I fear I would have been in the ‘crucify him’ crowd
WE SAT IN an unfamiliar church, in the last row. I could see the stony backs of our young adult children a few rows forward and as I watched them, I knew that this wouldn’t be the day things would change. I hadn’t expected a miracle breakthrough but thought there was a chance this church would connect in a way ours didn’t seem to. You try things, and you hope.
I shrugged internally and turned from watching them to tune in to the service. The minister was describing the procession of Roman soldiers and dignitaries into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday. He contrasted it to Jesus’ entrance on the same day: Roman pomp, grandeur and strength on one hand—Jesus’ gentleness and humility on the other.
And then Jesus got off the donkey and went to his lodging and went to sleep— and nothing changed. And the next day, nothing changed.
Unexpectedly, I understood something I’d wondered about. “How could a crowd that loudly proclaimed Jesus on this day turn into a throng that wanted to crucify him in less than a week?” I suddenly realized—feared—that I’d have been one of them.
What I had missed till now was the hope wrapped up in Jesus’ entry that day. Here was the teacher/prophet who could heal the sick, cast out demons, and feed five thousand people with a lunch intended for one—riding into Jerusalem as the Messiah would be expected to.
This was the one—surely! And this was the time! Jesus would be king, and Israel would be free; they would prosper, the hungry would have food, the kingdom would be just, and it would last
forever. What an incredible, exhilarating moment in history!
And then Jesus got off the donkey and went to his lodging and went to sleep—and nothing changed. And the next day, nothing changed.
How do you describe what happens to desperate hope, when fulfillment is finally just within reach—and then is shown to be a mirage? The way hope turns dark—to bitterness or rage?
So, you yell “crucify him!” five days later because you want him to suffer for his betrayal. You yell “crucify him!” with tears stinging your eyes hoping that instead of letting himself be crucified, he will rise even now to reign. You yell “crucify him” because you don’t understand what’s going on—why is this Messiah letting himself be killed? It shouldn’t even be possible to kill this man who can raise people from the dead. But he does die—as we demand.
Some people in the crowd repented later, Luke records in the second chapter of Acts. I hope I would have repented then too—that I would have begun to understand how different this kingdom was. How little it had to do with victorious rule here, now, and how much it had to do with giving yourself up—trusting Jesus with how his kingdom worked. I hope I would have recognized Jesus as the King he is—the Lion of Judah who appears as a lamb that was slain—and that this would have brought me to my knees.
We left the service quietly. There would be no breakthrough today, but there was a kind of peace: part resignation, a recognition of our limitations; part confidence in Jesus; and part commitment to continue as we had been, to love, to pray, to wait.
– Erica Fehr Managing Editor
Artist Profile
Sculpting a journey: art, life and faith
By Andreas Huebert
Faith, politics and Trump
By Michael Zwaagstra
Why a Christian perspective on politics matters.
Heavenly citizenship: living as Christ’s ambassadors in a divided world By Ernie
Koop
What identity is shaping our beliefs, values and practices?
Remembering our roots
A visual overview of Anabaptist beginnings.
Testimony: Trusting God in loneliness By
Evelyn Rodgers
Sometimes it’s in our quietest moments that we are ready to hear God speak.
Global impact
Embracing opportunities in Spain By Gerald Reimer
His light to my path Road trip naps By Karla Hein
Further in and higher up Tough love or true love? By Layton Friesen
Inspiring faith
Inspiring prayer By Mo Friesen
Volume 63 No. 2 March/April 2025
MANAGING EDITOR
ERICA FEHR
EDITOR REBECCA ROMAN
PUBLICATION AND PURPOSE
The Messenger is the publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 440 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5. 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.
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Letters and Notices
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We give thanks to God for the continued strong support of EMC ministries, and we acknowledge the contributions of EMC churches and individuals who give so generously.
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Correction
“On not getting things done: a new measure of time” by Jen Pollock Michel, published in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of The Messenger, should have been identified as a reprint from the Sept/Oct 2023 issue of Faith Today, Our apologies for the omission.
– The Editors
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Letters (250 words or less) are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. It can refuse publication.
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Sculpting a journey: art, life and faith
HELLO THERE, MY name is Andreas Huebert. I am a contemporary artist—a sculptor.
I was born in Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan 51 years ago. I started to sculpt at a very young age, but unfortunately, stopped doing it when I became a teenager.
When I was 20 years old, we emigrated to Germany because of my dad’s German roots.
I lived in Europe for almost fourteen years where I learned to work industrially. My calling for art was still there—sleeping in me deep down.
When, finally, in 2008 I came to Canada and rediscovered my calling for art, it just came back to me subconsciously. Without any reason, I just started to sculpt again, and I wanted to discover new media and techniques. Parallel to this, I got married to a wonderful woman—to the love of my life, and during the next two years, two wonderful sons were born to us.
Three years ago, I became a Christian because of a very powerful calling—the calling of God.
Even though my style in art doesn’t include Christian themes, I still believe that my ability to create art is a gift from God. It is like one of the languages that I can speak.
Or because I like to cook as well, my artwork could be compared to my menu of signature meals. You see, in those cases, we can’t apply Christian or not Christian themes—it is just there.
Of course, because of the type of art that I do and belonging to God’s kingdom now, a degree of appropriate interpretation is necessary.
But the variety of the themes could be as wide as the creation itself. In fact, as the Bible tells us, God put life in us by breathing his breath in us. He is the creator. And so, we became the creators as well. That is, creators of the many things that we live by: art, science, and all the technologies in all possible aspects of our lives.
Now, it is only up to us, how we use our talents, our creations, and our inspirations. Do we thank God for it? Do we support his kingdom? Financially or spiritually? I think this is the right thing to do. To thank the Lord for everything we have, and I do thank him!
– Andreas Huebert
You can find more of Andreas Huebert’s art at https:// andreashuebert.ca.
About the cover photo: I chose this sculpture because people often ask me about it. It is an abstract two-foot-tall indoor piece, but in my imagination, it is about a mile high. It is called “Secret Place.” We all need places like that sometimes in our lives where we can escape and speak out all our needs to God and be, so to speak, recharged by him.
Below: Andreas Huebert works in his studio.
Faith, politics and Trump
Why a Christian perspective on politics matters
By Michael Zwaagstra
“W
HAT DO YOU think about Donald Trump?”
Ask this question if you want to spark a heated debate at your next family gathering or church event. And if you’re feeling particularly bold, post it on social media and watch the fireworks begin. It seems that everyone, whether Canadian or American, has an opinion about Donald Trump.
Politics is a delicate subject even at the best of times. In some cases, families have a long history of voting for one party or another. Any challenge to tradition is often taken personally. In other cases, people vote for a particular party because they truly believe that party’s policies best match their core beliefs. Thus, stating that someone’s political views are wrong is akin to saying that they have the wrong set of values. This too can lead to hurt feelings.
However, political tensions on both sides of the border are even higher than usual right now. Much of this can be traced to the outsized impact of President Donald Trump.
Why Donald Trump is controversial
Because Trump hadn’t worked his way up in politics the usual way, he made little effort to temper his statements.
When Donald Trump first announced his intention to run for president, many people dismissed it as a joke. While Trump was a high-profile businessman and a reality television star, he had no political experience. To find another example of someone with no political experience winning a presidential election, we must go back to Dwight Eisenhower’s successful run back in 1952—and Eisenhower was a four-star general who commanded the Allied forces on D-Day during the Second World War.
Because Trump hadn’t worked his way up in politics the usual way, he made little effort to temper his statements. He bombastically promised to build a wall on the Mexican border (and make Mexico pay for it), regularly used derogatory nicknames to castigate his opponents (e.g. “Crooked Hillary”), and pledged to enact a ban on all Muslim immigration to the United States (something he backed away from after getting elected).
In addition, Trump made a direct play for political support from evangelical Christians. He switched his position on abortion from pro-choice to pro-life and
promised to appoint judges who would take a strict constructionist approach to interpreting the Constitution. Trump followed through on this pledge. All three of Trump’s Supreme Court appointees formed part of the majority that voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. As a result, individual states now have the power to enact unfettered restrictions on abortion. This was a significant victory for the American pro-life movement.
However, during his second term, Trump has largely shifted his focus to international issues. His threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico threatens to undermine decadeslong trade relationships. Even more significant, Trump regularly muses about turning Canada into the 51st state, something that no Canadian politician supports. Trump is also not afraid to threaten the use of military force to annex Greenland and possibly even take over the Panama Canal. His recent musings about the United States taking control of the Gaza Strip seemed to catch even his own officials off guard.
In short, Trump is not afraid to use hard power to get his way. Because the United States is the most powerful country in the world, Trump knows that other countries often have little choice but to give him what he wants.
Looking at historical precedents
“Speak softly and carry a big stick.” This was the favourite saying of Theodore Roosevelt, who served as U.S. president from 1901–1909. Roosevelt was not afraid to threaten military force when he wanted something. Early in his term, Canada and the United States were locked in a border dispute over the Alaskan panhandle. Roosevelt indicated that he was willing to go to war if he didn’t get his way. Unsurprisingly, the British representative on the negotiation panel ultimately sided with the Americans, thus giving Roosevelt what he wanted.
In addition, from 1907–1909 President Roosevelt sent a fleet of American battleships on a trip around the world. Known as the Great White Fleet, these battleships showcased American naval power to other countries, with a not-sosubtle reminder that Roosevelt wasn’t afraid to use them. The Great White Fleet is largely
credited with deterring a potential war with Japan. “Big stick” diplomacy, as it was often called, got results. It’s important, however, to remember that “speaking softly” was the other half of Roosevelt’s strategy. He understood that there’s more to diplomacy than making threats.
Meanwhile, Roosevelt’s successor, William Howard Taft, was no less assertive in promoting American interests abroad. His approach, often called “dollar diplomacy,” focused on using American banks and economic influence to exert power. Taft had no problem with damaging the financial interests of other countries if it benefited the United States. Unfortunately, dollar diplomacy also tarnished the reputation of the United States around the world, something President Trump should keep in mind as he imposes tariffs on longstanding trade partners.
As for President Trump’s musings about making Canada the 51st state, there is nothing new about that either. The “Manifest Destiny” slogan was first coined by an American newspaper editor in 1845 and was often used by American presidents to justify everything from annexing Texas to potentially taking over Canada. In fact, the threat of American aggression was a key impetus in the constitutional negotiations that created the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Thus, while there is good reason for Canadians to be concerned about what Trump’s presidency will mean for Canada, it’s important to remember that our relationship with the United States has always been fraught with difficulty. This should remind us of some wise words written nearly 3,000 years ago. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). This principle is just as true now as it was back then.
Different Christian responses to Trump
Because of Donald Trump’s overtures to evangelical Christians, he retains strong support among American evangelicals. Prominent evangelical leaders who have endorsed Trump include Reverend Franklin Graham, theologian Wayne Grudem, First Baptist Church pastor Robert
ThoseofusinAnabaptistchurchesmustalsowrestle withtherealitythattheAnabaptisttraditionhas alwaysbeenskeptical aboutpolitics.
Jeffress, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, and author Eric Metaxas. These men appreciate Trump’s pro-life policies, his willingness to stand up for women’s sex-based rights, his steadfast support for Israel, and his vigorous defense of religious liberty.
However, Trump also has many evangelical critics. Theologian and podcaster Preston Sprinkle has made it clear that he disagrees with Trump’s empire-building approach and says that Christians should have nothing to do with it. New Testament theologian Scott McKnight and Woodland Hills Church pastor Gregory Boyd have also denounced Trump on numerous occasions. Meanwhile Shane Claiborne, co-founder of RedLetter Christians, has gone so far as to say that we must follow the Christianity of Christ, not the Christianity of Trump.
Meanwhile, many other Christians find themselves caught in the middle. They like Trump’s pro-life policies but they don’t agree with his economically destructive tariffs. They deplore Trump’s refusal to accept his obvious defeat in the 2020 presidential election, but they admire his successful comeback in 2024. They like the way in which Trump affirms the sex-based rights of women, but they can’t ignore the many times Trump has demeaned women in his personal
life. In short, many Christians aren’t sure what to make of Trump.
Those of us in Anabaptist churches must also wrestle with the reality that the Anabaptist tradition has always been skeptical about politics. The Anabaptist emphasis on the separation of church and state affirms that while Christians live in the world, we must not “love the world or the things of the world” (1 John 2:15 ESV). Jesus also made it clear that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
Does this principle necessitate staying out of politics entirely? Some Anabaptists have answered this question in the affirmative. For example, former EMC pastor and theologian Archie Penner argued that it is inconsistent for Christians to seek higher level political office due to the inherent problems in upholding the nonresistance ideal once in office. Other Christian leaders have argued that we must refrain from politics so we can avoid entangling ourselves in controversies that unnecessarily divide the church.
On the other hand, Jesus told his followers that they are to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13–15). If we withdraw entirely from politics, we remove our potential Christian witness from that arena. In addition, the Bible tells
us of many godly men and women who held influential roles in government. Joseph served as second-in-command of Egypt, Daniel held important political roles in Babylon, and Esther was queen of Persia. God used each of these individuals to benefit others, and even to save lives.
Thus, while Anabaptist Christians agree that we must be cautious about excessive political involvement, they disagree about the extent to which Christians should get involved in politics. This issue obviously requires considerable discernment.
How should Christians handle political disagreement?
In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that Christians will disagree with each other on a wide variety of topics. Rather than judging each other and getting into counterproductive arguments, Paul recommends that Christian believers show charity and grace to those who think differently. Just as it made no sense back then to quarrel about dietary choices and days of worship, we should not let debates about political ideology divide Christians today.
Finally, there are some appropriate cautions for Christians on both sides of the Trump debate. Christians who admire President Trump and identify with his Make America Great Again movement need to remember that God’s will when he raises or humbles leaders is far from clear to us and triumphalism never reflects Jesus’ attitude. For example, at no point does the Apostle Paul or any other New Testament writer encourage Christians to take over the government or turn the Roman Empire into a Christian dominion. In addition, while it is appropriate for a government to prioritize the welfare of its own citizens, no Christian should be complacent about policies that disrespect and harm others—regardless of which country they come from.
On the other hand, Trump’s critics must remember that while it is important to care for and protect the vulnerable, there are legitimate differences of opinion over how this can best be done. Reflexively criticizing Trump for cutting
government programs ignores the fact that government waste is a real thing, and it makes sense to cut waste whenever possible. In addition, private charities are often far more effective at helping the poor than government agencies. It’s also important to remember that Trump is tackling issues that many working-class citizens feel have been ignored by professional politicians for many years.
In short, political disagreement among Christians is not new, nor should we panic when disagreements happen. So long as a Christian puts Christ first, there is no reason why he or she cannot be a Liberal, a Conservative, or a New Democrat. In the United States, there are sincere Christian believers in both the Republican and the Democratic parties. We should never make the error of assuming that Christians must all be members of the same political party or must all vote the same way in every election.
It’s also important to keep a broader historical picture in mind. Throughout much of history, Christians lived under governments that were openly hostile to their faith. This is still true in many parts of the world today. We are fortunate to live in a democracy where we are free to live out our faith freely, share our opinions about government policy, vote in democratic elections, and even run for office ourselves. Let’s not allow this freedom to turn us against each other.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:10–11 that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christians may not all agree about Donald Trump, but we should all agree that Jesus is our Lord. As long as our primary allegiance is to Jesus, we will remain on the right track.
Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher, deputy mayor of Steinbach, and adjunct professor at Steinbach Bible College. He is a member of Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church.
Heavenly citizenship: living as Christ’s ambassadors in a divided world
By Ernie Koop
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
…Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of you doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority, whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a coverup for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
1 Peter 2:9, 11–17
WE LIVE IN a time of increased polarization and hostility, with our use of social media and other forms of communication frequently serving merely to fan the flames.
True dialogue—or actually listening—seems to be in short supply as we lobby for our point of view, often unaware of the “flavour of Kool-Aid” we ourselves are consuming. COVID, as our first pandemic, placed the church and ourselves as believers under the lens. And in many cases, we were sadly found wanting.
To get even more personal, perhaps uncomfortable, I’ve sat in some of our own Conference Council sessions and heard unkind words or outright attacks over the issue of female leadership as both sides threw darts at each other. So, let’s not pretend that the problem doesn’t touch us.
As pessimistic as this may sound, a good question for us as believers today is: what is our core identity—the identity that shapes our beliefs, values and practices?
Is it possible for us as Christians to engage political issues and still love each other well? Can we hold to a both/and way of engaging deeply while loving widely—have political convictions,
but treat people who disagree with respect? To quote Francis Schaeffer, “How then shall we live?”
GIVEN THE VOLATILITY of our cultural moment, being perceptive and peaceable might well be the most vilified option by people inside or outside of the church. But the Bible guides us to ground our ethics in the character of Christ. His values must guide how we conduct ourselves in conversation and on social media as we engage with the political process.
The Bible guides us to ground our ethics in the character of Christ. His values must guide how we conduct ourselves in conversation and on social media as we engage with the political process.
For a long time in the U.S., the perceived overlap between U.S. values and kingdom of God values beguiled them into thinking they were a Christian nation. Some even believe that, with the right candidates in office, the U.S. could become some sort of Christian utopia, a morally upright nation. Maybe some of us are also dreaming of that for Canada.
You might be party to the idea of trying to bring Christendom back. But I think the evidence strongly suggests that this won’t stave off moral bankruptcy. The end does not justify the means. It’s not the Jesus way; character matters.
It’s far more important that we honour Jesus by embodying his values than that we win an election or an argument. Our society desperately needs to know that there is truth for their life: not angry truth, not arrogant truth, not condescending truth, but humble truth.
Paul and Peter tell us to think of ourselves as citizens of another realm, the kingdom of God in Christ. We’re an outpost of heaven wherever we live, representing heaven’s King, inviting others into the kingdom of heaven by making disciples. The fact that Christians are exiles and foreigners wherever we live, means that our beliefs, values, and practices must be shaped more by the kingdom of God than by our culture. It reminds us that God’s kingdom receives our deepest allegiance, and his honour must be our highest concern—far above our national identity or our political leanings. The way in which we carry ourselves must not be according to the flesh, but in line with the character of Christ. And our core mission is to be Jesus’ ambassadors, living as citizens of heaven strategically placed in our particular corner of the world. WE DARE NOT trade our call to be the people of God for some lesser agenda or allegiance. And when our “brand of Kool-Aid,” whichever side we’re on, overtakes our kingdom calling, we lose our voice of truth and our prophetic critique.
I remember when Miguel Obando y Bravo became a cardinal in Nicaragua. He could have stood in the gap between the Contras and the Sandinistas, but he sold out to one side. And so, when that problem became huge, there was no mediator.
We’re not discipling people to be Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals. That’s not to say that there’s a moral equivalence between the two political platforms. It is to say that the goal of Christian discipleship is far deeper and more nuanced than point-by-point alignment with a political party. When we believe in Jesus just somewhere in the back of our minds, but we feel our politics in our bones, we’re going to disciple
people to be less citizens of Jesus’ kingdom and more zealots of a partisan platform.
You know you’re becoming more of a zealot of the right or the left than a citizen of King Jesus when you become one hand clapping. You start seeing that one political party is always wrong, and the people on that side as worthy of nothing but contempt.
Unity in diversity is not political and cultural uniformity, but a grace-based posture amid political and cultural diversity. If we can figure out how to love each other well, amid cultural tensions and political disagreements, then we can show a wounded world the way forward. This is of far greater importance than criticizing culture for all its shortcomings and sins.
Christian hopefulness keeps on trusting God and practicing its convictions regardless of who is in power (By the way, the passage above from 1 Peter was written in the first century which included the reign of Nero). When it comes to following Jesus in a politically divided world, we must never forget that our hope is in Jesus and his kingdom. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we look for a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We live out our identity as salt and light by shining forth our good works, as Matthew 5 says,
in such a way that people glorify our Father in heaven. What a difference it would make if we became genuinely good human beings who embody the character of Christ by grace and by the Holy Spirit.
When Christians engage in angry attacks on their political enemies, or when they give themselves over to fear and anxiety about their future, they demonstrate that their hope is misplaced. Our hope is King Jesus and nowhere else. Our core mission is to make disciples and to embody the values of Jesus’ kingdom. And we place our expectations for safety, security, and flourishing, not in the kingdoms of humanity, but in the kingdom of Jesus.
He alone is the true hope of the world, and we get the honour of telling others—and retelling ourselves—the best possible news: Jesus is King. Amen.
Ernie Koop is lead pastor of Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, Man. He is married to Diane. This article is based on his devotional at the November 22, 2024, Conference Council meeting.
Remembering our roots
An overview of our Anabaptist beginnings
1519
Ulrich Zwingli, in Zurich, Switzerland, begins to preach through the Gospel of Matthew and other New Testament books. In 1522, he resigns his priesthood and is reinstated by the city council as a pastor. Around this time, he is joined by enthusiastic younger followers, including Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz.
by Darryl Klassen except where noted.
Text sources: Darryl Klassen, Anabaptism at 500, Anabaptist Mennonite Network, GAMEO, Mennonite World Conference.
On January 21, 1525, a group of radical reformers, including Georg Blaurock, Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz, met in a home a block away from the Grossmünster church. They read the Bible and prayed together. Through their reading of Scripture, these reformers concluded that the baptism they had received as infants was no baptism at all. After praying, Conrad Grebel asked Georg Blaurock to baptize him. Blaurock baptized Grebel, who in return baptized Blaurock, who then baptized the others who were present.
January 21 1525
baptismal font at Grossmünster church.
Infant
Photos
Münster, in North Germany, became the site of the so-called “Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster.” Anabaptist followers attempted to bring in the kingdom of God by force. In June 1535, then-leader of the movement Jan van Leiden and two other leaders were executed, with their bodies put on display in these cages which still hang from the church tower.
Felix Manz becomes the first martyr of the Anabaptists. A strong leader in the movement, Manz was arrested and executed by drowning in the Limmat River, Zurich, in January 1527. This plaque marks the location of the drowing.
In late February 1527, a group of Anabaptists, led by Michael Sattler, a former Benedictine prior, gathered in the small hamlet of Schleitheim (Canton Schaffhausen), and reached an agreement on seven basic points of belief and practice. This became known as the Schleitheim Confession.
Schleitheim Confession printed in 1550, displayed in the Anabaptist Room of the Local History Museum in Schleitheim, Switzerland.
Menno Simons served as priest in this church in Witmarsum, Netherlands, at the time he left the Roman Catholic Church.
In January 1536, Menno Simons renounces his connection with the Roman Catholic Church. Following his baptism and ordination, he emerged as a crucial leader who reestablished the Dutch Anabaptist movement on the foundation of Christian nonviolence and discipleship in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Due to his prominence, his followers were soon called Mennists or Mennonites
Persecution was part of the Anabaptist story from its beginnings. One famous martyr, Dirk Willems, was imprisoned but escaped. However, while crossing a frozen body of water, his pursuer broke through the ice. Dirk, moved by compassion for the sheriff, went back to help him. The magistrate saw the whole thing and pressed the grateful sheriff to arrest Willems anyways. This time, Willems was held in the church tower where he couldn’t weave bedsheets together to climb down. Willems was put in stocks and confined to this room (pictured below) in the high tower. His food was passed to him through the door. There was no escape this time. Willems was burned at the stake in the Netherlands on May 16, 1569. 1569
From our early beginnings meeting in caves in Switzerland (photo below) to gathering in “hidden churches” (churches disguised as houses) in the Netherlands (photo right), Anabaptism has grown. As of 2022, Mennonite World Conference lists over 2.1 million members in Anabaptist churches around the world (map above).
TESTIMONY Trusting God in loneliness
By Evelyn Rodgers
LONELINESS CAN BE a time of being depressed and feeling sorry for oneself or it can be regarded as a gift from the Lord to get closer to him. So much of life is in the attitude we have.
Four years ago, when my husband of 54 years died, I could have drowned in grief and feeling sorry for myself. But the Lord gave us such a precious 10 days in palliative care where I saw so many details of his care for me that I couldn’t grieve that much. His presence has been so strong and has encouraged me to carry on.
Connecting with others
Loneliness in our culture has become a problem of enormous proportions. According to a 2021
Statistics Canada survey, more than one in 10 people report feeling lonely often or all the time. It affects our health, especially mental health and overall well-being.
Reaching out is one of the things we can do that can help us in times of loneliness but in our culture, this does not seem to happen much. People are so independent now, and don’t want to bother others. Or is it an attitude of pride, and “I’ll do this myself if no one calls me”? Why is it so out of place to ask for help or invite someone for a meal or coffee?
We are made for community, and connecting with others requires effort. Instead of sitting at home and waiting for someone else to phone or come over, sometimes we have to be the ones to take the initiative and invite them over or go out for coffee or visit the sick and so on.
There is such a blessing in reaching out. I often find that when I call someone, they are usually so glad I called and are ready for coffee or some other activity. I feel so much better after this, and I’m sure the other person does too. I got a different perspective on my thinking, my life is enriched and blessed, and the fellowship was so good.
“When I call someone, they are usually so glad I called ... I feel so much better after this and I’m sure the other person does too.”
Evelyn Rodgers
Making time for the Lord’s presence
I have always been busy doing something. At a time when I was a mother of five teenagers and a farmer’s wife, plus other responsibilities, there was always something that needed to be done now and it just didn’t seem right to “waste” time.
I knew I needed the Lord’s presence in all this but didn’t take enough time until I had a problem with my oldest child who was really struggling. I cried out to the Lord many times and he answered by tapping me on my shoulder and telling me to stop everything and have my quiet time. I obeyed, took my Bible and went up the hill behind our house, found a spot in the woods and spent half an hour or so there. Coming back, life was better and at the end of the day that time wasn’t wasted or missed.
“I obeyed, took my Bible and went up the hill behind our house, found a spot in the woods and spent half an hour or so there. Coming back, life was better and at the end of the day that time wasn’t wasted or missed.”
We are usually so busy we have no time to sit down and think about life. Being alone with the Lord can be such a gift. When we do this, we see life differently. It is in these quiet times God wants to speak to us just as much as we want to talk to him. Are we ready to listen?
Although I’m older now, I am still used to always being busy. The Lord had to remind me again that “it’s okay to sit and do nothing.” As I sit and wait on the Lord, he comes near, and his presence is so delightful. He has promised to be there, and he is. There have been times when his presence was so strong I couldn’t fall asleep for hours.
The ministry of intercession
Have we ever considered that intercession is a ministry and that we who are alone can do this? Prayer and praise are the mightiest weapons in our battle against Satan. Prayer has come to be an exciting part of my day. Sometimes it feels like I’m in a battle and I know who wins. How exciting and blessed I am when I see answers to my prayers. I know the Holy Spirit is at work when I intercede as he gives me a burden.
Trusting God’s promises
God has much to say about loneliness and has so many promises in his Word regarding this. He is so awesome. Here are a few: the Lord knows each detail of our lives and has our names inscribed on the palm of his hands (Isaiah 49:16). He loves us more than we can ever know.
He knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). If he is that much involved in our lives, we can trust him in all things. “I know the plans I have for you,” he says (Jeremiah 29:11).
What a promise! This should help us look ahead with anticipation to what he has planned for us. The question remains, are we willing to let him guide us or do we always want our own way?
As we come closer to him, his presence will comfort us, and our loneliness disappears too. As we look at life from his perspective, our views change too. We can thank him for the gift of his presence and being alone can help us grow in him.
Being alone can be challenging but, as we look to the Lord, he will help us, and we can “still bear fruit in old age”! (Psalm 92:14). I know if we are not careful, we can fall back, and loneliness can take a hold again. But we must remind ourselves that Jesus is there for us. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to retire at some point. No, we can refire and still have a testimony for the Lord.
Evelyn Rodgers has been a widow for four years. She lives in MacGregor and attends the MacGregor EMC. She has five children,18 grandchildren, and 14 greatgrandchildren and tries to keep up with them. She is currently involved in ladies Bible study, MCC and coffee times with friends.
Global impact • By
Gerald Reimer
Embracing opportunities in Spain
I TRIED TO stay objective but within minutes of landing in Málaga, Spain, to go and visit our EMC workers, I was captivated. Four of us from Canada spent almost two weeks there, and one of our main focuses was to discern the future ministry of our new work in Algeciras. Would it be viable for the long term? What new opportunities have been discovered by Antonio and Esther Pitta after just two years of service? Are people open to having conversations about the gospel message?
Let me start with a quick timeline to provide background:
In 2019 we began to transition our administrative missionaries from 100 percent support down to 60 percent to make funds available for new outreach opportunities. We were dreaming big— to double our workforce in five years.
That same year Conference delegates were presented with four options for expansion, and it was agreed that we should expand into Spain with a focus on Muslim ministry. This interest flowed out of years of discussion with our associate missionaries already serving in Muslim contexts. A subcommittee began research.
In June 2020, the Board of Missions (BOM) floated the idea of a training
centre to equip EMC recruits for overseas work. Delegates agreed and the idea gained traction.
In the meantime, God was working in Antonio and Esther Pitta. Antonio wrote a paper as part of his master’s requirements on the nearly one million Moroccans who have migrated to Spain. He and Esther participated in the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and felt the Lord leading them into this ministry. Reaching Moroccans living in Spain, they reflected, allowed the good news to go with them whether they dispersed into Europe or returned to Morocco.
Fall 2021 —a delegation from the BOM made an exploratory trip to southern Spain near the main immigration point—they came back enthusiastic and full of ideas.
In November 2021, Conference Council delegates agreed to open this new field.
September 2022 —Antonio and Esther Pitta and their daughter Jeni moved to Spain to begin to learn Arabic, learn a Spanish culture different from their own, find a home church, meet their neighbours and investigate options for a training centre.
Spring 2024 —the Pittas rented a small academy right next to a
As EMC Director of Global Outreach, Gerald Reimer supports EMC missionaries all over the world.
university and began teaching and discipling local Moroccan youth and young adults.
And in January 2025, a member of the Renacer church Antonio and Esther attend offered them a property that was standing empty. Although it needed work, it had plenty of space on the main floor for them to live and host guests, run Bible studies, give music lessons, tutor, teach English classes and the like. Perhaps even more exciting— the second floor is vacant and, with 2500 sq. ft. of space, it is a prime location for creating a training centre for our conference for years to come.
In February 2025, the Board agreed to proceed with this project. And now we stand at the threshold of this ministry. An investment of this scale requires many components to make it fruitful. So, we pray about finding the funds to complete the renovation and run the ministry, finding hosts to run the facility and teachers to run the training program. And while this seems like a very Spirit-led investment, we need to trust that God will raise up another generation of workers.
In my travels around the EMC these past 25-years, I believe that what I am seeing is real, that our churches are again ready to send out a passionate generation of men and women to be our hands and feet pointing people to Jesus.
Please pray with us as we embrace these opportunities and trust that God will provide, for his honour and glory!
The pagan blanket
By Teah Goossen
MANY KNOW VENUS Cote. Whether it’s from watching Tribal Trails, hearing her speak at churches, prisons and schools, or being welcomed into her home, Venus is known for her outpouring of love and testimony of God’s power.
I had the privilege of visiting with Venus at her home in St. Mary’s First Nation, just outside of Fredericton. She told me stories of her life and her community, and woven throughout was always God, clear and strong, even in the most tragic moments.
What’s evident is that God has worked in and through Venus. Through God, she forgave a murderer, conquered an addiction, got off skid row, and now has brought the good news to thousands of people. Google “Venus Cote” and you will find an incredible testimony.
I would like to add a story to that archive. It is one of God’s power and protection.
During Venus’s days in Bible school, she did a 10-day ministry outreach. While getting to know the people in the small community, she noticed a woman watching her from a distance. Eventually that woman came up to her and struck up a conversation. She invited Venus to her house for a cup of tea.
As they approached the house, God put it upon her spirit that she should not be there. Something was off about this place, but it seemed rude to leave, so she prayed for God’s protection.
The woman had an odd-looking blanket hung on her wall. She
Something was off about this place, but it seemed rude to leave, so she prayed for God’s protection.
Venus Cote
described to Venus how something had instructed her on how and when to make it. Venus knew it was made with demonic forces. The woman told Venus to put her hand on this blanket. Not knowing what else to do at that moment, Venus did, and as she placed her hand, she prayed.
The woman was confused and asked her if she felt anything. “No, what am I supposed to feel?” Venus responded. She asked Venus to put her hand on the blanket a second time. Once again, Venus obeyed but prayed that God would cover her in his protection. And once again, she felt nothing from touching this blanket.
The woman shook her head, looked at Venus and said, “You are a Christian. You have Jesus living in you.” That’s why the blanket’s powers didn’t work! She explained to Venus how the blanket was supposed to draw out
information and clairvoyantly tell the creator of the blanket about the one who touched it. She knew Venus was a Christian because the Christian God wouldn’t allow this demonic force to pass through.
“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: ‘Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love’” (Psalm 62:11-12a).
Venus’s story is a reminder that we can always pray and trust that God will give us the power we need when difficult situations arise. We don’t need to fear what God has already had victory over!
Teah Goossen is on a mission to live purposely for the kingdom. Teah has recently returned from slowly cruising across North America in her Honda Odyssey while gathering stories, painting pictures, and fellowshipping with nomadic folk.
Mennonites in France: beacons of hope in a secular land
By Paul Thiessen Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, serving Burkina Faso from Canada
THE COUNTRY OF France is known for its secular culture, its magnificent cathedrals that attract more tourists than worshipers, and a catholic religion that has diminished in
importance and influence in the past 50 years. Many people are unaware of the love for God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the faith in Jesus Christ that are shining lights in communities across the country.
The Mennonites in churches in France are such beacons that shine in dark places.
These Mennonites originated in Switzerland where they were persecuted in the 16th and 17th centuries. They found refuge and a place of safety between the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains, in France. “Strasbourg was the haven of refuge for Anabaptists from Switzerland, Holland and North and South Germany…. The Anabaptists called Strasbourg the ‘City of Hope’ and the ‘Refuge of Righteousness’.” (Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online).
Today in the northeast region of France known as Alsace, there are 32 French Mennonite churches (including three in the greater Paris area), with a total of 2,100 members. The French Mennonite Conference supports missionaries in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Burundi and Laos.
Their Anabaptist theology is reflected in the May 2024 issue of their monthly magazine, Christ Seul. In this issue the topic of non-violence is addressed, with articles like, “Les Fondements Bibliques de la Non-Violence ” (The Biblical Foundation of Non-violence), and a testimony of a Ukrainian pacifist, who was conscripted by the Ukrainian army, but declared that he would not kill another human being.
The Geisberg Mennonite Church was one of the churches where I gave a missions report in October 2024, telling about our Bible translation work among the Siamou people. This congregation sent out and supported Paul and Martine Solomiac to work with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission
Jonathan Thiessen (kneeling, with his wife Cécile) is ordained as a minister in the French Mennonite Conference at the Strasbourg Mennonite Church on October 6, 2024.
Global Focus
(AIMM) in Burkina Faso. They began the translation of the New Testament into the Samogho language and later became leaders with SIL/Wycliffe in Ouagadougou. Lois and I were privileged to work alongside them during our years in Burkina Faso. The Geisberg church, together with the other churches of the French Mennonite Conference, has been involved in the AIMM work in Burkina Faso since the 1980s.
Our son, Jonathan Thiessen, has been the pastor of the Strasbourg Mennonite church for two years. On October 6, 2024, Lois and I had the honour of participating in a service in that church where Jonathan was ordained as a minister in the French Mennonite Conference.
The Centre de formation du Bienenberg (Bienenberg Training Centre), in Liestal, Switzerland, trains Anabaptist church leaders. Their programs
This Bible verse in German is displayed on the wall of the Geisberg Mennonite Church. From Revelation 22:17, in English it says, “Let the thirsty come; let whoever wishes accept the water of life as a gift.” This German verse shows the historic roots that the French Mennonites have, which reflects the same origins as our first Manitoba EMC churches, who also used the German language 70 years ago.
include teaching in theology, Anabaptist history, leadership training and creation care.
My awareness of these Mennonite churches in France began in 1984, when I attended the Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg. Most recently we received blessings from God through the churches, pastors and
church leaders and believers in Geisberg and Strasbourg during our visit there in October 2024.
Lois and I have been blessed and strengthened by these congregations and by these French brothers and sisters in Christ through our many visits to Alsace through the years.
We thank God for his faithful servants, these Anabaptist brothers and sisters in Christ, who are worshiping God and proclaiming the good news in the Alsace region and beyond.
– Paul Thiessen
Paul and Lois Thiessen are retired from the Bible translation work they were doing with AIMM in Burkina Faso. But Paul is now working part-time again (from Canada) helping with proof-reading and correcting the Siamou translated Scriptures, editing the Siamou dictionary and ongoing linguistic analysis of the Siamou language. During a visit to France in October 2024, Paul became more acquainted with the French Mennonite churches, and wanted to share this with the EMC constituency.
The Evangelical Mennonite Church in Strasbourg, France.
Memories of spring and summer 2024
Westpointe Community Church Grande Prairie, Alberta
SPRING SPRANG INTO action at Westpointe Community Church (WCC) in Grande Prairie with 18 of our youth, along with five leaders, heading to Merida, Mexico for a short-term mission experience. This took place over spring break from March 31 to April 10. After our Easter service on the 31st, all those participating gathered on stage for a time of prayer and commissioning, and from there they boarded the bus heading to Calgary; flying out to Merida the next day.
Our women’s ministry hosted mothers, daughters, granddaughters and friends for a lovely Mother’s Day tea on May 4. Later in the month (May 24–25) church women gathered with others from the community for the 2024 Women Encouraged Conference: Holy and Beloved.
The 2023–24 Sunday school season came to a close on June 9 with a volunteer appreciation event that afternoon. In March it was reported that our Sunday school average attendance to that point was 122 students. That is 122 souls we have had the opportunity to share Jesus with! Praise the Lord!
The following weekend, June 14–16, 191 individuals (94 adults, 97 kids—representing 42 families), registered for our annual church family campout, held locally at Bear Lake Bible Camp. Activities included fireside, singing, king swing, devotionals and, of course, lots of great food!
Five tents were set up to accommodate the congregation for the closing worship/baptism service on Sunday
Along with the six baptismal candidates, we were challenged not to become complacent in our walk with Christ and thereby ruin our witness to the world.
morning. We were all very thankful for those tents as a thunderstorm passed through during the service! Pastor Jared Schroeder spoke from 1 Corinthians 9:24–10:13, on “Life after Baptism,”encouraging those of us who had already been baptized to reflect back on our own baptisms. Along with the six baptismal candidates, we were challenged not to become complacent in our walk with Christ and thereby ruin our witness to the world.
Following the message, candidates shared their testimonies and were baptized. The weekend officially ended with 260 gathering for the noon meal. Special thanks to our Social Committee for all the time and effort they put into planning and preparing for this event.
Less than a month later, July 8–12, WCC hosted our annual VBS daily
from 1 to 4 p.m. The curriculum (from Answers in Genesis) was titled “The Great Jungle Journey: An Epic Cruise from Genesis to Revelation.” We had 141 students enrolled, 36 of whom considered themselves “community/new/ visitor.” Under the direction of our VBS coordinator, 47 volunteers donated their time in some capacity to make the program a great success.
We pray and trust that God will nurture the seeds planted in the hearts of those who attended, helping them grow and bear fruit. As a bit of a postscript, it was encouraging to hear that one attendee’s mother started attending one of our women’s Bible studies this fall after seeing a poster in the church at that time.
– Janet Van Natter
Three young people join Kleefeld EMC
Kleefeld EMC
Kleefeld, Manitoba
NOVEMBER 24, 2024 marked the day when two young men from our church family chose to publicly declare their desire for baptism and membership in the Kleefeld EMC. Both Reuben Ascough and Brady Wiebe were blessed to grow up in Christian families and chose to have their fathers perform this ritual. They were then formally welcomed into the church by Pastor Greg and Pastor Lyndol.
That same Sunday, Miah Kehler (baptized in June 2024) was also accepted into membership. Reuben, Brady and Miah, we wish you God’s blessing as you continue to worship and serve with us.
– Dennis and Louella Friesen
Dallas Wiebe baptizes his son Brady on November 24, 2024, with pastors Lyndol Fast and Greg Klassen assisting.
Above, Reuben Ascough, Brady Wiebe and Miah Kehler are given their membership certificates and welcomed into membership by pastor Greg Klassen on November 24, 2024.
Reuben,
Brady and Miah, we wish you God’s blessing as you continue to worship and serve with us.
Peter Ascough baptizes his son Reuben on November 24, 2024, with pastors Lyndol Fast and Greg Klassen assisting.
EMC church leaders from Regions 7 and 8 gather for encouragement and discussion
OUR CONFERENCE STAFF created a valuable opportunity for pastors and leaders from Regions 7 (Winnipeg area) and 8 (southeastern Manitoba and northern Ontario) to connect and engage in discussions about relevant ministry challenges that EMC churches may be facing. The events took place at Heartland Community Church in Landmark on Friday (Jan. 31) and Saturday (Feb. 1).
Pastors and their spouses gathered for a wonderful night out featuring a catered meal, uplifting worship, and a beautiful communion experience together. It was lovely to see pastors from half of our Region 7/8 churches joining in this special gathering. Mo Friesen led in a heartfelt worship time while Andy Woodworth’s message about the shepherds trusting the Shepherd encouraged pastoral couples to guard their hearts above all else. The evening concluded with a time of reflective communion led by Emery Plett. It was truly a night to rest and enjoy the company of fellow labourers in Christ.
On Saturday, the Leadership Forum attracted representatives from 14 of our 20 churches in Region 7/8. The five current EMC directors gave a brief overview of their respective areas of responsibility within the Conference’s wider work and then prompted discussion among the participants around key questions from each area.
Executive Director, Emery Plett, shared the EMC’s stated mission and vision and engaged the leaders in discussing its relevance and effectiveness
Church leaders connect at Heartland Community Church on Feb. 1, 2025.
in today’s church culture. A conversation about how to practically support churches and resource local leadership to help advance the work of the local church and the conference led to several suggestions on how to improve the working relationship between churches and the conference.
Director of Global Outreach, Gerald Reimer, discussed the important role of missions within the EMC and responded to questions that churches had about the overall work. There were conversations about how the local church can recognize and nurture an individual’s call to missions and how we can work together to equip and support our current missionaries.
Director of Communications, Erica Fehr, reminded the participants of the many EMC resources available for our churches and their intended purposes. Participants were encouraged to weigh in on matters that the EMC should address in its written publications, things we should move on from, and ways in which we could communicate with greater clarity to a broader group of people (e.g., through social media).
Conference Pastor, Andy Woodworth , shared the strategy being implemented to encourage our EMC ministers to engage more consistently in the Conference’s work. The main question proposed to the participants centred around the effectiveness of our churches in advancing the Great Commission and ways in which the Conference can better promote local evangelism and outreach.
Director of Next Gen, Mo Friesen, closed the day by discussing the challenges and opportunities we face in the quest to reach and equip the next generation for kingdom work.
Participating leaders discussed some common challenges in their churches related to children and youth ministry and the ongoing struggle to adequately equip volunteers for effective ministry to the next generation. Innovative ideas were shared about how the Conference and the local church can work cooperatively to raise committed followers of Christ.
The next Regional Leadership Forum is scheduled for the weekend of February 6–7, 2026, for Regions 3–6. – Andy Woodworth, EMC Conference Pastor
YA retreat helps young people remember their identity together
IT IS GOOD to be together! This is something that the church through its existence has recognized and that we had the opportunity to celebrate again with 96 young adults from 11 EMC churches.
The desire for the young adult retreat weekend (Feb 28-Mar 2, 2025) was especially to remind ourselves of where we receive our purpose and value. Jesse Penner, Pleasant Valley Church, did a particularly good job as he asked us to consider the three ways that we tend to identify ourselves: (1) by what we do, (2) by what we have, and (3) by what others say about us. While these are all problematic in their own ways, he said, they are similar in that they are all shaky ground upon which to place our identity.
If we place our value and identity in what we do (i.e. our job), what happens when things go poorly at work, or worse, when we lose our job? If it’s in what we have, what about when our things break or are lost? If it’s in the opinion of others, what happens when that opinion shifts? All of these, it turns out, provide little to no stability
for our identity and prove to be a poor foundation.
Rather, Penner went on, our identity must rest fully upon our status as image bearers of God and our adoption to the family of God through Christ’s sacrifice. As image bearers, our value is dependent upon the One we represent and we can rest assured that, because God does not change, neither does our value or purpose. A sure foundation indeed. Similarly, as God’s adopted children, we can hold firmly to the truth that God is faithful and true to his word—he does not break covenant. There is no concern that our adoption might suddenly be undone on a whim. Our position before God is firm and certain, regardless of what we may experience in this world.
It takes effort to keep this as our primary identity, though! How quick we are to forget. Fortunately, there are many good ways that we can remind ourselves and one another. The retreat acted as a microcosm of what is required: (1) we remain oriented toward God, (2) we can best do that by staying
Jesse Penner, pastor of Pleasant Valley Church, speaks during a main session of the young adult retreat.
in community, and (3) we must be intentional about our actions within community.
The good news of this is that there are many great ways to build and maintain community: A semi-competitive game of broomball that lasts, perhaps, a bit too long, a board game that gets more rambunctious than expected, and a meal at which we linger to talk after we’ve finished eating all build up the body of Christ and all create the space needed for us to be encouragers of one another to remain rooted in God, regardless of what comes.
And so, we can be grateful for the experience that we had at the retreat, and look forward to it again, as we seek to remain firmly rooted in the identity that we were created to have.
Many thanks to all those who helped to plan and coordinate the retreat. See you next year!
– Dustin Asham
Creativity on display during free time.
SBC Pursuit students grow in faith through experiential learning
STEINBACH BIBLE COLLEGE’S Pursuit is a discipleship program for young adults who desire to follow Jesus. Through the program, they have opportunities to grow in faith, develop as leaders, and discover their gifts. They “seek first” God’s kingdom, using experiential learning, practical application, and missional experience.
Discipleship is rooted in community. These students spend time learning from leaders who are living out the kingdom and invitation of Jesus in missional ways all over the world. One of our highlights is sharing the work of discipleship with our many trusted partners in teaching, leading, and serving. Our partners bring the body of Christ to life for us.
In Brazil, God used the Quest team to transform our hearts in ways that we are only beginning to understand. Seeing God’s kingdom in the country of Brazil, learning from the Quest team, and seeing his creation showed us the size and scope of his plan for us.
– Randy Krahn, SBC Pursuit director
Pursuit Student Highlights: Brazil Team 2024
“I learned a lot about ministry from the Quest team and from my teammates. One thing that stood out to me is the extent to which God provides when you follow him. The Quest team is a living testimony to this. Spending time with the missionaries there helped me see trusting God is not as scary as it seems. The faith that it takes to move your young family across the world to start a camp is incredible, and that
thought used to terrify me. But seeing Scott and Patsy, 27 years later, and seeing how God has immensely cared for them, makes the idea of trusting God seem inviting, rather than terrifying. I believe that this experience will help me be more open to God’s will for my life in the future. I hope that I will be able to trust him fully, no matter how scary or illogical it seems.”
Erica Banman, Pursuit Student ’24
“I have been praying for a chance to return to Quest Brazil since the moment my feet left Brazilian soil back in April 2019. When I landed in Brazil again in October 2024 I knew I was
standing in an answered prayer. English camp was something I was most excited about being a part of. Meeting so many wonderful people who were so brave to come and practice their second language was amazing. I had so much fun preparing to host them and share with them a bit of our Canadian culture and to learn the differences within theirs.”
Danae Fehr, Pursuit Alumni, ’19
My prayer is that God will help me to remember the things I learned while in Brazil, and all the time I spent growing with the team.
Kate Elias, Pursuit Student ’24
SBC ‘turns sod’ at new campus
February 18, 2025: Steinbach Bible College celebrates a sod-turning (or, more accurately, a snow-throwing) ceremony for their new campus at the former Steinbach Family Medical Centre location on Loewen Blvd in Steinbach. Participating are Mayor Earl Funk, SBC President Dave Reimer, MP Ted Falk, Bruce Penner (SBC board chair), Gord Penner (SBC professor), Evan Schinkel (project manager), Tianna Wiebe (first-year SBC student).
MCC settles litigation through Quebec Labour Board conciliation process
IN AUGUST 2023, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) ended the employment of John Clarke and Anicka Fast, who had been serving as MCC country representatives for Burkina Faso.
(MCC’s practice is to not disclose any confidential information related to personnel files or staff performance issues. However, as Clarke and Fast have made the details of their case widely available online and through the media, MCC feels it is important to respond directly to their claims.)
MCC recognizes that workers and their families can experience high levels of stress and trauma as a result of working in settings where there is conflict, violence or unrest such as Clarke and Fast experienced in Burkina Faso. In these cases, MCC seeks to be generous in our support.
When Clarke raised concerns with MCC about his health, he was encouraged to see a medical doctor. When Clarke and Fast flagged increasing stress, MCC repeatedly encouraged them to seek counselling and support. When Clarke and Fast requested changes in their duties, MCC was willing to accommodate those requests. When Clarke and Fast requested additional days for stress leave to be added to their vacation time in the Netherlands, MCC provided it.
Finally, while the couple and their family were in the Netherlands, Clarke stated that he and Fast would be unwilling to be located in any country in Africa. At that point, MCC indicated it was not viable for country
representatives to serve outside their region.
In the end, MCC offered a settlement of more than $150,000 Cdn.
When Clarke and Fast filed a formal grievance in November 2023, accusing MCC of civil and criminal infractions, the boards of MCC Canada and MCC U.S. hired Veritas Solutions, an independent external investigator.
Though the Veritas report was limited in its helpfulness due to Clarke and Fast’s unwillingness to cooperate in the investigation, their findings named MCC’s failure to communicate in a timely and clear fashion, and failure to properly address and investigate a claim.
As a result, based on MCC’s own internal policies, which are more expansive than required by law, the Veritas investigator found that harassment had occurred. The investigation report noted that other claims—including claims of retaliation and criminal conduct—were unfounded. None of the findings were related to any type of sexual harassment or any form of gender or age harassment or discrimination.
Like any organization, MCC will face workplace conflict and MCC remains committed to mediation and alternative dispute resolution when differing opinions arise. MCC apologizes that our executive directors and HR staff were not always able to respond quickly or clearly enough to Clarke’s questions and concerns. However, the claims of systemic abuse are unequivocally false.
MCC did not at any time seek to harm Clarke or Fast. In fact, MCC was keenly aware of the situation and was closely monitoring the crisis in Burkina Faso for the whole team.
Our vision is to see communities worldwide in right relationship with God, one another and creation. Our commitment to this vision is not just lip service. It remains a high calling— a north star, so to speak, as we follow Jesus into the coming decades.
Thank you to those who pray for and support MCC’s ministry.
– MCC news release
Contact the EMC office for a full report on changes MCC has introduced to their HR policies and processes over the past number of years.
Anchored in Courage: KidMin Conference motivates bold faith
WITH THE THEME Anchored in Courage, the opening session of the Awesome KidMin Conference kicked off with game participants “testing their courage” by taste-testing jellybeans. Some contestants were treated to flavours such as popcorn or cappuccino, while others’ faces soured as they chomped down on beans with flavours such as barf or booger.
The conference, an opportunity for people involved in children’s ministry to receive encouragement and training, took place at Eastview Community Church in Winnipeg, on March 7–8, 2025. Following the opening fun and games, and a time of corporate worship through song, keynote speaker Melissa MacDonald took the stage to speak on how those gathered could be anchored in courage “when things feel too big.”
MacDonald pointed listeners to the way the Israelites responded to the scouts’ report of the promised land (Numbers 13–14). While the majority of the scouts described the difficulties awaiting them in taking the land, Joshua reminds the Israelites who God is. MacDonald said when what we’re facing feels too big, we need to remind ourselves who is actually in charge, and that God never calls us to something he will not equip us for. The session concluded with a time of reflection and communion.
Attendees regathered the following morning to hear once again from MacDonald on how to be anchored in courage “when I’m scared.” She reminded attendees that having courage doesn’t mean you’re not afraid. When we are scared, we need to go/ do/be where God is, just as the Israelites were asked to step into the Jordan River without knowing how they would get across (Joshua 3). MacDonald also said when we’re scared, we are called to trust. “A lot of us live our lives dipping our toes into what God has for us … [we miss out on] what God could do if we stepped out,” she said. We are also called to obey, she said, and “it’s okay to do it scared.”
After the morning session, participants went to a variety of breakout sessions on topics such as Managing Me, How to Prepare Like a Pro, Serious
MacDonald said when what we’re facing feels too big, we need to remind ourselves who is actually in charge.
Fun, The Art of Story, YOUth CAN Do This, or Making Scripture Stick. There was also time allotted for teams to debrief or for participants to shop the resource area.
To conclude the day, attendees gathered once again to hear from MacDonald on how to be anchored in courage “when I don’t understand.” Looking at Hebrews 11, MacDonald pointed to the men and women listed who were required to step out in faith without knowing what God was going to do. “You will feel alone, crazy and misunderstood sometimes,” she said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t have courage. That doesn’t mean you aren’t doing the right thing.” She encouraged attendees that just like those men and women in Hebrews 11 who “did not receive the things promised” (v. 13), children’s ministry is about planting seeds without necessarily seeing the fruit.
The conference concluded with a time of worship and commissioning prayer.
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Rebecca Roman
ANNIE KROEKER
1940–2024
A dear woman who so warmly welcomed people with her nurturing, gentle and caring nature is now at rest with her Creator. Our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Annie Reimer Kroeker passed away at home, following a short illness on July 10, 2024. She was born on April 27, 1940, twenty minutes after her twin sister Alma.
She is survived by her four daughters: Jennifer, Elaine, Lavonne, and Stephanie and son-in-law Nathaniel Klassen; and treasured grandchildren Jonas, Meg, and Tobin. She is also mourned by her sisters Minnie, Alma, and Paulina (Les); and brothers Leo (Eva), John (Connie), and Lorne (Dolores); sisters-in-law Millie, Eva, and Doris; the Kroeker family and many nieces and nephews. Annie was predeceased by her husband Ed Kroeker and stillborn son, Kevin Kroeker; her parents, Jacob P. D. and Elizabeth Reimer; brothers Menno, Pete, Allen, and Jake; and sisters Mary and Betty.
Annie’s commitment to following Christ began in her teen years and was signified by her baptism at 17 years old. Her lifelong trust in God motivated her to give to her church community. She and her husband served as a deacon couple for many years. Volunteering on the food committee and
as a Sunday School teacher, singing in the choir, and serving in the church library and at the Morris MCC Thrift Store also brought her joy. A hug, listening ear, or giving a freshly baked loaf of bread were some of her beautiful ways of caring.
She married Ed Kroeker on August 13, 1961. They settled into a life of farming just south of Rosenort and lived there till 2017 when they moved into Rosenort. Annie loved the domestic life of being a homemaker and raising her four creative daughters. She quietly showed us how to cook, sew, plant and harvest the garden and create home cooked meals.
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After a day of work, she enjoyed leisure activities such as quilting, chatting with family and friends, flower gardening, and travelling. She was a keen Scrabble player and loved quiet evenings of reading. The highlights in the last few years were spending time with much-loved grandkids, celebrating family events and travelling. When diagnosed with cancer in November 2023, her simple trust in God continued to be her constant companion and comfort for the sunset season of her life. Even during this difficult journey, she was an inspiration to all of us who knew her.
The Family
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Please send all position ads (150 words or less), including pastoral search ads, to messenger@emconference.ca. Ads may be edited. Please advise us when it is no longer needed.
Additional EMC Openings
Often there are more churches looking for staff than are identified on this page. For information on additional openings, contact Conference Pastor Andy Woodworth (awoodworth@emconference.ca or phone 204-326-6401).
EMC Positions
Pastor: Morris (Man.) Fellowship Chapel
Morris Fellowship Chapel is a Christfollowing, Bible-believing, family-friendly church of around 130 people in the small rural town of Morris, Manitoba. People of all ages are a part of Morris Fellowship, including children, young adults, adults and seniors. We are looking for a pastor to help with preaching, teaching, and building community in our church. This would include preaching on Sundays, teaching midweek Bible studies, personal visits and church community events. Contact Cliff Reimer, Pastoral Search Committee Chairman: cliff0955@gmail.com.
Youth Pastor: La Crete (Alta.) Christian Fellowship Church
La Crete Christian Fellowship (LCCF) is looking for a youth pastor to join our team. LCCF is located in the hamlet of La Crete, a community in northern Alberta. We are a growing multi-generational congregation with an average Sunday attendance of 650, and an average mid-week attendance of 40
senior youth and 80 junior youth. We are looking for:
An energetic and passionate individual growing in relationship with Jesus Christ. Someone able to connect with youth and youth leaders and equip them for serving and following Jesus.
Experience in youth ministry is preferred; formal biblical education is an asset.
Candidates must agree with the EMC Statement of Faith and Church Practices.
The youth pastor will lead the youth ministry team, teach Bible studies, organize youth events, and help in other areas as needed.
For a fuller job description and more information, go to www.lccfc.ca. Contact Dale Driedger at daledriedger@yahoo.com
Other Positions
Radio Coordinator and Host: Mennonite Community Services of Southern Ontario
Mennonite Community Services of Southern Ontario (MCS) is seeking a radio coordinator and host for its ethnic Low German radio station, “De Brigj.” The radio coordinator and host will provide coordination and guidance to daily operations of the radio. They will ensure appropriate content is produced and broadcasted. They will also engage with community members by providing oral and written communications and increase MCS supporters through marketing, sponsorships and advertising. Full position description can be found at www. mcson.org/employment-opportunities/. Those interested in joining the MCS team
can send a detailed resume and cover letter to hr@mcson.org.
Church and Donor Relations Coordinator: Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) is seeking a church and donor relations coordinator to deepen relationships with churches and donors, grow the community of AIMM supporters, communicate what God is doing among AIMM African members, and strengthen relationships between North American and African Anabaptists. For more information, please visit https:// www.aimmint.org/employment-opportunities.html.
Lead Pastor: Eastview Community Church
Eastview Community Church, a suburban church located just northeast of Winnipeg in the rural municipality of East St. Paul, Man., is seeking a lead pastor to guide our community in deepening discipleship. The lead pastor will lead a multi-generational, community-oriented congregation with a weekly attendance of 475-plus and a team of 10 staff. The lead pastor is responsible for developing and leading the vision that will help Eastview live into our mission and will oversee the ministries and strategies that will guide Eastview to accomplishing its mission and vision.
Qualified candidates will have a graduate degree in a related field and at least ten years of ministry experience. For a full job description go to https://eastview.org/
pastoral-search/. Candidates are requested to submit their resume, along with a cover letter, a two- to four-minute personal introductory video file, and a one-page overview of their ministry/leadership philosophy to: pastoralsearch@eastview.org.
General Director: Northern Canada Evangelical Mission
The Board of Governors of the Northern Canada Evangelical Mission is inviting qualified applications for the position of general director. To commence ministry in 2025, they are to give executive leadership for NCEM’s vision to build the Body of Christ in Northern and Indigenous communities where it does not yet thrive; and be capable of organising and implementing specific plans of faith to see this accomplished.
This role demands experience including: pastoral work, field service, several years of cross-cultural immersion, a diploma in
Christian theology, and being well-read in missiology.
As an interdenominational society, NCEM requires each of its members to depend fully for their salary support upon their sending church(es), denomination, and/or individuals.
Letters of inquiry may be sent to Ed Peters boardchair@ncem.ca
Lead Pastor: Gospel Fellowship Church, (Steinbach, Man.)
Gospel Fellowship Church is seeking a fulltime lead pastor. We are a congregation with an average attendance of 75; our church is a part of the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC). GFC is a faith community in a broken world, sharing the hope of freedom in Christ. We are searching for an individual who passionately loves God and loves people, one who is able to provide
Welcome to recently hired pastors
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
TRAVIS PLETT and his wife Macey Steinbach EMC
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vision and direction for our church, and willing to compassionately lead our congregation with sound biblical teaching.
For a full position description, please visit our website (www.gospelfellowshipchurch.ca) or contact us at applications@ gopselfellowshipchurch.ca
Principal: Morweena Christian School (Arborg, Man.)
Morweena Christian School is a K–12 school with approximately 200 students located near Arborg in the Interlake region of Manitoba. We are searching for a candidate to apply for the principal position. Job opening is for the 2025–26 school year. A Bachelor of Education is required as well as a minimum of five years of teaching experience. Preference is given for a master’s level of education. Please forward inquiries and resumes to James Plett, board chair, at boardchair@morweenaschool.ca
His light to my path • By
Karla Hein
Road trip naps
I’VE SLEPT THROUGH some of the best scenery in North America. Or, at least, that’s what my husband says. We’ve traveled along Oregon’s coastline, through the Rocky Mountains, in the Sonoran Desert, and along the Mississippi River. My husband, the driver absorbs every second of the road trip. I admire the scenery in shorter snippets between being lulled to sleep by the steady motion and the warm sunshine blazing through the window. Obviously, it’s much safer that he’s the driver!
As the front-seat passenger, my primary roles should be those of chief navigator, snack distributer, and animal watcher. Unfortunately, I am terrible with maps though I do make valiant attempts. I am a competent snack distributer, but sadly no one can eat continuously. That leaves the task of being on high-alert watching for animal danger which is hard to do while sleeping.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve actually started to appreciate my superb sleeping abilities. Tossing and turning, intricate dream narratives, and staring at darkened ceilings are not typical parts of my nightly routine. Instead, I lie in bed and reluctantly realize that
my next moment will be waking up. It’s dreadful to wake up from a black hole every morning. Being dead asleep to being reminded that you exist and that your chores and daily routine are waiting as you left them a brief moment (or eight hours) ago. God has blessed me with a wonderful life, but I still struggle to get out of bed!
In this, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ perspective is helpful to me. “Take those thoughts that come to you the
him, he starts talking to himself, ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul?’ he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: ‘Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you….’And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who he is and what God is and what God has done and what God has pledged Himself to do” (Spiritual Depression, pp. 20–21).
That’s hard work when you’re still half asleep! I am grateful that when I’m
It’s dreadful to wake up from a black hole every morning. Being dead asleep to being reminded that you exist and that your chores and daily routine are waiting as you left them a brief moment (or eight hours) ago. God has blessed me with a wonderful life, but I still struggle to get out of bed!
moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday. Somebody’s talking. Who’s talking? Your self is talking to you. Now [the psalmist’s] treatment [in Psalm 42] was this; instead of allowing this self to talk to
Karla Hein (Westpointe, Grande Prairie) is the wife of one and mother of two.
forgetful, lazy and tired, God knows my frame is but dust and his mercy is new every morning. When I’m feeling discouraged, I try to be quicker at preaching to my soul the truths of my Saviour.
As Hebrews 12:3 reminds me, “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Isn’t that wonderful news? Jesus has gone before and paid the wages of death for me! My service each day comes as a response to his example. I’m still a lousy Google Maps navigator, but thankfully the Lord makes my path straight as I run the spiritual race set before me!
Further in and higher up • By
Layton Friesen
Tough love or true love?
WE OFTEN HEAR about how angry and cruel public discussion has become today. But we often hear excuses for our bad manners. One excuse is to claim that, far from being rude, we are only showing “tough love.” Much cruelty is justified by those two words. My speech may have the delicacy of a chainsaw doing brain surgery, but I can always justify the damage with the claim that this is what “tough love” looks like. “I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t love you.” “If you would just agree with me your life would be better.”
Another phrase we use to justify cruelty is, “the truth hurts.” It’s not that I am a spiteful person. My words hurt because you so desperately cling to your delusions. The pain you blame on me is just the pain of lies leaving your mind. Once the scalpel of my “tell it like it is” surgery on you is finished, you will be rid of the tumour of your stupidity. And so on.
Of course, there is a kernel of truth in these justifications. Tough love is a real thing. I’m a professor who must grade papers, fair and foul. A parent confiscating a teen’s phone will hear the wail of “you never loved me!” And the truth does hurt sometimes. I’ve had to hear it, for my own good.
So how can we know when these phrases have become excuses for just being mean? I suggest that genuine love always seeks to achieve loving. Love angles this way and that, seeking to be known and felt as love, even in a difficult conversation. I may say I intended my words as love, but intent alone does not make love. A good question to ask
Love is like feeding the poor: I am not a feeder of the poor unless the poor are eating and being filled. We can all think of exceptions to this, but love is like that: if I truly love, the other person will feel beloved.
others around me is, “Did I come across as loving?”
Loving is like leadership: I am not a leader if people don’t respond and follow. Love is like teaching: I am not a teacher if no one is learning. Love is like feeding the poor: I am not a feeder of the poor unless the poor are eating and being filled. We can all think of exceptions to this, but love is like that: if I truly love, the other person will feel beloved
God is love. But for God, love had to be the achievement of loving. God was not content to only declare that he loved us and then hope we took it well. No, his love demanded he do everything possible to convince hardened sinners that they are beloved. God living among us even to his death on the cross is God seeking to be understood as loving (1 John 4:9). God embraced
even the cross to achieve loving, so that we would respond as people loved. And so, before using those old excuses, ask yourself: Do I come across as loving? Are people around me responding like beloved people? When I speak with those who might be my opponents across the aisle, do they seem to warm up to me and come alive in our conversation? Do they tell others that despite our disagreement, they feel respected and honoured by me? Is any reconciliation in fact happening through my conversations? When I have talked to someone, do I sense an emotional connection between us now? Would they? Are misunderstandings really being clarified and people truly being strengthened and encouraged?
Am I achieving love?
Layton Friesen is academic dean at Steinbach Bible College. He lives in Winnipeg, Man.
Inspiring faith • Mo Friesen
Inspiring prayer
MAYBE THIS HAS happened to you. You receive a group text that says, “I just received a bad diagnosis.” Immediately, the �� begin to flood the group. In a world that’s focused on social media thumbs ups, hearts and lol’s, these prayer emojis remind us that our concern has been heard by others and brought to the Father on our behalf. But is this the style of prayer that I want to inspire young people to follow? No—this prayer style creates an understanding of prayer that is focused on me rather than God; I want prayer for me, I want others to know that I pray for them, and I want God to answer only the way that I think God should answer.
The kind of prayer that I want to inspire in our next generation is an ongoing, two-way conversation with God about everything—prayer that invites transformation by Jesus, comfort, correction and insight from the
Holy Spirit and communion with the Holy Father as well as our immediate concerns for ourselves and others. So how do we inspire this prayer relationship?
1. Develop this type of prayer in your own life. Here are some simple changes that have helped me develop this kind of prayer in my life. I began praying in a conversational manner, like how I talk to others. This reminds me that prayer isn’t a magical incantation and helps me maintain authenticity. Praying aloud like this in the presence of others, especially the next generation, models prayer that is attainable and genuine rather than “correct.”
When someone asks for prayer, whether in person or in a group chat, I do my best to pray with them right there rather than promising to pray later. And I often say, “When the Holy Spirit brings you to mind, I will pray for
RESO URCE COR NER
The
Praying Youth Ministry by Mike
Higgs
“This book gives youth leaders some insight into how to foster prayer and communication with God in youth ministry. While it may approach the conversation from a slightly more charismatic faith perspective, it is a timely reminder of the importance of prioritizing a dynamic relation with God.”
you.” This helps me remember that the Holy Spirit continually nudges me, and when someone is brought to mind, it’s for a purpose. This approach has helped me shift my perception of prayer from a transactional relationship with God to a genuine and authentic connection.
2. Adjust the focus of our youth ministry.
Keithan Schwahn, in his chapter in The Praying Youth Ministry by Mike Higgs, writes, “In the Hebrew Scriptures, the role of the priests was to ‘minister to God’ (Deut. 10:8). Yet most of our responsibilities as
Friesen is EMC’s Director of Next Generation.
youth pastors is to ‘minister to students.’ … What if our primary focus was on Him, and then on creating a family of young people similarly obsessed with hosting the living presence of God?” Schwahn continues, “We found focusing on meeting with God, instead of simply talking about Him and about our issues, created an environment where students were being transformed.”
This perspective invites students to participate in the adventure of following God’s leading and living with the question, “What is God going to do next?”
Let prayer be an ongoing conversation with God, invite the next generation into that conversation with you, and give them the opportunity to see God transforming lives around them.
Mo