $22.95. ISBN 9781513801254 (paperback). Reviewed by Myra Kroeker (EFC Steinbach), BA, wife and mother.
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his book challenged and inspired in various ways, mainly from Matthew 25 where Jesus says, “I was hungry and you fed me. I was in prison, and you came to me.” This was the life exemplified by Andre and Magda Trocme as they worked as a pastor couple in a small town of Le Chambon, France. The book begins with short biographies. Magda, a motherless child, grows up with little. Andre grows up with opulence. Both attend college in New York and here their lives intersect. They try various churches and yet none seems to be a perfect fit for them. Reluctantly, they go to Le Chambon, committing to a year of service. The year passes and they find themselves still in the community, having found their true calling. Many Jews make their way to the community to seek refuge from the Nazis and the on-going war. As a Protestant pastor, Andre is faced with many ethical decisions. To what extent does one “lie” to save the lives of the Jews when Nazi soldiers visit the village? Also, is it wrong in the Lord’s eyes to give Jews new names and identity papers to protect the many refugees in their care? They found that one decision often had a ripple effect. One decision was bound to affect the next.
Much discipline and imagination were needed in communication. Many questions were not asked directly or one’s identification and whereabouts would be given away. Appearances needed to be preserved and Jewish holidays were still respected. Andre found it wrong to take up arms, and he remained true to this belief. Because of this, he changed his name and went on the run with a fellow pastor to save the lives of his family and the congregation. This true story left me asking: “Would I be able to live out the war in the same manner as the Trocme family did—true to their God and to their beliefs?” I end with words from the last pages of the book: “Long before her death, Magda had summarized in two sentences the values and beliefs she regarded as important—what she wanted to pass along to future generations . . . ’The ideals, the hopes, the yearning for justice, truth and love that we all sense, regardless of religion or culture, would not be rooted so deeply within us if there wasn’t somewhere a source of this hope, of justice, of truth, and of love. This source is what I call God.’”
These are available: Christian Life: a Practical Study Guide Daut Christliche Läwen: En Praktischet Lia Buak Living in God’s Kingdom Holy Wanderings: A Guide to Deeper Discipleship Follow Me: Exploring More of our Calling as Christians Contact the national office.
A TRI-CONFERENCE STUDY GUIDE
Looking for a Low German or English Discipleship Guide?
HOLY WANDERINGS A Guide to Deeper Discipleship
Holy Wanderings cover concepts.indd 4
2018-10-18 12:57 PM
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31
Column • A Reader's Viewpoint
I am Ambivalent About the EMC
W The reason I’m also ambivalent about my EMC background is the fact that I feel some of the things I am most proud of are also the things we’re doing least well.
32 The Messenger • July 2019
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by Josh Friesen
riting this article makes me torn. I can certainly agree with some of the things Mr. Brandt mentioned in his article [March 2019] about his joy of being an EMCer—the diversity of culture and language represented both at a congregational level and now more recently at a pastoral level. I do have a few thorns in my side that I’m trying to decide if they’re a good thing or a bad thing. The things I cherish about my membership in the EM Conference are the commitment to interpreting scripture as a community; the theory that Christ, specifically Jesus, should be the lens that we interpret the rest of Scripture through; and the social concerns that weigh heavy on our hearts as evidenced by our support of MCC. The reason I’m also ambivalent about my EMC background is the fact that I feel some of the things I am most proud of are also the things we’re doing least well. We seemed to have strayed from the M and headed toward the E. In our women in leadership issue we seem to be less concerned about keeping community together to challenge each other and more concerned about being “theologically correct.” When I read Jesus, he really cared about how we treated our neighbour and how we treated the least of these. He didn’t seem too motivated in ensuring we had the correct theology on the pressing issues of his day. In fact, he spent most of his days criticizing the organized religion, and rather choosing to live life, interact, and love with “the least of these.” I realize that being ambivalent or proud are poor indicators of how accurately we’re following God. I realize that women in leadership, divorce, and other things are tricky conversations. I realize that it’s hard to know what love demands of you when you disagree with someone’s beliefs or lifestyles. I realize that life as a
community is messy, especially as it gets larger. We can’t all agree, we can’t all get our way, and we can’t all get our doctrine enshrined in a handbook somewhere. But here’s a few things we can do. We can recognize our diverse and bold heritage of being bigger than our own churches. We can agree to do church together with those who think different than us, whether they are more concerned with ensuring tradition is honoured, or are more concerned with adapting tradition to fit an evolving understanding of truth. I write this because I truly do love the heritage that we’ve been passed. I hope we’re able to pass it along to our kids. A faith that is living, loving and growing. One that transforms even as it anchors. And I hope it changes, because if you’re not changing, you’re dead. Here’s to many more years of following Jesus as a community of doubters, believers, Evangelicals, Mennonites, and every other kind of person in our diverse conference. Josh Friesen is a home builder in Winnipeg who attends Fort Garry EMC “with my wonderful wife Gina and two sons, Henry and Jaxon. I get the privilege of playing guitar on one of the worship bands, as well as coordinating adult Sunday School with another volunteer. I’m passionate about creating societies where people can thrive. I attended SBC for one year in 2009-2010.”
Shoulder Tapping With any applications for EMC church pastoral positions, candidates are expected to also register a Ministry Information Profile with the EMC Board of Leadership and Outreach, which can be obtained through Erica Fehr, BLO Administrative Assistant, at efehr@emconference.ca or 204-326-6401.
Additional EMC Openings Often there are more churches looking for senior, associate, youth, and interim pastors than are identified on this page. For information on additional openings, contact Conference Pastor Layton Friesen (lfriesen@emconference.ca); Director of Youth and Discipleship Gerald D. Reimer (greimer@emconference.ca); and Director of Church Planting Charles Koop (ckoop@emconference.ca). The national office phone number is 204-326-6401. Talk with Erica Fehr, Church leadership assistant to the BLO, to request a cell number for a particular person.
EMC Positions* The EMC National office is seeking a Missions and Finance Assistant to work as an active part of the office team. They should have a passion for Christ, the church and missions. The ability to manage a varying schedule and assess and prioritize tasks is essential. An ideal candidate will be adaptable and be able to take initiative in identifying and resolving problems. They should be an excellent communicator who is confident interacting with people in person or through a variety of media. This position offers equitable pay and benefits with opportunity for professional development. For more information on this position and how to apply, go to our website http://www.emconference.ca/serve/. Applications will be accepted until August 31 or until a suitable candidate is found. Anticipated start date is early fall. Oak Bluff Bible Church is seeking a full-time pastor. We are a welcoming, family-friendly church that averages 50 people on Sunday morning. We enjoy contemporary and traditional worship music. We understand the importance and value of ministering together to be a light in reaching our growing community and surrounding area of Oak Bluff, Man. (located at McGillvray and the Perimeter Highway of Winnipeg). Applicants must be in acceptance of the OBBC (EMC) Statement of Faith and aligning with the theology, values, and church culture of OBBC. A valid criminal records check and child abuse check are required for this position. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Preference will be given to those who are willing to relocate to Oak Bluff or the surrounding community. To apply or for future
inquiries, please e-mail pastoralsearch@oakbluffbiblechurch.com. Picture Butte Mennonite Church, a Low Germanand English-speaking church with 200-plus people attending dual Sunday morning services, is seeking an associate pastor. The ideal candidate should be characterized by an attitude of servant leadership and personal integrity in a close walk with Jesus. The candidate needs to have an openness and sensitivity to the diverse cultural differences within our Mennonite church. This position would primarily focus on the English ministry. This candidate needs to be a team player as he will be working alongside the existing leadership team as well as the senior pastor. For information, contact Isaac Thiessen, 403308-5093 or isaact@genicadev.com Roseisle EMC is currently in search of a full-time pastor. Roseisle EMC is located 100 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg in a small rural town. We are a small church with many young families in our congregation and an average attendance of 60. We are looking for a pastor who has been called to ministry and has a desire to serve God within the church and local community. For more information, interested applicants should contact the pastoral search committee chair, Pete Dyck, at 204-435-2068 or through the church email listed below. Please send resumes to Roseisle EMC, Box 29, Roseisle MB R0G 1V0, ATTN: “Pastoral Search Committee” or email them to roseisleemchurch@ gmail.com. Fort Garry EMC is seeking a fulltime senior pastor for an established, dynamic congregation. We are an inter-generational, ethnically diverse congregation, located in Winnipeg, Man., near the University of Manitoba, with a strong ministry to English-language learners. Working out of their own commitment to the Lordship of Christ, the ideal candidate is a gifted speaker who would lead and collaborate with the pastoral team, discerning and pursuing God’s purpose in our church. They possess a reputable theological education at the graduate level and are committed to a theology shaped by Anabaptist tradition. Submit queries and résumés to the Pastoral Search Committee at fgemcpastoral2018@gmail. com. Further info: fortgarryemc.
radiantwebtools.com/about/careers/ Pineridge Fellowship Chapel of Hudson Bay, Sask., a logging and farming community, seeks a full-time senior pastor to begin serving in 2019. PFC, linked to the EMC, is the evangelical community church, stable and with a good reputation, that serves the community of about 1,300 people and surrounding rural area. With an attendance of 40 to 50, PFC has a mix of people of various backgrounds and nationalities. The congregation is largely older yet has several younger families and a good foundation to build on. Outreach is welcomed. Our current pastor is retiring this summer after 20 years. Hudson Bay has basic services, yet is somewhat isolated from a larger centre and travelling is involved to connect to the wider community. We ask that you prayerfully consider whether this might be a place of ministry to which you are called. Contact PFC at: Dennis Reimer, church board chair, 1-306-865-3618 or dreamer@xplornet. ca; or PFC, Box 13, Hudson Bay, SK S0E 0Y0, pfch@ sasktel.net, 306-865-2623.
Where are position ads to be sent? Please send all position ads, including pastoral search ads, to messenger@emconference.ca. All ads are to be 150 words or less. All ads can be edited. Please advise us when it is no longer needed.
263 Vanderview Drive, Vanderhoof, BC
50th Anniversary We are celebrating 50 years of Loving God, Loving our Neighbour and Making Disciples and would love for you to join us.
October 4-6, 2019 Please RSVP by Sept 1, 2019
Billeting is available. Email VCFEMC50TH@gmail.com Call or text 250-567-8531
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 33
Column • Guest Column
Pity the Lost Soul Who Fears Double!
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ear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” I read the words slowly, a prayer in my heart that the seeds of truth will produce life. Fear of people results in people-pleasing actions or silence when I should speak. It entraps my heart to seek temporary value instead of eternal gain. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart….” The familiar Proverb (3:5) emerges from memory. “Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (3:7). I have taught my children to recite: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). On paper, I assent to God’s sovereignty, yet that belief is a tiny mustard seed in my own reality. “I do believe; help my unbelief ” (Mark 9:4). The tender shoot of faith grows from my stubborn heart. I persistently teach my children the mysteries of God though I obviously will never grasp them myself. And, in return, my children teach me what innocent faith looks like in a world of unbelief. “Jesus Loves Me!” My son shouts when the Circle Time Leader asks for a favourite song. “I don’t think everyone knows that one,” she replies sweetly, “But you could teach us.” And
By Karla Hein
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“I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:4). The tender shoot of faith grows from my stubborn heart.
34 The Messenger • July 2019
his little voice sings about the love of Jesus, simple and unabashed. My son shared the Sunday School song as a natural reflection of what he learned at home. Jesus loves him, the little boy. Jesus loves me, the mom who struggles to believe. Jesus loves me, the mom who allows fear of man to keep her mouth silent. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Startling words—to fear God. A few verses later, Jesus says not to fear (Matt. 10:31) for I am cared for by Him who knows all the intimate details of my life. It’s a mystery of reverence and wonder, security and awe-struck terror. “All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.’ So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was” (Exodus 20:18-21). Moses approached the Holy God on their behalf! Sound familiar? Pity the lost soul who fears double! Fear of man for no assurance of One Who is Greater. Fear of God for no Mediator is known. What a treasure we hold in earthen vessels! The glorious hope of Jesus, the Conqueror of fear. Karla Hein (Westpointe, Grande Prairie) is the wife of one and mother of two. She is grateful for a life of freedom, joy, and friends.
Column • Stewardship Today
Do Your Retirement Plans Include Generosity?
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By John Longhurst
MDS
ow are you planning to spend your retirement? Many people say they want to travel, see new places, meet new people, maybe escape Canadian winters for a bit. What if you could do that—and make a difference in the lives of others? That’s what Neil and Audrey Rempel are doing. The couple from Winnipeg, Man., are spending a year volunteering with different organizations to help others. So far, it’s taken them to places in Canada, the U.S., Nicaragua and Mexico. Last summer they were in Williams Lake, B.C., with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), an organization that Helmut and Karin Hein: “A great way to travel, to meet lots of interbuilds houses for people who lost them esting people, and it’s lots of fun.” due to natural disasters. Before volunteering, Neil, 66, was a painter for the volunteers who came every week to work for 20 years and also built homes. Audrey, 67, on the houses. worked alongside him. “We enjoy helping peoHelmut retired three years ago after a career ple,” says Audrey of their decision. “God has in construction, and has done several stints with blessed us, so we can bless others,” adds Neil. MDS. Karin retired in 2018 after working as a Last summer, the two were crew leaders cook in a nursing home. The couple agreed that in Williams Lake, B.C., where MDS built four when she stopped working, they would do MDS houses following the wildfires that tore through service together. the region in 2017. They were part of the MDS “I love cooking,” Karin says. “This satisfies my recreational vehicle program, where volunneed to keep doing it. And it’s great we can do it teers drive their RVs to work sites across North together now.” “It’s a great way to travel, to meet America. lots of interesting people, and it’s lots of fun,” “Through volunteering, we’ve met so many adds Helmut. “God has blessed us, and we want good people,” Neil says of how they have volto give back.” unteered with MDS and other organizations in “We will do it as long as we are healthy,” Canada, the U.S., Nicaragua and Mexico. Plus, Karin adds. “It’s a way to live out our faith.” he adds, “we enjoy travelling. This isn’t a hardAre you retired and volunteering? Not everyship.” “We get lots out of it,” adds Audrey. “We’re one can pack up and go across the county, but making life-long friends.” everyone can do something to help others. Tell The couple think that even when the year is us your generosity story! over they will keep volunteering—“as long as we are able,” Audrey says. “Our faith calls us to With offices in Kitchener, Winnipeg, Calgary serve others,” says Neil. “MDS is one way for us and Abbotsford, Abundance Canada is a donorto do it. We have skills and talents in this area, advised public foundation that enables so why not use them?” Canadians to achieve their generosity goals by Another couple doing something similar providing customizable giving solutions to supare Helmut and Karin Hein of Abbotsford, B.C. port the causes they care about, during their Helmut, 61, also served as a crew leader in Willifetime and through their estate. For informaliams Lake last summer. Karin, 55, was a cook tion, contact startgiving@abundance.ca.
Are your retired and volunteering? Not everyone can pack up and go across the county, but everyone can do something to help others. Tell us your generosity story!
www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35
Column • Kids’ Corner
Be Your Best
by Loreena Thiessen
Make sure you respect yourself. Don’t just go along with a bad idea or agree to something hurtful.
Activity: Make a picnic: taking turns. Need: blanket; picnic utensils, cups, plates; snacks, water or juice, paring knife to cut apple slices Do: invite four or five friends Choose snacks, like crackers, cheese, apple slices, strawberries, water or juice. Ask an adult to cut the apple into slices. Choose the picnic site. Perhaps it might be your backyard. Decide who will set out the plates and cups, and who will pour the juice. Decide who will serve the snacks. Take turns to serve. Remember to be polite.
36 The Messenger • July 2019
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o you want to be the best? What do you want to be best at? If you are the best you will feel good about it. Your best will be noticed and it may help someone else. There are many kinds of best. One person is usually only the best at one thing. For example, the fastest runner, Usain Bolt, can run 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, but he has never run a mile. There are other bests. In nature, the best may be the tallest, as in the tallest waterfall, Angel Falls found in Venezuela. It is 807 meters tall, but it is not the widest, nor does it have the largest amount of water flow. There are other falls with more flow, including Niagara Falls in Canada. Your family may want the best school for you. They may look for a school with the best music or math program, or the best sports team. But it may be too far for you to walk to, so someone will have to drive you. The best hotel may have the cleanest rooms, the fastest WIFI or the best water park. But it may be booked most of the time and too difficult to get into. It could also be too expensive or too far away. Everything that is the best has something to offer, or to give. It is attractive and people want to be a part of it.
Your best can help you develop and grow. It may also help someone else. How can you be your best? First, you are already good at something. Or, there is something you are more interested than anything else. Start by working on that. Learn more about it and do it better. Practice those steps. Set goals for yourself. Then go on to the next step. Learn to be a good listener. When someone is telling you something, listen well. You will get to know them better. You may discover that you share interests you can work on together and become a team. You may also become good friends. Make sure you respect yourself. Don’t just go along with a bad idea or agree to something hurtful. Stand up for yourself without bullying, teasing, or put downs. Using kind words to suggest a better way or offering to work out a problem together can sometimes ease a tense situation. Believe in yourself. Respectful talking can lead to helping and accepting each other. If everything else fails, rather than fight, just walk away. If you work on a skill you are good at, you have something to offer someone else to help them or to help them develop, just like it will help you. In the New Testament, Titus learned from the Apostle Paul as they travelled to different churches together. He was a problem solver and gave good instructions to the people, how they should act in order to be their best. Read Titus 2:7-8. The Messenger Evangelical Mennonite Conference 440 Main St., Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5 Publications Mail Agreement #40017362