The Messenger November 2020

The Messenger a publication of the

Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Volume 58 No. 6 November 2020

When Christians Refuse to Die ALSO INSIDE: A Time to Laugh and a Time to Speak page 10

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Earthly Disruptions or God–Given Opportunities page 14

page 6

Editorial

COVID-19, Contagion, and Christ

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e soon approach the season of Advent. And lives. Andrew Unger encourages us to consider humour as what an Advent season it will be. In recent an important part of our Christian witness. Arlin Scharfenhistory, there may never have been a more berg speaks of the opportunities he’s found to share Christ poignant sense that we are in waiting. Waiting for life to even in the midst of the restrictions of COVID-19. return to normal. Waiting to be able to freely socialize with Beyond that, Kevin Wiebe urges us towards a more one another. Waiting to sing in worship services without compassionate understanding of the “other” to push us the hindrance of masks. Waiting for an end to anxiety— away from polarization. Jen Kornelsen highlights the that we may unknowingly spread disease to our friends, upcoming theology conference where leaders will discuss a family or neighbours. Or, anxiety over getting ill ourselves Christ-centred view of human sexuality. or loss of income. All around the world, we are wondering: Tim Dyck encourages us to reconsider consumerism when will it be over? and give of ourselves on #GivingTuesday and beyond. LayAt the time of this writing, over 48 million people have ton Friesen invites us to walk in freedom as fully forgiven, had a confirmed case of COVID-19. Of those, more than defeated warriors. Our churches, missionaries, and affiliate 1.2 million have died. These are heartrending statistics. organizations share how they are acting as Christ’s hands In my home province of Manitoba, we recently moved and feet to minister amidst the turmoil of our world. to Code Orange. This means increased restrictions: One of my current favourite worship songs is King of mainly, mask-wearing in all public places and gathering Kings by Hillsong. The lyrics that bring me to tears every sizes reduced to five people. Since October 18, we haven’t time are, “And the church of Christ was born / Then the had a day go by without a death due to COVID-19. This is Spirit lit the flame / Now this gospel truth of old / Shall not deeply saddening. kneel, shall not faint.” For me, it is a reminder that Christ This past Sunday evening, I was playing dominoes with has established his church, and Christ will ensure she conmy oldest daughter. We were having fun setting up rows of tinues until he comes again. dominoes. Give a nudge to the one on the end, and watch As you read, mourn, laugh, repent, celebrate, and wait them all topple. It struck me at the time that the spread of this Advent season, may you also discover hope and courthis infectious disease is like that row of dominoes. One age as we work together in the world on behalf of the One person spreads it to another, who spreads it to the next perwho empowers us. son, and so on. And, in this case, it is more like one person “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and spreads it to at least two people, who in turn each spread to strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also two people…and we end up with an explosion in cases. members of his household, built on the foundation of the Later, as I reflected on the predicament we are curapostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the rently in, I wondered, What if, as Christians, we were as chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined contagious as COVID-19? I will readily admit that outspotogether and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord” ken confession of Christ hasn’t exactly been a hallmark of (Ephesians 2:19–21). my life. Part of the reason for this is that, sometimes, I’ve – Rebecca Roman felt there are parts of my faith that are tough to reconcile. Questions that don’t have apparent answers. Another part is, admittedly, Note on discussion within The Messenger the sense that it is someone else’s Every community will have a diverexperiences of people in our lives. responsibility. It is this part of myself sity of views and opinions, which These discussions should also reflect that is in need of further transformaprovides opportunities for us to the reality that some groups and tion through Christ. Perhaps some of learn from each other, being quick individuals have not always felt the challenges in this issue can inspire to listen, slow to speak and slow to welcome in Christian communius all. become angry (James 1:19).

Our ties. We welcome your responses to In this issue, Garry Koop invites us discussions are inevitably impacted articles and topics discussed in The to live a life committed to peace, even by our own experiences, and the Messenger. to the point of laying down our own – Board of Church Ministries

2 The Messenger • November 2020

Table of Contents Features

Columns

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5

When Christians Refuse to Die: Ode to a Life of Peace – Garry B. Koop

10 A Time to Laugh and a Time to Speak: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – Andrew Unger

14 Earthly Disruptions or GodGiven Opportunities – Arlin L. Scharfenberg

Departments 2 4 18 22 25 31 33

Editorial Letters and Notices With our Missionaries With our Churches News In Memory Shoulder Tapping

A Reader’s Viewpoint

Talking About Homosexuality: Reversing the Flow of Purity – Jen Kornelsen Giving Tuesday–An Idea Worth Considering?

– Tim Dyck

17 Further In and Higher Up Be Forgiven, You Vanquished, Conquered Warrior – Layton Friesen

20 Writings Shared

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– Kimberly Muehling

21 A Path to Peace Either/Or – Kevin Wiebe

34 His Light to My Path

A Lesson From the Peanut Butter Jar – Karla Hein A Generosity Mindset – Darren Pries-Klassen

18

22

16 Focus On

35 Stewardship Today

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36 Kids’ Corner

The Star of Bethlehem – Loreena Thiessen

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 3

The Messenger

Letters and Notices

Volume 58 No. 5 September 2020

‘Privilege’ Tells Too Small a Story

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 INTERM EDITOR activities in the denomination, REBECCA ROMAN instruct in godliness and victorroman@emconference.ca rious 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 1 year print subscription $20 ($26 U.S.) Manitoba residents add 7% PST. Single print copy price: $2

The article, “Examining My Privilege,” asks the question, “How do we love our neighbours—all our neighbours— in a way that elevates their dignity as image-bearers of God? Great question.

The answer given is that we are to look to Jesus’ example and treat all people with dignity, listen to others, stand with marginalized people and declare God’s love for all people. Fantastic; I hope we can all get on board with that.

What I found concerning is how we got from the question to the answer. We are told that society is divided into a variety of identity groups (based on age, gender, religion, etc.) and that based on these groups people are either privileged or oppressed. While this may be partially true, it is far too black and white. It is too simplistic an answer.

Let’s use the example of an 18-year-old. While turning 18 brings with it many unearned advantages it also brings with it many

responsibilities and challenges.

Just the other day my daughter was bemoaning the difficulties of being an adult. So, to say that an 18-year-old is privileged is true, but it tells too small a story.

When we categorize people like this, we end up doing the very thing that we are trying to avoid. We don’t see the person in their complexity. We don’t see an individual created in the image of God. We see a stereotype, a caricature.

The biggest problem is where this line of thought leads. Critical theory looks at the world this same way and pronounces guilt on those in the privileged/oppressor identity groups and virtue on those in the oppressed/ victim groups. This is clearly not a biblical worldview.

We have all been blessed by God. Let us thank him for our blessings and then put those blessings to work in our care for others and service to Christ’s church.

– Nathan Plett Landmark, Man.

Print subscriptions are free of charge to all members and adherents of EMC churches in Canada.

The Messenger is available for free to all online at www.emcmessenger.ca. If you wish to sign up for our email newsletter please 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 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.

4 The Messenger • November 2020

Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Year to Date Financial Report January – October 2020

Income* Expenses Excess/Shortfall

General Fund 2020 1,489,254 1,310,747 178,507

General Fund 2019 1,334,734 1,535,666 -200,932

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.

- The Board of Trustees *Income includes donations and transfers from other funds (e.g., estate funds).

Column • A Reader’s Viewpoint

Talking About Homosexuality: Reversing the Flow of Purity

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MC church leaders will gather November 26–27 to explore theological questions about same-sex attraction and our pastoral responses.

EMCers might ask, isn’t this a dangerous discussion? Fear not—we are people of the new covenant, which completely reverses the original covenant. Under the old covenant, impurity threatened the people of God. Now, through Christ, the people of God have become a threat to all that is impure.

God-fearing Jews living in Jesus’ time spent much time and energy separating themselves from anything and anyone unclean. It was important that they abide by clearly defined rituals, prayers, sacrifices, and cleansing practices.

They had segregated neighbourhoods, veils, walls, festivals, and schedules. Devout Jews were preoccupied with fulfilling the Old Testament purity laws; anything impure was a major threat to God’s people.

When Jesus entered the scene, the religious leaders were angered. Jesus fellowshipped, debated, healed, worshipped, blessed, forgave, touched, kissed, travelled and ate with the unclean. He was regularly criticized for his total disregard of the stringent purity laws of Jewish society. Jesus showed us a reversal of purity: he purified what was considered unclean.

When Jesus touched the leper, Jesus did not become unclean as expected; rather, the leper was declared clean (Mathew 8:1–3). The same thing took place in the case of the hemorrhaging woman (Matthew 9:20) and the dead girl (Matthew 9:23–26). Everything Jesus touched had the reverse effect of pollution—purification.

The Apostle Paul affirmed this total reversal when he said that a believing spouse would sanctify—make pure—the unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:14). This was in total contradiction of the Hebrew law that forbade intermarriage with foreigners because foreign spouses would sully the purity of God’s people.

In the New Testament, believers don’t need

to cleanse or purify themselves to enter God’s presence. They are purified upon encountering the living Christ.

A faith rooted in Jesus need not fear or feel threatened by external influences. Rather, faith rooted in Christ threatens and challenges all opposing ideologies and philosophies. The Message says it well: “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity” (2 Corinthians 10:4–6).

Jesus healed and restored all, without concern for his own defilement or reputation. His way is the way of embrace. We know we are not at risk when we care for all people.

The conference is open to leaders and spouses in EMC churches. There are options for in-person and virtual attendance. Registration is online at www.emconference.ca/ theology-conference.

by Jen Kornelsen

A faith rooted in Jesus need not fear or feel threatened by external influences.

Jen Kornelsen lives in downtown Winnipeg with her husband Dallas and their Desire two daughters.

Pastoring, Same Sex Attraction & The Church She belongs to the Many Rooms Church Community. Jen is part of the committee planning the November theology conference Desire: Pastoring, An EMC Ministerial Theology Conference Same-Sex Blumenort Community Church Attraction and Thursday November 26 - Friday November 27, 2020 the Church.

Faithful, Gracious & Informed in the church & in the world

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 5

When Christians Refuse to Die Ode to a Life of Peace ISTOCK

by Garry B. Koop

The shrapnel-scarred Martyrs Square statue in Beirut, Lebanon 6 The Messenger • November 2020

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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

ome Christians are willing to die rather than kill. Regrettably too many are not. When Christians refuse to die, wars break out and Christians participate, if they have not started them to begin with. When Christians refuse to die they will do essentially anything, say anything, or think up anything to stay alive. Violence, coercion, manipulation? You bet!

When Christians refuse to die, they cease to live in or like Christ Jesus.

A commuter in a big city was on his way home from work. The taxi he was in stopped behind several cars at a red light. He glanced to the right and saw a circle of boys kicking and beating someone crouched helpless on the grass. It was clear in an instant how serious it was (to the death he thought). Someone has to do something.

The life of peace assumes conflict as an existential reality. It is interpreted in at least four erroneous ways.

First, it has been reduced to a moral conviction. It has been relegated to the back office, where it sits in the archives only relevant as a response to war or the largely hypothetical scenario where someone breaks into your house. As such it is summarily rejected as irrelevant.

Second, pacifism is conflated with passivism which turns into “do nothing.” Do not get involved.

Third is smoothing. Make every attempt to smooth over conflicts. This often turns into some form of passive-aggressive behavior, a virus which infects our social DNA. Fourth is avoidance. Avoid conflict at any cost, which typically manifests as not talking. It comes to the point where we are no longer capable of dialogue when there is disagreement or conflict. These interpretations are a travesty.

The life of peace assumes conflict as an existential reality. It is interpreted in at least four erroneous ways.

Traditional Context

The Life of Peace doctrine is a top priority in our Conference tradition. Our Conference has redefined and fine-tuned it over the decades. It has received a name change and, further, it has been elevated in visibility and importance, moving from the back pages of our Constitution to the main stage in our Statement of Faith.

The first English catechism our Conference published for baptizands in 1954 talked about “non-resistance and suffering.” “Non-resistance” was placed in the category of Special Ordinances in the 1957 Conference Constitution. In 1973 the belief and articulation of non-resistance moved to the Church Practices section of our Conference Constitution. The doctrine received substantial overhaul in the ensuing years, and in 1994 made its debut in our Conference Statement of Faith, under a new title: Article #9 Life of Peace.

I had the opportunity to examine the vast majority of printed materials from our Conference as part of a special project I undertook over the last year. “Live it” is traditionally the first emphasis when it comes to matters of the gospel. The second is that Jesus is Lord; he is the centre of the biblical message. Close to this, essentially tied in occurrence and emphasis, is the focus on peace.

Peace is highlighted in our history, in the church and recalled in various actions. Peace was elevated in prominence and sharpened in focus as it moved from a Church Practice to

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doctrine in the Statement of Faith. This progression also reflected a move from a negative (being against) to a positive (what we are for).

The life of peace is theological conviction expressed in context. As our context changed over time, the definition of a life of peace gained focus and fullness.

Theological Context

God has a mission (Missio Dei). His objective is peace, shalom. God’s mission in the world is to bring about peace and reconciliation between him and his creation, and amongst creation; peace in the future (eschatology) and peace in the present. “Creation in Genesis and by Jesus (see Colossians 1:17) is the establishment of shalom in a universe that apart from God’s rule is disordered, unproductive, and unfulfilling,” posits Walter Brueggemann, renowned Old Testament scholar (Peace, p. 16) The clear and vivid expression both of God’s mission and the means of achieving it, are revealed in the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and eventual return of Jesus Christ. Incarnation, soteriology (doctrine of salvation), atonement, eschatology—these are the theological notes that are part of the music that is the life of peace. “The eschatological reality of peace has broken into the present through God’s gifts of the Son and the Spirit,” writes Michael Gorman, one of my past professors (Becoming the Gospel: Paul,

Participation, and Mission, pp. 147, 153).

Christ Jesus is central to our Anabaptist hermeneutical framework. The cross of Christ is a vivid and tangible reference for the life of peace doctrine. The cross is the means by which the Missio Dei is accomplished through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus first breaks the news to his disciples of his death and resurrection in Luke 9:23, he raises a challenge of allegiance. To express one’s unqualified loyalty to Jesus is at the same time to deny one’s self, that much is clear. But there is more: to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus’ ways and life.

The “cross” is metaphorical to be sure, but it is as real a directive as any other. Jesus’ cross was real.

Jesus challenges people to demonstrate their allegiance. Jesus was faithful to God, his mission, his covenant to Abraham. Jesus’ unswerving faithfulness got him killed. He gave up his life to establish and offer peace. They thought he was dead, but the Holy Spirit raised him to life, the kind of life which cannot be put to an end.

Indeed, that is the promise given to anyone who accepts and follows Jesus as Lord. This promise is sealed in us by the Holy Spirit, no less—the One who raised Jesus to life.

The clear and vivid expression A Daring Proposal both of God’s mission and The life of peace is first and foremost a theological conthe means of achieving it, are viction. We have trouble playing this song if we have revealed in the life, death, burial, not learned the musical rudiments of the theology. This is resurrection, ascension and a good reason to learn, study, ask questions and dig into eventual return of Jesus Christ. theology.

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If God’s mission is to restore peace and, if the cross is the means he has deemed to accomplish it, then the cross of Christ informs and forms our life of peace. The cross certainly has to do with war and break-ins, but first and foremost it has cosmic implications.

The incarnation of God in Christ and the cross are supremely active and involved. There is no avoidance or smoothing of any kind. This cross of Christ (the life of peace) is a stumbling block for many to be sure. It is foolishness to some, outlandish, outrageous.

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Followers of Jesus, is the cross of Christ the one you see and carry? Then be creative, be assertive. Lean in the direction of peace. Attend to the Holy Spirit already present wherever you are. Extend and amplify the mission and the means of God, the character and conduct of Jesus.

Be daring. Take risks. Break up the fight.

Address the issues. Select the appropriate time and place and have that much-needed conversation. Seek to understand, not argue to be right. Make mistakes. Go ahead. But make them because you live a life of peace not because you refuse to die. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Shalom.

Postscript

Oh, about that crazy commuter. He took three or four strides out of the idling cab, door ajar, shouting “hey, hey, hey!” all-the-while (he must have left his senses with his seat inside the cab).

The gang stopped kicking. They all turned to

him. He caught their attention. Clearly. The boy in the middle made it to his feet and stumbled off, wounded but desperate to survive. In mere seconds the gang started running toward the interrupting commuter. It seemed he was the next target for this gang.

At that moment he came to his senses and the sense of personal danger. He pivoted on the grass in the direction of the cab. It’s still there. Phew!

I don’t remember the run back to it, or even getting inside. I just remember sitting in the back seat, door closed, shouting again—this time at the man aghast in the front seat—“Drive, drive, drive!” And so he did.

Garry Koop (MDiv, Tyndale; DMin, Northern) is a follower of Jesus, husband, dad, lead pastor at Steinbach EMC, runner, hockey player and jazz fan. He enjoys a good laugh and a strong cup of coffee.

Together we’re celebrating 100 years of relief, development and peace in the name of Christ.

Thank you for your support of MCC. Join the centennial celebrations! mcccanada.ca/centennial

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 9

Church with 250 Members Splits into 250 Churches (Originally published in The Daily Bonnet. Used with permission) LANCASTER, PA

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fter a particularly heated membership meeting this past week, the South Lancaster Mennonite Church has decided to split the entire congregation into more manageable units of one.

“At first we decided to just split into two groups: those in favour of buttons on their shirts and those who preferred hooks,” explained Johan Landes, former South Lancaster elder and recently appointed pastor of Johan Landes Memorial Church. “But then the button-users started talking amongst themselves and found they had differences of opinion on baptismal water temperature. Those wanting hot and those wanting cold split into their own groups. So then we had pro-button pro-cold, pro-button anti-cold, anti-button pro-cold and anti-button anti-cold groups. I figured it was settled, but upon further discussion, the groups realized they couldn’t agree on whether to sing five or six hymns each Sunday, and so there was an anti-button anti-cold pro-five group and an antibutton anti-cold pro-six group, and a pro-button anti-cold pro-five group and…well, you get the idea. The groups just kept getting tinier and tinier. Eventually we all decided to each form our

10 The Messenger • November 2020

own churches…but there was some opposition to this idea, too.”

The once thriving South Lancaster Church is now 250 (253 to be precise) individual churches, although the division has still not stopped.

“This whole starting-your-own-church thing has got me studying theology,” explained Landes.

“And now I keep changing church doctrine every day. I don’t even agree with myself anymore!”

Johan Landes says he has excommunicated his past-self for differences on clerical celibacy, but is concerned that a future version of himself might also disagree.

“Who knows what I might believe this Friday afternoon,” explained Johan Landes. “I always get a little too liberal when the weekend is approaching. Being my own pastor is a lot harder than I thought. You get so much criticism from all sides and it’s almost impossible to get the people to agree.”

Pastor Johan is arranging an ecumenical reconciliation service between his various selves for Sunday morning…although he can’t figure out whether they should use real wine or just Welch’s grape juice.

Mennonite Woman Feels Really Guilty for Not Feeling Guilty Enough (Originally published in The Daily Bonnet. Used with permission) STEINBACH, MB

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ays after a pleasant holiday season in which she was a gracious and generous host, a local woman reports feeling “just really awful” about the fact that she felt really good about herself.

“I was lying awake all night worried about the fact I couldn’t think of a single thing to feel guilty about,” said Mrs. Helen J. Braun. “I can’t remember the last time I had a clear conscience like this…and it really bothered me.”

Braun says she racked her brain trying to think of something she’d done wrong, whether it was a greedy thought, an impolite word, or a misplaced pickle, and couldn’t think of anything at all.

“I liked it a lot better when I was sinning on occasion,” said Braun. “Then at least I could find

the source of my guilt. But this is driving me nuts. I just don’t know what to do.”

Braun reports telling her pastor about the problem who informed her that this guilt was a natural consequence of her Mennonite upbringing…and was nothing to feel guilty about.

••

A Time to Laugh and a Time to Speak: Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

by Andrew Unger

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n this most famous passage of Ecclesiastes, Solomon (or was it The Byrds?) tells us “there is a time for everything.” There is a time, he says, to weep, to search, to scatter stones, to dance even (although not in our churches, apparently), and even a time to laugh.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if we have abandoned the laughter as eagerly as we seem to have left out the dancing.

Given a certain lens, this passage in Ecclesiastes could be read as if Solomon is presenting dichotomies—situations that never cross

paths—as if the time to weep and the time to laugh cannot ever coincide, as if times of speaking and staying silent are fixed rather than fluid.

I think this reading of the passage is unfortunate, but common, especially when it comes to humour. We tend to think of the time to weep and the time to laugh as very far apart. We often put humour in its own tightly constricted box in terms of context and content. People will say things like “now is not the time” or “that isn’t funny” or “too soon.”

And in these dark times we’re living in? Now,

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certainly, isn’t the time to laugh, some might say.

Others argue that it is precisely in dark times that we need humour the most. These are arguments everyone has, but I think that we have too often placed humour in a particularly restrictive box.

In fact, those growing up in conservative homes might wonder when exactly the “time to laugh” would ever come. If the Scriptures acknowledge that laughter has its place, why were our ancestors (or mine, anyway) so strict on this matter?

In her 1989 article on humour in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia, Mennonite Brethren writer Katie Funk Wiebe paints a pretty bleak picture of Mennonite humour.

“Unseemly light-hearted behavior,” she says, “was often summed up in the word ‘levity.’ In addition, the Mennonites were concerned that houses of prayer and worship not be turned into houses of entertainment and mirth through humorous allusions and stories” (Wiebe, “Humor”, GAMEO, 1989). The restrictions were so severe, Wiebe says, that true stories were preferred to fiction.

And, of course, satire fares no better, according to Wiebe. “Satire as a comment on the human condition has not been used successfully

in Mennonite periodicals,” she notes, “even if clearly labeled satire, indicating that the point of view expressed is likely to be the opposite of what is expressed.”

This restriction on humour has not been confined to our churches, but has reached into our homes. In one of my own family history books, I read about a great-aunt who believed laughter to be, quite literally, a temptation of the devil. In her home, laughter and lightheartedness were considered frivolous, and my great-aunt was confused to see, one evening, her father and brothers laughing together. It makes me sad to think of my great-aunt, who wanted so much to be able to relax and laugh, thinking of these desires as sinful.

No doubt things have changed since Wiebe wrote her article or since my great-aunt viewed laughter as a temptation of Satan. However, whether in church or at home, we are, at times, rather skittish when it comes to humour. I wonder about the origin of this uneasiness. I think our history of living through dark times has shaped our view of humour. We tend to be very careful in delineating the line between the sacred and profane. But then I also wonder (and

No doubt things have changed since Wiebe wrote her article or since my great-aunt viewed laughter as a temptation of Satan.

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this is pure speculation) whether my ancestors may have thought of humour as a weapon. I doubt this was ever articulated in these words, but I do wonder whether comedy was abandoned along with the sword.

Perhaps there was an unconscious understanding that a commitment to humourlessness went hand-in-hand with a commitment to non-violence.

It certainly is true that humour can be used as a weapon. In his critique of American satire website Babylon Bee, Jonathan Hollingsworth notes that “Christian satire continues to miss the mark because it fails to do the work of good satire, which at its heart, fittingly enough, is a prophetic art. The Biblical prophets found their witness not in mocking the vulnerable, but in challenging the powerful” (Hollingsworth, Medium.com, 2016).

Here I think not only of the Biblical prophets, but also the way in which Jesus Christ used allegory, if not satire, in his critique of the powerful.

I am also reminded of the great Jonathan Swift, an Anglican clergyman who used satire to point out flaws in the 18th-century Irish upper class.

(He even has a brilliantly biting satirical sermon about falling asleep during sermons, which is worth a read). “Satire that punches down, rather than up,” Hollingsworth says, “is not only ignorant—it’s oppressive.”

This analogy, that of punching, is a helpful one. When humour is used to attack the vulnerable it certainly can be considered a form of violence; this is the weaponization of humour.

If this is how humour was being used, perhaps my predecessors were correct to find it problematic. On the other hand, this view of humour seems to ignore its other roles, because humour can also be there when we need a time to embrace or to heal or to speak. In fact, humour that “punches up,” like that of Jonathan Swift, often speaks more powerfully than any literal commentary.

There is also a third direction the punches can be thrown. I call it “punching sideways.”

Self-deprecating humour. I think a lot of the humour on The Daily Bonnet would fall into that category. I’m writing about my own cultural and religious background and, in some cases, I’m quite literally writing about myself.

Just recently someone on Twitter commented: “I’m beginning to think The Daily Bonnet is just like your journal.” I suppose that’s true—at least some of the time.

We need to be reminded that there is a “time to laugh” and that this time need not come so infrequently. Let’s also remember, though, that humour is about a lot more than just laughter.

If we are using humour to punch up (or sideways)—if we’re using humour to embrace and heal and speak—maybe the box that we place it in need not be quite so constrictive.

Andrew Unger (BA, BEd, University of Manitoba) is the author of the satire website The Daily Bonnet and the novel Once Removed (2020, Turnstone Press). He is a writer and educator who lives in Steinbach, Man., with his wife Erin. They attend Grace Mennonite Church. This article was originally published in Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology 21.1 (Fall 2020).

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Earthly Disruptions or God-Given Opportunities

by Arlin L. Scharfenberg

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n the September 2020 issue of The Messenger, Dr. Layton Friesen describes disruptions that COVID-19 has had on our traditions, especially in our churches. Many of the events that we as believers enjoyed in our places of worship have ceased or dramatically changed.

Disruptions of our regular daily routines are inconvenient and often uncomfortable. After 20 years of teaching in the same high school classroom, delivering many of the same courses for over a decade, I was comfortable with my craft. I had mastered many teaching techniques that fit well with my personality and philosophy of education. For those strategies or academic concepts which needed attention, I participated in professional development and learning communities. This resulted in minor and incremental adjustments to my skills and knowledge.

And then came March 13, 2020. Everything changed when the Education Minister announced that school would be suspended

indefinitely. I converted my classroom into a video recording studio, and went from teaching face-to-face to recording lesson content, video-editing programs, and hosting Google Meet sessions. Students were as confused with the technology as they were with the sudden disruption to their education. There was little semblance to the last decade of educational experience.

One of my business professors began every class with the question, “what did you do differently today?”

I became rather irritated with this constant push to try new things so I could earn my participation marks. However, as the reality of this radically different education model took effect, I asked myself through prayer, “what can I do differently today that will make a difference?”

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (NLT).

And “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For example, we don’t know what God wants us

“Have the traditions and customs of our lives become our idols, blinding us from seeing the opportunities and blessings that the Lord has for us in this time?”

14 The Messenger • November 2020

In contrast, Caleb and Joshua recognize the risks but state unequivocally, “the Lord is with us.”

Are we letting the disruptions of the coronavirus paralyze us with fear? Do we, like the ten spies, wish we were back in the days before COVID-19? Have the traditions and customs of our lives become our idols, blinding us from seeing the opportunities and blessings that the Lord has for us in this time?

A non-church going friend and colleague suffered a cardiac arrest last January and was revived by paramedics. For over a month, he could not speak or walk due to the time his brain was without oxygen. On one of my visits, with great effort and time, he described to me his encounter with God as he lay on the floor. When COVID made it impossible for me to visit him, the Lord nudged me to send him the links to our church services, a COVID adaptation. To my surprise, he would call on Sunday evenings and we would discuss the message and how it related to his new faith.

This generation of youth desire relationship; this is thrilling. Churches are finding innovative ways of delivering a message of hope. I wonder, what is Jesus desiring of us during this time? May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and hearts in each of our areas of ministry!

Arlin Scharfenberg (MBA, PBDE, BEd, University of Manitoba; BRS, Steinbach Bible College) is a high school teacher at Rosenort School (Man.) and attends Rosenort EMC.

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to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:26–28 NLT).

I began using my conversations with students to ask deeper questions. They easily described how the restrictions were affecting them, expressing their desire to learn in the company of their friends. As experts tried to shift our terminology from “social distancing” to “physical distancing,” the problem was that physical distancing meant social distancing for the students, a real hindrance to their relationships. This is a matter for continued prayer!

Having begun our new school year, I wondered how students would respond to the new rules regarding distancing, masks, online and face-to-face classes, and cancellation of extracurricular programs. I suspected our youth would react with skepticism, as they do to many other school policies. To my surprise, the desire to be with their classmates was so strong that they willingly made the necessary adjustments with minimal complaining; relationships are worth the discomforts of regulations.

In Numbers 13 and 14 we read the account of Moses sending out twelve spies into Canaan.

Upon return, ten of the spies are apprehensive to the point of resistance. Anxiety and fear gripped the spies, and they longed to be back in Egypt.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 15

Column • Focus On

Giving Tuesday—An Idea Worth Considering?

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At EMC, we want to encourage everyone to participate in Giving Tuesday in some way.

16 The Messenger • November 2020

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Tim Dyck Executive Director

don’t know about you, but I’m the kind of person who avoids shopping on Black Friday if at all possible. Competing with myriad shoppers to save a few dollars on Christmas toys just isn’t my idea of a good time.

On the other hand, there’s a certain appeal to Cyber Monday.

Finding great deals online and having them delivered without even having to put on my jacket—now, that’s got my attention! What both of these special days have in common— besides the fact that they follow immediately after American Thanksgiving—is that they are focused on feeding our need to shop. After all, consumerism fuels our economy.

Giving Tuesday follows immediately after Cyber Monday, and in some ways, it is a response to the consumerism of the Friday and Monday prior.

In short, Giving Tuesday is not about shopping, but about giving. Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering (www. givingtuesday.ca).

Giving takes many forms. It can involve giving of your time and energy to volunteer with a local church or community charity. You could give gifts of money to your church or another charity of your choice. Even sharing acts of kindness is a form of giving. Our hope is that you will see the value of giving in your church, your community, and to the ministries of the EMC. In the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday (December 1, 2020), EMC will be sending out reminders about the day through social media (and in The Messenger—you’re reading it right now!). What are the ways that individuals can give? Stay tuned for stories of the ministry that is happening among the EMC and the impact that a gift of time or funds can make.

But giving is much more than just a way for us to ease our consciences and feel better after two days of gorging ourselves on hyped-up

consumer spending. Giving is central to the teaching of Scripture and our understanding of how we function as part of the body of Christ.

We were made to give; to serve others rather than taking for ourselves. As followers of Jesus, we want to follow his example and empty ourselves for the sake of others (Philippians 2).

While Giving Tuesday is a secular idea, it is a great reminder for believers of how we should live every day of our lives.

At EMC, we want to encourage everyone to participate in Giving Tuesday in some way.

To make sure that you get the information, follow EMC on one of our social media platforms: Facebook: /emconference, Twitter: @ em_conference, and Instagram: em_conference.

To learn more, visit www.emconference.ca/ GivingTuesday.

After fighting the crowds on Black Friday, and shopping online on Cyber Monday, you’re going to love giving of your time, talents and resources on Giving Tuesday. After all, the apostle Paul reminded us that Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Column • Further In and Higher Up

Be Forgiven, You Vanquished, Conquered Warrior

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whole world.” It’s the whole stinking mess across history that Jesus paid for. My sins are my contribution to this daunting ancient debt.

But a fuller answer comes when we see the cross not only as economic transaction (he paid our penalty, Isaiah 40:2) but also as a cosmic battle (Colossians 2:15 for example). On the cross and in the resurrection Christ defeated sin, Satan, and hell. Since the serpent in the garden, this deadly alliance of forces have sought to overthrow God’s creation and hurl it into chaos.

Sin is not just individual little deeds like stealing candy, it’s a Satanic host swarming against the Lord of Hosts.

The big question for me is whose side am I on? Which kingdom has secured my allegiance?

My actions may be trivially sinful, but they are still flags I raise to show to whom I am allegiant.

They are my way of enlisting with the dark powers hurling themselves and all of creation into the abyss. That’s a pretty big deal.

Imagine a soldier who enlists to fight for Hitler and who only fights for ten minutes before getting injured and captured. This soldier could not say to his captors, “No fair! I did nothing to hurt you yet, and now you injured me and took me prisoner!” The issue is not what the soldier personally accomplished for Hitler; the issue is whose side the soldier had enlisted to support.

Our little sins are all the ways we enlist in the empire of sin that God has set his face against. The empire of sin is what Jesus battled and defeated on the cross. In that victory, we too have been defeated. But because this empire of sin was crushed by the utter self-giving love of God for his confused creatures, he now offers all who were defeated at the cross a new posting in his new Kingdom.

That incredible offer to me, this defeated, conquered warrior is forgiveness—and there is much to forgive.

by Layton Friesen Conference Pastor

My actions may be trivially sinful, but they are still flags I raise to show to whom I am allegiant.

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hat exactly is God’s problem with us?

When you look at our cure, you have to conclude we have a major sickness.

In the story of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21–35), the King, representing God, forgives the servant 10,000 talents of debt. A day-labourer, I am told, might pay that in 20 years, if he spent money on nothing else. Jesus is using exaggerated figures to make a point: God has given you a mind-blowing forgiveness, now go and forgive your fellow servant likewise.

But what could I have done that demands such a price? I know I’m not perfect, of course, but what incredible debt would demand that Jesus, the Son of God would die this gruesome crucifixion to pay for my sins?

One answer that is not entirely satisfying is to say that because God is so infinitely holy and exalted, even a tiny misstep, like stealing Skittles from a corner store, is infinitely repulsive to him.

So much so that it demands the whole crucifixion of Jesus, or else me paying for that one tiny deed in hell for eternity. That tends to make God look very holy but not very smart. Any three-year-old can see that some actions are worse than others, and some actions are barely bad at all.

We get more of an answer in 1 John 2:2 which says the cross is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 17

With Our Missionaries

Dictionary Work Preserves Siamou Language BURKINA FASO

SUBMITTED BY PAUL THIESSEN

Dictionary Day; I didn’t even know there was such a day!

I discovered it was October 16—the birthday of Noah Webster. Here’s my own dictionary story: When I started learning the Siamou language 36 years ago, I began by writing down a list of words that I was learning. I started out on paper, but eventually began a dictionary database on my computer to include new words I was discovering.

Every year we added new words and every year the dictionary grew. One day when I was out in the field near our house in Tin with Ibrahim, Paul Thiessen and Fatogoma work together in Ouagadougou. Paul was there for a visit a year ago.

I asked him for the names of all the plants growing out there. He told me the Siaare focusing on correcting the illustrative sentences. Each mou names for many plants and how they were useful for word has an illustrative sentence in Siamou with a translamedicinal purposes, making a grass roof, weaving baskets, tion of that sentence into French. cooking sauces, bundling into scrub pads, twisting into The illustrative sentence uses the key word so that rope...everything imaginable! it helps the reader to understand that word better.

A fascinating example: there is a plant called Fatogoma knows Siamou better than I do (since he is a bisháɛ́ŋ-fùr-tú-mɔ́n. The name means thing-with-whichnative speaker) and he knows French better than I do too you-wipe-a-child’s-bottom. Some years later, a botanist (because he has done his university studies in French). We came to Burkina Faso and helped me identify many of the read each sentence and check for spelling and grammar plants so that I could include their scientific Latin names errors in both languages. in my dictionary. The dictionary project is part of the bigDuring September and October we corrected 700 of ger Bible translation project Solo and I have been doing the 1,000 entries. Lexicography consultants with SIL are together. But Bible translation was of higher priority, so the helping us to prepare the dictionary for publication on dictionary work was a sideline. their Webonary website. The Siamou dictionary on this Now that we are settled in Manitoba, I’m doing most website is a work-in-progress and is not yet available to the of my work by computer, by Skype, online. I have a Siageneral public. Once all the corrections are done and the mou friend, Fatogoma, in the city of Ouagadougou who orthography has been revised, the Siamou dictionary will loves his Siamou language. A friend of our family since his be published. childhood days in the village of Tin, he is now a university One lexicography expert that I am especially thankful graduate. for is Pam Morris who taught a lexicography workshop in Since last August, Fatogoma and I have been doing Ouagadougou some years ago, giving Solo, Lillian and me Siamou dictionary corrections together, working reguadditional tools in dictionary making. larly from 10 a.m. to 12 noon weekdays (that’s 3–5 p.m. in In the complete computer database I have 4,346 entries.

Burkina Faso).

My dream is to go back to Orodara to organize a Rapid Right now we are trying to get a short version of the Work Collection Workshop in order to double the numdictionary corrected for publication—just 1,000 words. We ber of words in this dictionary. There is a newly developed 18 The Messenger • November 2020

With Our Missionaries word collection method that helps to find obscure and less used words to add to a dictionary.

After that I would like to edit, correct and publish an 8,000 word Siamou dictionary both as a paper book and as a computer accessible database. Such a dictionary will become available as an app on smartphones as well. Fatogoma and a few others already have this Siamou app on their smartphones (unfinished, rough draft, trial version).

The Siamou people have never yet had a dictionary for their language. This will be the first one. It is very exciting to be part of a project that provides a people group with its first dictionary.

Publishing a dictionary for a minority language group has the following benefits: (1) it raises the prestige of the language and culture; (2) it encourages the Screen shot of the Siamou dictionuse of the language; ary on Paul’s computer.

(3) it helps people learn the language—there are many Siamou people in Mali and Ivory Coast who don’t know their mother tongue well; (4) it encourages literacy; (5) it helps to prevent a language from becoming extinct or at least it slows down the process; (6) it documents and safeguards linguistic and cultural information that may be lost if the language eventually dies; (7) it helps Bible translators find the right word and the right spelling for each word.

So there you have it—a report of my Siamou Dictionary work—reported to you with my newly discovered awareness of Dictionary Day! – Paul Thiessen Paul Thiessen (Blumenort), currently living in Canada, has served in Burkina Faso, west Africa, for many years.

Paul Thiessen’s one and only printed working-copy of the Siamou dictionary.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 19

Column • Writings Shared Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces That Keep Us Apart, Christena Cleveland (InterVarsity Press, 2013). 220pp. $24.25 (paperback). ISBN 9780830844036. Reviewed by Kimberly Muehling (Fort Garry EMC), chair of the Board of Church Ministries .

by Kimberly Muehling

Cleveland is honest about the ways in which she has failed and how she has learned to live in disagreement with others in her faith community.

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n Disunity in Christ, social psychologist Christena Cleveland looks at the community of the church and examines the ways in which we tear each other apart. Cleveland tackles not only the difficulties within local church communities but also the challenges that churches from different denominations find when they try to work together.

This is not a feel-good book! These are hard things to hear, yet hear them we must. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:2–3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

And Jesus, after Judas has left the Passover supper table to betray him, says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35).

Cleveland is honest about the ways in which she has failed and how she has learned to live in disagreement with others in her faith community. She writes that she has come to see, and even cherish, the ways in which people she would have avoided in the past can teach her about who God is and how God is at work in the world.

Cleveland takes the reader on a journey through sociology to explain why we fall into destructive patterns. Why do we love being part of a team? Why is the “other” guy clearly less talented than my (humble) awesome self? Why does my brain work so very hard to tell me that I’m right all the time? This is a book that takes time to digest.

There is a way forward when we look to Christ and follow him. The church community flourishes when we base our identity on the One who gives us everything, and not on the things that we think give us value.

“We need to adopt the belief that to be a follower of Christ means to care deeply about and

20 The Messenger • November 2020

pursue other followers of Christ, including the ones that we don’t instinctively value or like…to be a follower of Christ means to allow our identity as members of the body of Christ to trump all other identities…to be a follower of Christ means to put our commitment to the body of Christ above our own identity and self-esteem needs” (97–98).

This book would be excellent to use in an adult Sunday School class or small group study.

The chapters are relatively short and engaging.

Each chapter ends with questions that would work well for individual reflection or group conversation.

Hard, but important, this book serves as a very understandable and useful explanation for why we do what we do, encouraging us all toward love and unity in Christ.

Column • A Path to Peace

Either/Or

“P

by Kevin Wiebe

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roblems can be solved, conflicts can be resolved, but polarization can only be managed.”

This phrase resonated with me as the instructor began her lecture about the nature of polarization. As she unpacked this sentence for the class, the wisdom in it became even more profound.

When something breaks in our church buildings we can rally a team of people to find a solution and fix it: problem solved. When conflict begins, many times a single conversation between two parties can deal with the friction: conflict resolved. When there is polarization, there is no quick and easy solution.

In every polarized situation you have people with remarkably different values, perspectives, and worldviews. Most of the time it isn’t wrong, it is just different—and not easily changed.

Someone with a love of freedom and a higher than average tolerance for risk will balk at government interventions of any sort, scared that these will lead to the curtailing of one’s ability to do as they please. Others with a love of stability and a lower than average tolerance for risk will gladly accept government regulations if it will mean more security. Neither perspective is wrong, they are just different.

Another example in our faith-based communities is our approach to helping those suffering from poverty. Some folks prefer the actions and donations of individuals, together with the work of charities. Others try to work with governments to improve the systems in which these individuals and organizations function. Once again, both are trying to help others, but have drastically different ways of going about it. Neither one is wrong; in fact, both are needed. But they are most certainly different.

When in a polarizing situation, the tricky part to addressing it is in finding which value(s)

are at opposing ends of the ideological spectrum. Often there are several at play all at the same time. Once they are identified, we can see the value and wisdom that those of the opposite end of the spectrum bring to the table. We can also begin to see the dangers of our own position.

We naturally see the value of our own positions and the weaknesses of the other side. But when situations become polarized we would all do well to observe the weaknesses of our own situation and the wisdom of our opponents.

In these kinds of situations, we should in fact have an either/or mindset, but not in the way you might think. Typically we see these situation as, “Either we get our way, or they get theirs.”

That is not the kind of thing we need. The truth, however, is that either we recognize the weaknesses and dangers of our own position, or we will likely fall prey to those weaknesses. Either we learn to see the wisdom of the other side, or we forfeit their help in preventing the dangers within our camp.

While we can’t—and shouldn’t—seek uniformity in all matters, what we can do is begin to manage our own hearts as we approach polarized situations and learn to not only understand, but also respect those on the opposite side of the spectrum. If we only succeed through the domination of those we oppose, then I’m not sure we have succeeded at all.

either we recognize the weaknesses and dangers of our own position, or we will likely fall prey to those weaknesses.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 21

With Our Churches Aberdeen EMC

Staying Safe and Getting Creative

AEMC

WINNIPEG, Man.—During this time of physical distancing and staying safe at home Aberdeen EMC has been creative in how we worship and connect with each other.

For several months we connected with weekly Zoom services on Sunday evenings. Everyone had a chance to share how they were doing and there was a special children’s feature. As is often the case, the children’s feature impacted the adults as much as the children.

Pastor Teresa Enns Zehr created a phone tag plan, pairing up congregants and asking that they contact their phone tag buddy each week. Every few weeks we were given new phone tag buddies, giving us a chance to intentionally connect with people we may not otherwise connect with outside of in-person church services.

For the children in our congregation we dropped off Easter baskets with some activities that families could do together. The sidewalk chalk was used to create beautiful artwork for everyone to enjoy. The colours and beauty were a helpful reminder of the beauty of God’s creation, especially in difficult times. The chocolate was appreciated and quickly eaten.

When it became safe to meet in person again we were fortunate to be able to gather in Ron and Ruth Penner’s backyard for outdoor services every second week, with Zoom meetings continuing on the alternating weeks.

We adjusted to the new normal of physical distancing outside, sanitizing the mic between speakers, and serving coffee in a safe way. It was good to see each other in person again!

Thank you to Ron and Ruth for welcoming us to your backyard.

Easter sidewalk chalk artwork

22 The Messenger • November 2020

Children’s story at the outdoor service

We are blessed by the ways that the children and youth in our congregation are part of our church services, sharing their gifts with us all. While our Sunday services may look different, our children continue to be an important part of our services.

We are thankful that the church is not contained in a physical building, and that we can continue to fellowship and worship together online and while physical distancing.

While there are many unknowns about what Sunday services will look like over the next many months, we rest in God’s goodness and faithfulness.

– Heidi Dirks

With Our Churches Stony Brook Fellowship

‘The EMC is the Best Conference in the History of the World!’

STEINBACH, Man.—Andrew Dyck, pastor at Stony Brook, responded to a few questions from Terry Smith.

Tell us about where you were raised, educated, and served prior to and while at SBF. I was raised in a loving Christian family, spending my early years in Landmark, Man. When I was 10 my family was sent as missionaries from Prairie Rose to join Wycliffe Bible Translators. We lived six years in Dallas, Texas, and moved to the Wycliffe Canada office in Calgary. In Alberta I graduated from high school and chose to attend Providence College and come back home to Manitoba. My time at Prov was extremely fruitful, netting me a BA and a future wife! I married Karen in 2007 and began my ministry in 2009 as a youth pastor at New Life Church in Stonewall, Man. In 2013 I moved to an associate pastor role until God called me to SBF in the fall of 2019.

Tell us about your family.

Karen and I have been married for 13 years. We are the proud parents of Elijah (8), Malachi (5), and Silas (2). Part of our journey was saying “goodbye” to our stillborn daughter Selah, who is very much a part of our family in our hearts.

What led you to serve here?

SBF

Since a mission trip to Peru in grade 12, I have believed God was working on me to eventually become a senior pastor. Once I met the church family at Stony Brook Fellowship, I became certain this was the time and place.

SBF has long valued people over programs, cultivating a church environment steeped in relationship. The church’s mission statement since its inception is to reach the underchurched and over-churched people of southern Manitoba, a vision that resonated with my philosophy of ministry.

To understand you as a pastoral couple, what do people need to know?

Karen and I operate as a team in ministry. She is a vital support to me personally as someone who listens well and offers godly perspective when I begin to feel overwhelmed. She vets many of my program ideas, sermon illustrations, and corny jokes before I unintentionally inflict them upon the congregation. I support Karen in her areas of gifting and service: she is an experienced worship leader, has a keen eye for graphic design, and establishes deep and meaningful relationships with others. It is important to know that as a couple, we are both ministering and supporting in our own ways.

What do you think of the EMC?

The EMC is the best conference in the history of the world.

Ever. Okay, because I am the son of the EMC’s Executive Director, you may need to take my answer with a grain of salt. The members are missional, connected, and willing to talk about hard things for the sake of true unity. While it may always seem a struggle for local churches to feel connected to the larger body, there is a lot of positive and ongoing communication and support given by the conference. So much of the work is done by volunteers on the many boards that continue to guide our group into the future. I look forward to continuing to help lead as part of the EMC and not solely as the pastor of SBF.

What else would you want to say?

My final word would be to acknowledge all the hard work done by my predecessor, Earl Unger. It has been a privilege to inherit such a healthy church, one that loves Jesus and loves each other. They are not perfect (don’t tell!), but they are committed to the core values of the church and have been long shepherded by a biblically minded and warm-hearted pastor. I only hope to continue to carry on this good work.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 23

With Our Churches Crestview Fellowship Church

Finding Gratituge in the Midst of Turmoil

CFC

WINNIPEG, Man.—Things I miss: • What I really miss is my favorite ice cream place that is shut down for the winter.

• I miss that people are not as connected as they used to be. People are more cautious, more timid, less care-free and interact less with each other.

• I miss whole-hearted singing in the pews.

It is just not the same behind a mask.

• I miss potluck. I never thought I would say that. I do not miss the meal itself: I like one kind of food at a time, not everything mixing together on my plate. But I miss seeing the interactions and visiting around the table.

• I miss not being able to plan, for next week, next month, next outreach event as the rules and guidelines change all the The Kargbo family (left to right): Thaduba, Fatmata, Methebeh time.

• I miss peace, as it seems there is an overall tension year and a half we are just at the completion of filing a and anxiety to life in these days of COVID-19. new humanitarian and compassion appeal to the federal All that said, I am continually grateful for the congrega- department of migration. Pray for God’s favor on the protion that gathers at Crestview Fellowship Church. We hung cess and our faithfulness as we continue to serve. on having services until we were shut down at the end of – Pastor Darrel Guenther March.

April, May and June saw us learning how to record a service and put it up on our web site.

Many gifts came to the surface at that time. I see the faithfulness of the congregation and their desire to grow JOIN US as individuals in their faith and or groups for a week serve. The stability or more to help others in need. Serve with a in troubled waters positive and Christ-like has been great to heart, using your trade see. skills or learning new skills on the job.

We are still hosting Fatmata Kargbo and her VOLUNTEER WITH MDS! boys here in the 800-241-8111 mds.mennonite.net Pastor Darrel Guenther church. After a 24 The Messenger • November 2020

News

Mennonites and Anabaptists Called to Join Groundbreaking Storytelling Project Mennonites and Anabaptists are being called upon to share their experiences of 2020 as part of a groundbreaking storytelling project.

Anabaptist History Today (aht. libraryhost.com) is the first largescale, collaborative digital project of its kind in the Anabaptist community, and includes 16 partner organizations from across North America. It relies on crowd-sourcing to detail peoples’ experiences of the remarkable historical, biological and social events of 2020.

“It recognizes that we’re living in some very unique times, and so how do we capture what’s going on in our communities?” said Conrad Stoesz, archivist at Mennonite Heritage Archives (MHA), one of three Canadian partners in the project.

While MHA’s focus, for the most part, has been to highlight what COVID-19 has brought and taken away from our communities, Stoesz notes their American partners have added material that centres more on the political and social events happening in that country.

Individuals, congregations, schools and organizations are invited to tell their stories of living during these changing times and can share their experiences through a variety of media, including videos, audio recordings, photos, journal entries, artwork, poetry and personal reflections.

The goal, according to Stoesz, is to give people a sense of what living through 2020 and 2021 was like by depicting what has changed, what’s different or stayed the same, how people are coping or taking care of each other or what cracks in the system they are observing.

“Even masks,” he added. “Masks are a big thing these days. Wouldn’t it be nice to upload some pictures of people wearing masks and the creative ways they are expressing themselves?”

Stoesz notes this project is a unique way to capture how the year is impacting a variety of people and gives the average person a voice. He says these contributions will be preserved for the future and will live on in the community archives.

– Written by Candace Derksen and Chris Sumner, PembinaValleyOnline.com

PHOTO CREDIT: MENNONITE HERITAGE ARCHIVES

Individuals, congregations, schools and organizations are invited to tell their stories of living during these changing times.

Stoesz says the digital archive will capture the stories happening in our communities during this “unique” time we are living in.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 25

News

Steinbach Bible College: ‘More than all we ask or imagine’ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Monday, March 9: I wake up in my hotel room and make my way down to the hotel dining room. I had just completed two weeks of intense ministry and student recruitment in Brazil. I enjoy a delicious Brazilian breakfast and a strong cup of coffee. (Yes, decaf coffee can be strong!) After a couple of hours I am driven to the Brasilia airport, fly to Sao Paulo and meet up with the SBC Pursuit team. From there we flew to Chicago and then on to Winnipeg, completing a 27 hour day of travel. Little do I know how much the world is changing.

March 16–20: I am now in isolation at home because I just returned from Brazil. The rest of our team is working tirelessly addressing the ever-changing needs of the college. By now many of the other colleges and universities across the country are closing their doors and moving online. Our Admin Team met four times on the 16th to address the ever-changing conditions and assess how COVID is impacting SBC. We make the difficult decision to send our students home Friday at noon. All dorms need to be evacuated. Those with no place to go are assisted in finding a place. Students are refunded their dorm and food fees for the remainder of the semester, resulting in a

SBC

March 11: I return to SBC, tired, but full of enthusiasm and eager to share with the Admin Team how well my time in Brazil had gone. We chat about a variety of things, including a little bit about this new virus called COVID. It’s good to be back. I’m anticipating a great finish to an excellent year.

March 12–13: The NBA officially cancels the rest of their season. The NHL and other sports leagues were soon to follow. I think this “COVID” thing might be something significant. Our Admin Team meets to talk about isolating any Mission Xposure and Pursuit students who are not feeling well. Throughout the day the conversation quickly turns to implementing protocols about classes, food services and the dorms. Medical experts are consulted, and their recommendations are all the same: take this virus seriously.

EMC grads (left to right): Alysia Thiessen, Carmen Friesen, Janelle Waldner, Tanner Klassen (Certificate), Daniel McInnes, Mitchell Dueck (Certificate), Randy Buhler, Katrina Zacharias (Certificate), Joshua Nickel, Steph Dueck, Sam Bergen (missing: Josh Dueck, Savannah Siemens).

26 The Messenger • November 2020

News $71,000 loss of revenue. Doing the right thing often comes at a price.

Spring: We finish the final five weeks of the semester online and cancel graduation. The rest of the semester is a blur. Each day consists of multiple Microsoft Teams meetings, watching and listening to the various govern-

there be a second wave that forces us to close our doors again? Will any students show up? We are still at 85 students, from mid-February to mid-July we did not gain one student.

Labour Day has finally arrived. Students are back on campus! It looks and feels so different. Masks. Hand sanitizer.

Limitations on classroom sizes. Seating arrangements for chapel and the dining room. A limited number of dorm students.

But we are all here. The buzz of a new year is indescribable! God is good!

SBC’s Professor Terry Hiebert teaches remotely.

ment agencies, more Teams meetings, more decisions that changed previous decisions because of consistently changing information. All of which is done from home offices.

Chapels go online and are deeply cherished. We sing together, receive challenges and encouragement from faculty speakers, and pray for one another. These chapels are my highlight of the final five weeks.

With the coming of spring, a “new normal” emerges.

We are allowed to return to work, starting with a few at a time. We cancel all our rentals for the spring and summer as well as our golf tournament fundraisers and virtually every other event we had planned. Donations fall by over 60 percent. Our student numbers for the coming year had stalled at 30 new students since the middle of February, though thankfully returning student numbers were high.

We anticipate having only 85 students on campus, the lowest number of students at SBC during my entire 13-plus years at SBC. I wonder how God will provide this year.

It is the middle of July. It looks like we will be able to have classes in fall. We hope that we can have them face-to-face instead of online. What will the semester look like? Will

Students are required to wear masks on campus to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

September 28: We finish our All-College Retreat. It was fantastic! There is a huge significance to the All-College Retreat. Before the retreat, we are a college. After the retreat, we are a family. Spending a weekend together playing, relaxing, singing, sharing, praying and worshipping together is powerful. We experience the presence of our Almighty God moving among us.

SBC’s All-College Retreat took place at Winkler Bible Camp.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 27

News October 13: It’s the day after Thanksgiving. We hold our own special Celebration Chapel. We celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout the past eight months. Six weeks before the semester started, we had 85 students.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”

Today we have 127 students studying on campus. We have 56 students who are auditing at least one course.

There are an additional 16 online students and 14 more Apprentice U students taking SBC courses as part of their U of M studies. A total of 210 students are being trained to “Follow Jesus, Serve the Church, and Engage the World” at SBC this semester alone! This is our highest enrollment since 1961 and one of the three highest in our 84-year history.

The 127 on-campus students are comprised of 56 students from our four supporting conferences and an additional 14 students from other Mennonite churches. We have 24 international and Indigenous students.

October 17: Our postponed Graduation Day finally arrives. The weather is cool, but it is sunny and dry—graduation is happening outside at Quarry Oaks golf course. Thirty-four of the forty-four graduates enjoy a banquet with the faculty prior to the graduation ceremony. After the banquet, the grads have photos taken and then proceed to the first fairway where they join a small number of family and friends. The ceremony is shorter than usual, but all receive their certificates or diplomas. After the closing benediction, we pick up our lawn chairs and leave for home. Our 2019–20 academic year officially comes to an end.

As president of SBC I cannot begin to express my profound appreciation to our faculty and staff. Their efforts and dedication over the past eight months have been nothing short of heroic! They have put in many long hours and lived with much uncertainty. They have carried out their calling with steadfastness and a lot of grace.

28 The Messenger • November 2020

I also want to thank you for your support during a most trying time. Your prayers, words of encouragement, and financial support have been the church at its best. Thank you!

This past year will always be remembered for COVID19 and the affect it is having on all of us today. For me, this past year will be remembered because God was “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

– Rob Reimer President, Steinbach Bible College

An outdoor ceremony on October 17 brings to a close the 2019–2020 academic year.

News MCC Centenary

MCC Turns Challenges into Ministry

MCC PHOTO/ROSE SHENK

One hundred years ago, Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC) initial efforts to help people in dire need of food in southern Russia did not go as planned.

Clayton Kratz, Orie O. Miller and Arthur Slagel, the first representatives of MCC, travelled from the U.S. in the fall of 1920 to deliver food and clothing to people in southern Russia (present-day Ukraine). The three men were responding to Russian Mennonites’ pleas for help, which led to the creation of “a central committee” to coordinate responses from Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren.

After they established a base in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), Miller and Kratz travelled to Russia and planned a response with church leaders. While there, they witnessed the devastation and listened to the stories Mennonites told about repeated pillaging by armed groups that had left many families destitute and terrified.

“The people only have the clothes left that they carry on themselves and cannot buy others, have no soap to wash either these clothes or themselves, have no horses left with which to put out crops, and hardly enough food ahead for the winter. They are not at all sure that the worst is over” (Orie O. Miller, as quoted in Voices from MCC’s beginnings).

Head teacher Madina Abrahim sprays sanitizer on the hands of Bayish Tababain in early September before she collects food and soap at Meserete Kristos Church preschool in Adama, Ethiopia. The fourmonth, MCC-supported project is intended to help combat rising food prices and unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Once Miller returned to Constantinople, he sent Slagel and a $30,000 USD shipment of food and clothing on a Greek ship to Crimea, a peninsula that was the gateway to southern Russia. Kratz had stayed in Russia, and Miller had rented a warehouse in Crimea and had hired staff to transport the supplies.

But a few weeks after the ship sailed, Miller learned that Russia’s Red Army was in control of southern Russia and Crimea, and no relief supplies could enter safely.

Miller didn’t know where Kratz, Slagel or the shipment were. He had made promises and commitments to people in Russia, but now it seemed there was no way to reach them.

One hundred years later

In January 2020, people in the city of Beirut, Lebanon, were struggling. Massive political demonstrations in 2019 revealed the dissatisfaction of the Lebanese people with their government. Schools closed and the value of Lebanese currency dropped as inflation rose.

The COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse, causing shops to close, employment opportunities to dry up and health needs to increase. Syrian and Palestinian refugees and Lebanese people who already were living in poverty had even fewer resources than before.

And then, on Aug. 4, an improperly stored supply of ammonium nitrate exploded in the city’s port, causing death, injuries and devastation of property throughout the city. This included the Karantina neighbourhood, where many refugees, migrant workers and impoverished Lebanese people live.

“It looks like a war zone,” said Garry Mayhew, an MCC representative with his wife Kate Mayhew for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, after surveying the damage the next day.

Just like 100 years before, MCC had to figure out how to respond to the needs of the people in crisis when the way forward wasn’t clear.

Lebanon wasn’t the only place where MCC needed to determine and adapt its response. In countries around the world where MCC works, COVID-19 increased the need for healthcare and food while MCC and partner organization staff needed to protect their own health.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 29

News

MCC PHOTO/GARRY MAYHEW

in the ground and the feedings continued until the first harvest of 1923. Contributors gave $2.45 million USD to support the Russian response.

“It came almost miraculously from far away America, from friends they had never seen or known, from someone who wished them well,” A. J. Miller is quoted as saying in the book Feeding the Hungry, by P. C. Hiebert and Orie O. Miller. “It was love reaching out its strong hands across the waters and the plains; across oceans and continents.”

Today

MCC continues to share its supporters’ love despite the pandemic.

In Beirut, MCC and its partners have adapted their food distribution system by setting up appointments, using masks and physical distancing to protect the health of the recipients. Homes and small businesses will be rebuilt, and children are receiving support for their emotional and social health.

Around the world, MCC’s health programs have been strengthened through teaching COVID-19 prevention techniques, distributing hygiene and sanitation supplies and making clean water available.

Training for peacebuilding, healthcare and farming techniques have gone virtual, where possible, or take place individually or in outdoor group settings where people can spread apart.

Initial responses in Canada included providing comforters and some emergency food support for Indigenous communities, providing resources for faith communities and individuals about intimate partner abuse and

Kate Mayhew, an MCC representative for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, walks through the Beirut neighbourhood of Gemmayze as she assesses the need for an emergency response.

At the same time, the pandemic affected MCC’s funding sources as donors’ finances were impacted, relief sales were cancelled, and thrift shops were temporarily closed.

Once again, MCC’s leaders were wondering how they would continue supporting the people they had promised to help.

Although Miller couldn’t get MCC’s supplies into Russia right away, he could help the refugees pouring into Constantinople, Mennonites among them.

Miller added MCC’s support to that of other organizations that were providing child care and transportation to refugees. He opened a home for Mennonite and Lutheran men, providing them with an English tutor and helping them to apply for visas to get to the U.S. He was relieved when Slagel returned with the supplies.

More volunteers from the U.S. arrived and Alvin J. Miller took over co-ordination of MCC’s work in Constantinople in early 1921. MCC continued to help refugees by establishing a hospital, a children’s shelter and a women’s home.

Kratz, however, had been abducted soon after he and Orie Miller parted on the first trip to southern Russia.

He is believed to have been killed, but his body was never recovered.

Through persistently working with numerous government officials, MCC was able to get food into southern Russia by Christmas 1921 and continued shipments in 1922. At the peak of its response in March 1922, MCC was providing 25,000 daily food rations to Mennonites and others.

MCC sent tractors and seeds to help farmers get crops

30 The Messenger • November 2020

MCC PHOTO

Back in 1920

The American Mennonite Relief (AMR) organization was established under MCC to distribute food and other supplies to people in Russia from 1921-1926.

MCC PHOTO/JACOB SANKARA

News

As these women wait for an MCC-supported food distribution, they stand inside the marked circles that are distanced from each other to help prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Most of the women have been displaced by violence from armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

advocating for the release of low-risk offenders from prisons where COVID-19 is likely to spread quickly. MCC also provided information about the pandemic to Low German communities in Canada and internationally through the Mennonitische Post.

MCC’s work continued with the support of its constituents who also adapted to COVID-19 by turning relief sales into virtual auctions, creating new fundraisers for families and increasing individual donations.

COVID-19 is making MCC’s work more challenging, as is true for many organizations, with budget and staff position cuts and suspension of new projects. In-person centennial celebrations were cancelled or have become virtual, like the national Celebration 2020, which was livestreamed on October 17.

“For a century, whenever unexpected challenges have arisen that might prevent good work from being done, MCC’s staff and partners have time and again found creative and effective solutions,” said Rick Cober Bauman, MCC Canada executive director. “And we have seen those same creative solutions, and that same resilience against challenges, as we and our partners adapt to providing relief amidst the coronavirus.”

– Linda Espenshade Note: Most of the historical information used in this article came from John E. Sharp’s book My Calling to Fulfill: The Orie O. Miller Story.

••

Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday Is Coming Mennonite World Conference encourages churches to prepare for Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday to be held on January 24, 2021.

Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday is an opportunity to remind our communities of faith that we are all part of one body made up of many tribes, languages and nations (Revelation 7:9).

Each year, we encourage Anabaptistrelated churches across the globe to use a common theme in their service on the Sunday closest to 21 January. On this date in 1525, the first baptism took place in Zurich, Switzerland.

We celebrate that, in Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the cultural and national boundaries that separate us have been overcome by the cross.

Materials for 2021 were prepared by Asian church leaders on the Assembly

theme “Following Jesus across barriers” from the texts Isaiah 55:1–6, Psalm 27, John 4:1–42, Philippians 2:1–11.

On Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday, Anabaptist congregations can lament together about pain and suffering; reflect the glory of God together as we reach across religious, racial/ethnic and gender boundaries; and follow Jesus together in obedience.

Download resources at mwc-cmm. org/awfs to celebrate Anabaptist World Fellowship Sunday in your local congregation with the global Anabaptist family in January or at whatever time is convenient for your congregation in 2021.

Send pictures and stories from your congregation’s celebration to photos@ mwc-cmm.org.

– MWC

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 31

In Memory

Margaret Reimer (nee Kornelsen) July 5, 1926–Oct 8, 2020

‘SEDITIONS, CONFUSION AND TUMULT’

32 The Messenger • November 2020

—Ulrich Zwingli, Swiss Reformer in Zurich

infancy one daughter (Tina) and one great-grandson (Logan).

The family would like to extend a huge thanks to the staff at Bethesda Place for their faithful care for mom, and for being like a family to her when we could not be there during this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Above all, the whole family is grateful for the legacy of faith that she left with all of us. She was a godly woman of integrity and faithful in prayer. Several of us remember her daily routine of prayer, a time when she could simply not be interrupted!

Our mom truly exemplified the fruits of the spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22–23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (NET). Now we can rejoice in the clear assurance that she is with her heavenly Father and reunited with her loved ones who have gone before. Praise be to God for her faithful life!

– Her Family

FRIESEN

Our precious mother, Margaret Reimer (nee Kornelsen) of Steinbach, Man., passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at Bethesda Place.

She was born in Heuboden near Kleefeld on July 5, 1926. She grew up on the family farm; as the eldest child, she learned to work hard. In 1946, she married our dad and moved to Steinbach. In 1948, with a young toddler and another baby on the way, they moved as pioneers to Quellen Colony in Chihuahua, Mexico, where their family expanded with the arrival of seven more children! She always stood by her husband’s side, whether farming or when running a business.

In 1962, she left part of her heart in Mexico when they moved back to Canada. She wholeheartedly loved her family, including two more children born in Canada, making a grand total of ten children! Margaret was always known for her warm hospitality, living with an open heart and an open door to her nieces and nephews, neighbours and friends.

Although they moved numerous times, in 1974 they built a house in Blumenort where they lived until the challenges of mobility forced them

to move to other facilities. Wherever they lived, Mom continued to be known for her cheerful and outgoing personality. She could always be counted on—from organizing a friend’s reunion to sitting by the bedside of a sick relative.

Growing up, Mom loved all kinds of physical activity, from being the fastest runner in school to tending to the horses and livestock. In Mexico, she tried to accept the challenge of wilder creatures! For example, one time she found a snake (a creature that she hated!) by her baby’s bed! She also disliked the dust and dust storms in Mexico, but always worked very hard to keep her environment clean.

Mom had a diversity of interests.

She loved travelling with Dad, and enjoyed the challenge of making up to 4000- to 5000-piece puzzles of many beautiful scenes around the world, something she regularly enjoyed doing with many of us right up until we could no longer visit her at Bethseda.

She did beautiful embroidery and made many blankets for MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). She was always ready to socialize, and loved to play games like Rack-O, Rummikub “When therefore they thoroughly deny the sum of the New Testaand Chinese (known toofher ment, do wecheckers not see them using catabaptism, not to the glory God with the good of their consciences, but as a pretext for seditions, simply asor “marbles”). confusion and tumult, which things alone they hatch out?”

She leaves to cherish her memory, How could early Anabaptists known today for godliness, love of her six daughters and four and enemies, generosity, and simple, heart-feltsons faith be seen in the sixteenth century as a public threat worthy of the most vicious suppression? We to see either fanaticism in the Anatheir families, astendwell asbaffling three sisters baptists or puzzling sadism in the religious and political leaders attacked them. How could She believer’salso baptism, community and onewho sister-in-law. had 28 of goods, apocalyptic preaching, oath refusal, and nonresistance threaten to break the chains that held society together? Layton grandchildren, 54 great­ g randchildren, Friesen has been confronted by these questions as a pastor and looks to the history of the Radical Reformation for insight. This and twohere great-great-grandchildren. raises a question for today: will our attempts to live the Kingdom of God public order?

She wasthreaten predeceased by her loving Layton Boyd Friesen, PhD, serves as conference pastor for the Evanhusband,gelicalAbram Reimer, in 2017. She Mennonite Conference. He lives in Winnipeg. was also predeceased by her mother, Elizabeth Kornelsen (nee Friesen) in 1975 and her father, Isaak U. Kornelsen in 1983, by all five brothers (Pete, Jake, Ed, George and Cornie), and one sister (Frieda Plett), one sonin-law (Lawrence Plett), as well as in

‘SEDITIONS, CONFUSION TUMULT’ AND

Why Reformation Europe Thought Anabaptism Would Destroy Society

$10 plus shipping LAYTON BOYD FRIESEN Foreword by John D. Roth

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, Church Leadership 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) and Director of Youth and Discipleship Gerald D. Reimer (greimer@emconference.ca). The national office phone number is 204326-6401. Speak with Erica Fehr, Church leadership assistant to the BLO, to request a cell number for a particular person.

EMC Positions* Rosenort Fellowship Chapel (RFC) in Rosenort, Man., is seeking a lead pastor. We desire a spiritual leader who sets an example of commitment to Christ in his private prayer and devotional time. He will preach the Word of God and serve the RFC congregation and the community, promoting spiritual vision as described in 2 Timothy 4:1–2.

He will provide the preaching/teaching ministry, challenging us to become more like Christ. He will conduct communion, baptisms, weddings and funerals. He will coordinate Sunday morning worship services and other services as needed. He will be involved in visitation ministry. He will be a resource to all the committees of RFC. He will be responsible for office management. He will represent RFC at the regional and conference levels. He will report to the leadership council and ultimately to the church congregants.

For information about this position, contact Brent Friesen at rfcsearchcommittee@gmail.com or 204-712-7254.

Prairie Grove Fellowship Chapel, serving Lorette, Man., and the surrounding area, is seeking a fulltime senior pastor for a congregation of approximately 80. We are a friendly, welcoming church where all ages are well represented and respected.

Our mission is “To Love God and To Love People.”

We are looking for a pastor who is a shepherd at heart and is gifted at preaching and teaching.

He must have a deep, personal relationship with God and be able to hear, discern, and follow God’s leading. We are looking for someone who is humble and compassionate, who listens well and tries to

relate to others, and is approachable by all ages. He must be able to preach strong, biblical messages that promote personal growth and not be afraid of difficult subjects. The ability to work with others on our ministerial team is a must.

For more information, contact Chris at pgfcbusiness@gmail.com.

Other Positions Steinbach Bible College invites applications for the position of Fundraising Events Coordinator (30 hrs/wk, flexible days). The position requires flexibility in regards to hours, as some evenings and weekends are involved.

Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the incumbent will: • Plan and coordinate SBC’s fundraising events in keeping with the school’s mission and vision including marketing and research, social and local media.

• Solicit sponsorships for monetary and in-kind support.

• Track revenue, expenses, and budgeted forecast of all event materials using Raiser’s Edge.

• Produce, organize and execute event materials.

• Manage and direct all event venues, vendor relationships, and volunteers.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with existing and potential donors.

• Conduct research, gather data, analyze information and prepare accurate and timely reports.

Please submit your resume with cover letter via email to Eileen Krueger, Human Resources Consultant, EBMinds@gmail.com.

We thank all applicants who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Niverville Community Fellowship is an EMMC affiliated church body seeking a Pastor of Care and Discipleship to join our ministry team as we seek to act on our mission of “Making Disciples of Jesus as we Worship, Grow, and Serve in Love.” We are seeking a leader with a commitment to Anabaptist faith to work with our staff, board of elders, and ministry teams to provide congregational care support and leadership in spiritual formation. Position responsibilities include heading up the community group ministry and working to equip volunteers to help us serve in love along with equipping the congregation to act on our mission of making disciples. Formal academic training in pastoral studies would be preferred and training in small group ministries and discipleship are assets.

Contact hr@nivcf.ca by Aug. 8, 2020, for more details or to apply (see www.nivcf.ca).

At Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) our mission is to bring hope through Christ, and we’re seeking to fill ministry positions serving kids, youth and families in Winnipeg’s inner city neighbourhood. Available positions include ministry and administrative roles. Our diverse team members are both local leaders and from outside our neighbourhood. As a faith-based ministry we hold all staff to our lifestyle and morality commitments, and core values. ICYA and our staff are supported by generous individuals and churches from across Canada. To view full job descriptions, visit: www.icya.ca/careers or message Karen Jolly, director of programs, at karen@icya.ca.

Lindale Mennonite Church, Linville, Virginia, is seeking a full-time lead pastor to serve an active, multigenerational congregation of 300 attendants.

Applicants should demonstrate gifts in preaching, teaching, leadership and teamwork. Seminary degree preferred. Must agree with the Mennonite Confession of Faith (http://mennoniteusa.org/ confession-of-faith/ Competitive salary and benefits package. View church website at www.lindale.org.

Interested persons may send resume and cover letter to Dana Sommers (dana.sommers@comcast.net).

Archives Committee: To help preserve and share the stories of Christ’s grace to us through history, the EMC is seeking volunteers to serve on its Archives Committee and other volunteers to assist in its efforts. The Archives Committee meets about three or four times a year to oversee the EMC Archives, preserve documents, and promote EMC history. Its members get involved in hands-on projects. An appreciation of church history is helpful. The ability to read German is not required, though helpful.

Committee members from outside Manitoba could attend meetings by computer or by phone and could assist in collecting materials from their areas to be donated to the EMC Archives. Volunteers are needed to help organize the archives’ materials in Winnipeg and Steinbach. These include photographs, file descriptions, and filing. Translators (German to English) are very needed. They can be located anywhere. If this fits you or someone you know, please contact the EMC office at 204-326-6401 or by email. Thank you.

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.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 33

Column • His Light to My Path

A Lesson From the Peanut Butter Jar

I Imagine my astonishment as I unpacked the bags delivered to us and pulled out a jar of brandname crunchy peanut butter.

34 The Messenger • November 2020

ISTOCK

by Karla Hein

would be lying to deny that the health and economic crisis of the last few months hasn’t been weighing on my mind. My husband and I contemplated the uncertain future as we got ready for bed last night and pulled the covers up. My brow furrowed as I lay quiet, unable to shake the pressure I felt. But then I remembered a jar of peanut butter. The jar that taught me a lesson about the heavenly Father’s care.

When I was a teenager, a lunchtime sandwich of peanut butter and honey emptied our big jar of crunchy peanut butter. “We’ll have to wait until next month’s grocery money,” Mom said, checking her purse. My dad was a missionary pastor, and we always had everything we needed for our family of six-through careful budgeting and wonderful supporters. An empty jar of crunchy peanut butter is a trivial item, especially when we still had smooth peanut butter in the cupboard. It was such a minor incident, meant to be forgotten.

Shortly after, the director of our mission came for a visit. Prior to coming up to our town, he had stopped at a church in Edmonton. Their pastor had been burdened with supporting small town missionaries who might not have as many resources available to them. His church had a full pantry they stocked for distribution in their community. The pastor asked that the mission director fill up two grocery bags for each pastor on the visitation circuit.

Imagine my astonishment as I unpacked the bags delivered to us and pulled out a jar of brand-name crunchy peanut butter. An unknown individual had chosen to donate a jar that was packed in a bag that was placed in the

back of the mission director’s car and then delivered to one of several homes on his route. The birds are fed, the flowers are clothed, and the teenager receives a jar of peanut butter. Was it a mere coincidence or the Father’s compassion?

The Scriptures state that God rains on the just and the unjust. He is kind and compassionate. He knows every hair on my head and, I might add, every item in my pantry. It’s hard to keep perspective of God who warned Moses to keep the people back from his holy mountain and also welcomes children to come unto him.

Jesus, coming to live among us, is the full representation of the Father who is exalted far above the earth he created.

That is what gives me confidence as challenges arise, worries overshadow, and discouragements set in. God is exalted, and God is here. One day I will be with him and no eye has seen, nor ear has heard what is in store for those who love him. This earthen vessel can’t handle the mystery of Christ, but one day I will see him and will be like him. Perhaps the peanut butter jumped into the bag of its own accord, but, to me, it symbolizes the undeserved kindness of the Father.

Column • Stewardship Today

A Generosity Mindset

E

ISTOCK

ven though it’s been a few years since my kids were in school, our household still settles into new routines in the fall. My wife and I sit down in September and fill out the calendar with our various commitments. While this activity has the potential to feel overwhelming, I’ve found that it readies us for the year ahead. When new opportunities arise at work or in the community, we can be ready to say “yes” if it fits into our schedule.

In the same way, generosity is a mindset that helps our giving fall into place, but we need to take some time to prepare if we’re going to give when the opportunity arises.

Early in my career, a gentleman named John contacted me for advice on what to do with a large sum of money he was set to inherit. I suggested he consider all his options and talked him through a series of questions.

“Do you need the money for debts, retirement, other things?” I asked. “No,” he answered.

“I have a good retirement plan and so does my wife. And we don’t have any debts.” John also rejected the option of spending the money on a once-in-a-lifetime expense, like a vacation, new home, or a fancy car.

“What about giving it to your kids to help with school or their mortgage?” I pressed on.

“No,” he replied again. “We have RESPs for their education, and I want them to work for their money. Besides, I am not sure they could handle a big amount of funds.”

“Well, what about giving it to a charitable cause of some kind?” I suggested. Suddenly, our amiable conversation stopped dead and John looked at me as if I had suddenly sprouted three heads. “Why on earth would I give it away?” he asked. Taken aback by his response, I explained, “You just told me you don’t need it, you can’t spend it, you won’t spend it, and it is too much for your kids to handle. What else can you possibly do with it other than give it away?” He continued to look at me as if I was a crazy person.

Although John did not choose to give any of his inheritance to charity that day, he taught me a lot about generosity. I realized that without a generous mindset, giving feels counterintuitive.

On the other hand, a person who has cultivated a generosity mindset is focused on the things they have, not what they lack. They are much more likely to seize the opportunity to give generously.

Developing a generosity mindset takes practice. It starts in small ways. Smile at a stranger.

Help someone run errands. Donate your spare change. By making generosity part of your daily plans you get into the habit of giving (and tune your mind to focus on what you have) so that you can say “yes” to giving big when you get the chance.

Are you ready to make developing a generosity mindset part of your routine?

by Darren PriesKlassen, CEO, Abundance Canada

Developing a generosity mindset takes practice. It starts in small ways.

Abundance Canada is a CRA registered foundation that helps people realize their philanthropy and giving potential in their lifetime and beyond. Learn more at abundance.ca.

www.emcmessenger.ca • The Messenger 35

Column • Kids’ Corner

The Star of Bethlehem

A Stars twinkle.

Planets do not. That is one difference between stars and planets.

ISTOCK

by Loreena Thiessen

re you a star gazer? Can you name the stars you see?

The North Star, also called Polaris, is the brightest star in the night sky.

In ancient times before there was Google Earth and GPS, travellers used the North Star to guide them.

Venus is the brightest planet. It shines even brighter than the North Star. It is the brightest object in the night sky next to the Moon.

Stars twinkle. Planets do not. That is one difference between stars and planets.

Imagine while you were looking at the night sky the brightest star began to move.

Would you be surprised? Would you want to follow it? That is what happened to the Magi two thousand years ago.

The Magi were astronomers, students of the sky and its heavenly objects. When they saw a new star they knew at once that it had special meaning. They knew this star meant a new king had been born, the King of the Jews. The Magi followed the star to find him and to worship him.

The Magi first saw the star in the eastern sky.

As they followed it, it disappeared. They were near Jerusalem and stopped to ask King Herod about the star.

King Herod was troubled. He understood the new king was the Messiah, the one who would

Activity: Make a Christmas Star.

Need: Black card stock paper, clear contact paper, several colors tissue paper, glue, scissors, twine.

Do: Trace 8-point star shape on black card stock paper; cut out star.

Cut out the inside of the star leaving a .5 cm frame of black card stock. Glue the star shape onto one sheet of clear contact paper.

Tear bits of colored tissue paper and glue them onto the clear contact paper inside of the star shape. Cut around the black card stock star shape—do not cut into the black frame. Attach twine at the top point of star and hang in a window to catch the light.

36 The Messenger • November 2020

save the Jewish people. But he was the king. All people had to obey him. King Herod did not want another king to interfere in his territory.

He instructed the Magi, “As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him” (Matthew 2:8).

As they left Jerusalem the star appeared again. The Magi followed it and found the new king, the baby Jesus, with Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. They brought expensive gifts to honour the new king, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And in a dream, they were told not to return to King Herod so they left by another road.

When King Herod discovered he had been tricked he ordered all baby boys under the age of two to be killed. He believed in this way he would get rid of the new king, the baby Jesus, too.

In a dream God warned Joseph to escape. He took his family to Egypt to be safe. After King Herod died, Joseph, Mary and Jesus left Egypt and settled in Nazareth in Galilee where Jesus grew up.

Read the story in Matthew 2:1–23.

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