Mennonite Brethren Herald Digest is digitally published bimonthly by the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, primarily for the use of its members, to build a Canadian MB community of faith. We seek to 1) share the life and story of the church by nurturing relationships among members and engaging in dialogue and reflection; 2) teach and equip for ministry by reflecting MB theology, values, and heritage, and by sharing the good news; 3) enable communication by serving conference ministries and informing our members about the church and the world. However, the opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the church as a whole.
Members of Ottawa’s Riverside South neighbourhood have rallied around the ministry of The Community Table.
(Above) A teacher from a local elementary school drops off Christmas cards made by her students to include with each food hamper.
Digest
JUNE | JULY 2025 | VOLUME 64, NO. 03
EDITORIAL OFFICE
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ISSN: 0025-9349 The Mennonite Brethren Herald is a
Full story on page 24
From the editor
“IF
EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO SITS IN A PEW ON A SUNDAY MORNING REALLY SAW THEMSELVES AS MISSIONARIES OR DISCIPLE-MAKERS … THE WORLD WOULD BE TRANSFORMED.”
— CAROL LETKEMAN
I see myself as a missionary? As a disciple-maker?
In an upcoming episode on the MB Herald Podcast, Carson and I talk with Multiply’s Lloyd and Carol Letkeman, hearing their story and passion for disciple-making. Carol’s words hit home. Am I intentionally on mission for Jesus? Or am I just… too busy?
When you listen to the episode (coming soon!), you’ll hear the Letkemans’ encouragement — and challenge — to the Canadian church to follow the Great Commission, paying special attention to the way Jesus begins: “As you go….” Being disciple-makers, or being on mission, they said, is about investing in people as you go. It’s about being intentional as you go about your business in your community or workplace. It’s about listening to people’s stories as you go, sharing Jesus with them as you go
This issue is full of stories of people and churches who are doing exactly that: faithfully responding to Jesus’ call to make disciples.
Stories like The Gathering, a church in suburban Ottawa, that felt the Holy Spirit’s call to be a practical presence in their neighbourhood. Read (page 24) how prayer guided the process of launching The Community Table, a food bank ministry that serves 50 households in the neighbourhood. Linda Cudmore, lead organizer of The Community Table, says, “We want to nourish people, not only with practical food, but we want to show them that people care.”
Jake Janzen also shares his journey in co-founding Biblical Church Ministries, a
mission organization in Myanmar (the full article is found on our website). And in addition to our regular Pray First / Pray Always prayer guides, Nikki White writes on page 10 how she uses the Lord’s Prayer as a model in her personal prayer ministry.
One way we can continue to work together in pursuing the Great Commission is to attend the Canadian Conference of MB Churches’ online AGM on June 19, 2025. You’ll hear more stories from all over the country of how God is moving in and among our family of churches and ministry partners. We need a quorum of church delegates to attend and vote. If at least one delegate participates from each of our 220+ MB churches, we’ll have no trouble reaching our goal. Most churches can send multiple delegates, so we encourage you to contact your pastors and church admin staff to coordinate registration for the AGM. You’ll find more information on the AGM on the next page.
“Think about what we can continue to do collaboratively as we pursue God’s plan together. Imagine the collective impact!” writes Jim Bell on page 18
My prayer is that we all take up Carol’s challenge: to see ourselves as missionaries as we go.
Be blessed,
Leanne
LEANNE JANZEN Assistant Editor
AGM
�� WHEN? Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM CDT
�� WHERE? Virtual (register to receive the Zoom link)
�� WHAT ARE WE DECIDING?
Key motions for 2025 include:
• Affirmation of the CCMBC Member Organization Agreement
• Approval of the CCMBC Collective Impact Strategy
• Approval of the 2024 audited financial statements and the 2025 budget
• Election of seven new members to CCMBC and partner Boards
�� Click here to view the full list of motions
�� Click here to learn about the nominees
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
There are three categories of AGM participation: Member Church Delegates, National Council Delegates, and Guests.
Visit na.mennonitebrethren.ca or scan the QR code below to register. Important: All delegate registrations must be approved by their church. You will be asked to confirm this during the registration process. Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email with more details, including the Zoom link.
WHAT IS A DELEGATE?
Member Churches are entitled to be represented at any National Assembly or AGM by delegates.
Q: Q:
WHO CAN BE A CHURCH DELEGATE?
A delegate representing a Member Church must be:
˚ Over the age of 18
˚ A member in good standing within the church
˚ Approved by the church membership or governing body of the church
Each member church is entitled to 1 pastor plus 1 more delegate (who could also be a pastor) for every 25 members.
Q: Q: WHAT IS THE DELEGATE’S ROLE?
˚ To elect members of the Executive Board, the National Faith & Life Team, Legacy, and the Nominating Committee.
˚ To receive reports from the Executive Board, the National Faith & Life Team, the National Ministry Team, Member Organizations (provinces, MB Seminary, Legacy, and Multiply), the Nominating Committee, and the external Auditor.
˚ To hold the reporting boards and committees accountable for their actions
˚ To vote on policy, direction, and amendments to governing documents.
�� Learn more about Delegates and the registration process here.
In youcasemissed it
We regularly publish website-exclusive stories on mbherald.com. Here are a few articles we’ve posted online in the last few months.
One More Tree Read about Multiply’s New Hope Center in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, where children and families recover from the trauma of war, build healing friendships, and envision a future with Jesus at the centre.
Seeking the Father’s Smile Rita Mae Braun creatively tells the story of the ups and downs of the Saskatchewan MB family.
MBCM Assembly Summary
The MB Herald Podcast is all about telling stories that build up our MB church family. We invite guests on the show to highlight various ministries and initiatives, as well as talk about some of the pressing issues we face in our churches and communities. You can listen to previouslyreleased episodes on Spotify or Apple. Watch for new episodes, airing in Summer 2025!
A recap of the weekend’s events and decisions held March 7-8 at Westside Community Church in Morden, Manitoba.
SKMB Assembly Summary Hosted by Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon, SK, the theme of the weekend was “Lift High the Name of Jesus”.
Family to Family: Evangelism
Among Muslims Multiply’s George Dumitrascu shares the significance of communicating the Gospel’s powerful message through relationships with Muslim families. Hasan’s rabbits are surviving the war in Gaza One recipient of an MCC-supported rabbit-rearing project in Gaza was able to take rabbits with him as he and his family fled the Israeli military’s bombing.
From MBHerald.com
A LIFE SHAPED BY MISSION: THE STORY BEHIND BIBLICAL CHURCH MINISTRIES (BCM)
The journey to co-founding Biblical Church Ministries (BCM) was never about personal ambition — it was a calling deeply woven into my heart by God. My story begins in Germany, where, as a young refugee fleeing Russia, I encountered Christ at just nine years old. From that moment on, I knew in my heart that I was meant to be a missionary. Though the path to fulfilling that calling has been long, God has faithfully guided me every step of the way. Praise the Lord!
After arriving in Canada in 1952, I had the privilege of growing up in Coaldale, AB — a community with a strong vision for missions. I remember being captivated by the stories of missionaries who visited our church, knowing deep within that I wanted to be part of God’s Kingdom work. I still recall JB Toews, then director of the North American MB Mission organization, passionately speaking about the mandate for missions and the Great Commission. How I long for the day when this vision is reignited in more of our churches!
The Coaldale Bible School provided excellent teachers who modelled what it meant to live as faithful Christians; this was reinforced when I attended MBBC in Winnipeg. At the time, I wasn’t fully aware of my personal missions journey — my focus was on my career and marriage — but God continued working in my heart, preparing me for the road ahead. During those intermittent years I served as a Sunday School teacher, a choir conductor, Bethesda Board chair, church board member, a Co-Op teacher who took 14 high school students to Lithuania for three months, worked at Haggai Institute for six months, went on numerous mission trips, including Ukraine and Africa. All these experiences prepared me for what was to come.
Jake Janzen (second from right) with team members from Biblical Church Ministries, entering the gate to Myanmar from Thailand.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAKE JANZEN
An update from the Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (ONMB)
The Ontario family of churches includes 25 congregations spread across southern Ontario in six regional clusters. Multiply continues to serve as a strong positive influence among our churches, helping to shape a vibrant mission culture. We’re excited about the new season God is ushering in among us. Shortly after welcoming Trevor Seath as ONMB Executive Director, we gathered in May 2024 for an important Pastors and Leaders Retreat at Camp Crossroads. There, Multiply missionary Derek Parenteau urged us to “cast our nets on the right side of the boat” (John 21:6), calling us to entrust evangelism entirely to Jesus, committing ourselves wholeheartedly to respond to the Holy Spirit with greater boldness.
Building on that momentum, we convened again in September at Mountain Park Church in Niagara for a provincial Prayer Summit, which marked the beginning of a renewed season of corporate prayer across our churches. Meanwhile, four clear invitations from Jesus have emerged to guide our journey forward. He’s calling us to: Pray First, entrusting our future to God’s strength; Move Together, collaborating regionally for Jesus’ glory; Join in Globally, learning with and from the global church; and Make Disciples, inviting others to follow Jesus no matter what.
As part of our growing desire to learn from the global church, we invited Nasser al’Qahtani — Multiply leader for the Middle East and North Africa — to serve as our speaker for the February 2025 ONMB gathering.
Recognizing his gift as a Bible teacher and with a desire to pray first, we shaped the event around the apostles’ resolve in Acts 6:4: to “devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Thus, the Acts 6:4 Assembly was born. The new format included more Bible teaching, multiple prayer experiences focused on local and global needs, and more corporate worship. Held at Kitchener Mennonite Brethren (KMB), Ontario’s oldest MB church, the event was not only deeply enriching but also historically meaningful as KMB is celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2025.
To prioritize prayer and Bible teaching at Acts 6:4, we scheduled our ONMB Annual General Meeting for the following Thursday online. We weren’t sure how it would go, and are so thankful that participation was high and that everything ran smoothly, allowing us to address a full agenda efficiently. Overall, the 2025 ONMB Conference Week was powerfully encouraging. Beyond Acts 6:4 and the AGM, the week featured a Seniors’ Luncheon with Ken Esau and an impactful Pastors and Leaders Day where Cam Stuart led “Rest for Your Soul: Living and Leading Freely and Lightly” as a day-long spiritual retreat.
Our journey continues as we respond to Jesus’ four invitations. In April, a team of seven Ontario leaders travelled to Brazil to spend a week listening to God under the leadership of Emerson Cardoso and Franz Wolf. The focus was simple: to hear and obey. Though the experience is still fresh, it’s clear that God planted seeds that will bear lasting fruit. Looking ahead, a group of 50 participants will gather in Toronto May 31 – June 3 for the Antioch Mission School, led by Nasser al’Qahtani and Derek Parenteau. We are praying this will be a formative time of growing in the ability to hear from God in everyday life and respond with faith and boldness in sharing the gospel and praying for others.
As unity and anticipation continue to build across Ontario, we are praying for a powerful move of God across Canada — one where thousands encounter God, trust Christ, and are filled with the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, no matter the cost.
TREVOR SEATH
is the Executive Director of ONMB and lives in Toronto, Ontario.
BOOK REVIEW
HELLO AGAIN: MORE LETTERS TO MY FRIENDS
(PHILIP A. GUNTHER)
REVIEWED BY TRACI JOHNSTON
Philip A. Gunther, with 25 years of pastoral experience, currently serves as the Director of Ministry for Saskatchewan’s MB Conference. Many readers will recognize him from his contributions to the MB Herald and his first book, Letters to My Friends. In his latest book, Hello Again: More Letters to My Friends (Words of Faith, Hope and Encouragement), Gunther faithfully carries out what he believes to be God’s calling: to encourage everyday Christians, helping them feel valued, dignified, and seen.
This sequel includes 49 heartfelt letters arranged into seven weeks, making the book suitable for both personal reading and devotional journalling. Each week begins with a prompt to prepare the heart, inviting readers to lay one primary concern before God. Daily pages provide space for reflection, application, and prayer. At the close of each week, readers will find a poem and a Sabbath prayer, along with space to record insights gathered throughout the week.
Gunther writes with the voice of a friend — honest, vulnerable, and humble. He shares personal stories and spiritual insights with authenticity, never from a place of superiority but always as a fellow traveller. As he says, “I purpose to have any encouragement I offer come from a place bathed in prayer, anchored to the Bible, influenced by the Holy Spirit and done for the glory of God.” That is what makes this book so powerful.
Topics explored in the book include living courageously for God, honouring the spiritual legacy of past generations, allowing God to transform your identity and actions, setting spiritual growth goals, cultivating Godly character, and finding purpose even in difficult days or unfulfilling jobs.
One of the most moving sections describes a time when Gunther’s “life and ministry appeared to be crumbling... inner peace and joy shattered... and I was struggling to hold things intact.” He recalls the Scriptures that sustained him, asserting, “I can testify today that the Lord was the glue that held me together.” Moments like this make the book profoundly relatable and encouraging.
The guidance Gunther offers is rooted in Scripture and shaped by what has genuinely helped him in his own walk of faith. For instance, during a season of spiritual dryness, he shares that instead of asking God to remove the struggle, he has learned to ask how God might use it to refresh or restore his relationship with him.
Another meaningful letter explores the concept of “discipleship rutters.” Historically, “seafaring mariners heavily relied upon navigational journals known as rutters…. Rutters were personalized, experienced-based accounts from the ship’s pilot.” In the same way, our faith journey is shaped by the spiritual rutters we gather along the way — and this book serves as one such guide, rich in insight and grounded in experience.
It’s clear that Gunther is well-read, with a unique gift for drawing spiritual truths from nature, history, and current events. His skillful poetry adds another layer of depth, offering a heartfelt connection between biblical principles and the soul. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every Christian. Within its pages, readers will find hope, encouragement, joy — and above all, the presence of God.
TRACI JOHNSTON
is a farmer’s wife and mother to two adult children and their spouses. Missions, whether across the road or across the world, has been her life’s call. She attends Westside Community Church in Morden, Manitoba.
And lead us
The Lord’s Prayer as a model for personal prayer ministry
“I can’t do that!” her face froze in a mask of panic.
BY NIKKI WHITE
“Sure you can,” I replied, as calmly as I could. Was she still breathing? Would our church’s insurance cover death due to adrenaline-fueled surges of self-doubt?
“But, but…” she sputtered, “I wouldn’t know what to say! What if I pray the wrong thing? What if I offend someone? What if I look… stupid?” Ah, I thought wryly. What if, indeed.
ome years ago, I contracted a life-threatening disease while on long-term mission, and misdiagnosis along with toxic meds trashed my liver. Frantic plans to get back to Canada were in place, but I was sick enough to wonder if I would make it home. A neighbour in the village contacted a small church that had a reputation for praying for the sick. Would I be willing to let them pray for me?
A few hours later, my jaundiced, sweaty self was surrounded by a group of intensely earnest faces. Earnestness notwithstanding, they did not, in fact, launch directly into prayer. Instead, 40 minutes were spent informing me of their perfect track record. If they prayed and I was not healed, they explained, it would be because of unconfessed sin on my part.
The ensuing pregnant pause was heavy with expectation.
“Uh, I’m good, I think,” I replied. They exchanged knowing glances, unconvinced.
I was then told that, as a demonstration of faith, I must stand up and extend my arms. They pulled me up and, as I swayed unsteadily, began praying loudly and simultaneously in some language I did not recognize. Dramatically, the pastor slapped his hand on my forehead and began to push. Am I supposed to push back? Does he want me to fall down? I thought I was supposed to stand up. Why are they all yelling at me? My neck hurts.
“Stop resisting the Holy Spirit!” the pastor barked. Now I was just peeved. Teeth gritted, I stood my ground until they ran out of steam, quietly muttering my own fervent prayer: Lord, don’t you dare heal me through these yahoos! There has to be a better way to pray for people than this!
There is.
The Lord’s Prayer offers a timeless model for all prayer, and its clear, distinct themes also provide a useful framework for personal, “hands-on” prayer ministry. While by no means a regimented sequence of steps to be followed in rigid order — it is a tool, not a rule — the Lord’s Prayer presents guidelines which are accessible, effective, and involve no yelling or forehead slapping. It is also easy to remember.
WORSHIP
Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. A person requesting prayer is vulnerable and may feel frightened or depressed. To immediately launch into petition would be to keep their focus on the problem, and this may feel heavy and intense. Beginning the ministry encounter with worship takes their eyes — and the eyes of those praying — off of the problem and onto the Problem Solver, allowing faith to rise up.
PETITION
Your Kingdom, come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. The first petition is a request for Jesus to be sovereign; a prayer of humble surrender. Your will be done is also a prayer of invitation. Because God’s will is always aligned with his heart, this petition is actually saying, “Lord, let your heart’s desire be fulfilled in this person’s life.” The next petition is the stated need: Give us this day, our daily bread . What specifically is the person asking prayer for?
CONFESSION
Forgive us our sins (or debts, or trespasses) as we forgive those who sin against us. Confession may not always involve sin. In the old sense of the word, confession simply means an honest acknowledgment of one’s state of being. The one praying can facilitate this by asking, “What are you thinking?”, and then invite them to repeat that “confession” out loud to God. Connecting with God directly in this way will help them to do so again later, on their own. Where there is in fact a voluntary confession of actual sin, speaking out an affirmation of God’s forgiveness through Christ is crucial.
ENGAGEMENT
And lead us — not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Here is an unscripted, risky step, prefaced with the words, And lead us.... Some translations put the negative modifier first, as in, “Don’t let us fall into….” However, the Greek here can be read as active and positive. This step reminds us to pause and wait on the Holy Spirit to lead the ministry encounter, perhaps bringing to mind spiritual insights through Scripture and other means — insights which edify, exhort, and encourage (1 Corinthians 14:3); not correct or direct them. As insights are shared as humble, respectful questions, the person’s response
then determines the direction of further prayer. The petition, And lead us… goes on to express where we do not want to go — not into temptation, not into the bondage of the evil one. In the context of ministry, there is a specific temptation faced by the ones who pray. That temptation is to avoid the risk of trying to follow the Spirit, and instead to pray in our own strength, relying on whatever is familiar, comfortable, and safe. Risk-taking obedience helps us to resist the temptation of self-reliance.
REFOCUS
Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.
Worship bookends the Lord’s Prayer, allowing emotions to settle and focus again on the One who will still be there, after the “Amen”. A gentle disengagement can move naturally into a conversation about next steps. Are they connected to the church? Can you introduce them to a small group leader? Ending with a warm, open invitation to come back again leaves the door open for future ministry and deeper community engagement.
“You can do this,” I urged her.
“Can I use the notes?” she asked, hesitant. “You know, like a cheat sheet?”
I laughed out loud. “Sure! But I am pretty sure you know the Lord’s Prayer by heart.”
Still unsure of herself, my friend turned to the young man requesting prayer. “Sorry about this,” she apologized. “I don’t actually know what I am doing. But I do really want God to help you. What you’re going through is so hard.”
The young man, moved to tears, replied brokenly, “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
My friend took a deep breath, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “OK, God, here we go….”
NIKKI WHITE writes for Multiply and also serves as Multiply’s Prayer Mobilizer. Nikki and her family attend North Langley Community Church in British Columbia, where she oversees curriculum development and training for prayer ministry teams. www.multiply.net/global-worker/ nikki-white
Our CCMBC theme for 2025 is Pray First! Pray Always! and we want to embrace that in our monthly prayer columns. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is the foundation verse telling us to “pray continually.” For 2025 we want to deliberately and intentionally pray the Lord’s Prayer. We want to pray this prayer as part of devotional routines, as we commute, as we face both the pleasant and the challenging moments in our day, and as we lie in bed at the end of our day reflecting on all that we have experienced. Each month, we will focus on a phrase from the Lord’s Prayer so that we can more fully appreciate the depth and beauty of this prayer. Praying the Lord’s Prayer daily and thoughtfully is not a “vain repetition” (Matt 6:7 KJV), but an act of worship with the power to slowly transform disciples of Jesus (and the churches made up of these disciples) ever closer into the character and Kingdom mission of Jesus. It is also part of participating in God’s work of salvation in the world as God’s Kingdom comes to earth as it is in heaven. We are excited this year to welcome a variety of writers from our MB family across Canada as they share their own insights and guide us to pray more faithfully. May 2025 be a year of transformation and may the Lord’s Prayer be part of our commitment to Pray First! Pray Always!
The Lord’s Prayer (Part 5)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
(Note: the ending in italics is only found in later manuscripts. It is included in the KJV but not in most modern translations.)
Our June 2025 prayer guide focuses on the phrase, “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Each of us would say we long for God’s will, his desires and purposes, to be fully realized in our lives and in the world today. We ache to experience God’s good, perfect, and pleasing will take full effect in our lives, communities, and across the nations. Wouldn’t it be grand to see every knee bow before Jesus and his shalom take hold in every sphere of society? Come, King Jesus! With the saints through the ages we repeat the Lord’s Prayer pleading, “your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” As we see in this prayer, God wants to bring his heavenly presence, purpose, and Kingdom to earth so that it looks more and more like God’s heavenly realm.
When considering the Lord’s will, we’re often captivated thinking that this is all about particular plans or directions for our lives. Over a decade ago, my wife and I were seeking God’s will regarding a vocational move. It would have taken us from our home and extended family in Ontario to Saskatchewan. I was certain that this geographical move was God’s will for our family, but my wife wasn’t convinced. Time has proved that my wife had greater discernment of God’s will, but it was a deeply emotional and painful moment in our marriage. We earnestly prayed, “Your will be done in our family story, as it is in heaven.” God’s will prevailed even as I struggled to see it at the time.
As we pray this Lord’s prayer, the Scriptures offer guidance about God’s will and what it means to pray that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. First, God’s will may not help us to avoid suffering and hardship — but God’s will is the best path for the believer’s life. Romans 12:2 tell us that God’s will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” Nothing could be better than the purposes of an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God. May a reminder of this foundational truth inspire us toward trusting in, obeying, and yearning for God’s will to come on earth as it is in heaven.
Second, God’s ultimate will is not so much about our geographical choices or even our vocational choices but about our growing in obedience and sanctification to look more like Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tell us this plainly: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus says “Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother” (3:35). My Residence Director in Bible College was often consumed with students’ questions about how to discern God’s will for life. He would quickly turn students back to the commands
of God saying: “God’s will is that you honour him in daily life. Let this consume you and he will direct your path.”
Third, whether we bow down or seek our own will, God’s desires and purposes will ultimately prevail in the world. Paul recognizes that our own will is secondary to God’s will: “now at last by God’s will, the way may be opened for me to come to you” (Rom 1:10). Paul fully understands that his desired path will only unfold if God wills it. He trusts that God is arranging events according to his will, even as he petitions God for the opportunity he desires. This dynamic relationship of personal desire mixed with trust in God’s direction is also seen in Paul’s farewell words to the Ephesian church: “I will come back if it is God’s will” (Acts 18:21). Although veiled in the moment, I experienced this truth powerfully when God closed the door for the vocational move to Saskatchewan.
The Lord’s Prayer reminds us of the earthly, here-and-now nature of God’s will. We are not praying to leave the world. As Jesus prayed: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). N.T. Wright points out that praying for God’s will on earth turns us away from an escapist mentality where our focus is primarily on “getting to heaven.” Rather, Jesus’s prayer turns our eyes and prayers toward his renewing work on earth in this time. God created the earth, called it good, and is now renewing all things. The Kingdom of God is not about being somewhere else but “about the establishment of the rule of heaven… [or] the rule of God here on earth” (Wright, “Being in the Kingdom Today,” available here).
And so, with one unified voice of trust, obedience and hopeful anticipation we pray, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
CONSIDER:
˚ Are there areas I’m struggling to trust God’s will as good, perfect, and pleasing? How might I express and surrender that to God today?
˚ Am I open to God’s ultimate will transforming me into the character and purposes of Jesus?
˚ How have I experienced God’s will directing my path? Give thanks accordingly!
˚ What areas of life are you boldly asking God’s will to be done?
PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER:
Our Father in heaven — your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, we acknowledge that all things are under your command and in submission to your will. We declare with joy and trust that your will is good, perfect and pleasing.
Our Father in heaven — your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, we recognize that our world is marred by sin. The deceiver actively seeks to kill, steal and destroy across the land. We know this is not your will and that it grieves you. We bless you for the sacrificial love of sending your son to die for this sin. We bless you for breaking the curse of evil and death through Jesus’ resurrection. In this, we have seen your great and powerful will on display. We pray, may this will unfold on earth in increasing measure in our time.
Our Father in heaven — your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, it is our desire to live out your will through obedient living. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that the desires of the flesh would be put to death and overtaken by the fruit of the Spirit. Grant us desire and determination to love you and our neighbour well through living rightly.
Our Father in heaven — your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, we see many
circumstances within and around us that are not aligned with your will. Family relationships are strained. Poverty and injustice abound. Nations are at war. It troubles us and we know it troubles you too. We ask that you pour out your peace on the earth. We pray that you would bring many to salvation and reconcile all things to yourself through Christ.
Our Father in heaven — your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, we trust in your will today. As we pray, we look forward to the day when you will fully and finally consummate your Kingdom on earth and this prayer will be realized once for all. We believe! Come, Lord Jesus.
SO NOW WE PRAY
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
RYAN JANTZI is Ministry Director at Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (ONMB). He attends Maple View Mennonite Church in Wellesley, Ontario.
JULY 2025 PRAY FIRST! PRAY ALWAYS!
The Lord’s Prayer (Part 6)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
(Note: the ending in italics is only found in later manuscripts. It is included in the KJV but not in most modern translations.)
My primary lens for my life, with God and others, has become that of Christian spiritual formation. I constantly witness it in people’s lives, I teach about it, and I participate in my own formation, my own journey of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. How spiritual formation occurs is a mystery, a process, and a relationship that can at times be both complicated and simple.
Our July 2025 prayer guide is highlighting the first request that we find in the Lord’s prayer: “Give us today our daily bread.” There are many biblical images that spark my spiritual formation imagination — the potter and the clay (Isa 64:8), the planting of seeds in different soils (Matt 13:1-9), the shepherd and sheep (John 10:1-18) — but this bread image (Matt 26:26; John 6:35) touches me at many levels.
When I walk into my favourite bakery, near me here in St. Catharines, ON, and the smell of baking breads, pastries, and crepes hits my nose, I invariably pause and breathe in that particular alchemy of water, flour, yeast, butter, and flavours. The pause is involuntary. My body responds to an external stimulus that causes a desire to eat bread and the image of bread, whether described by words, a picture, or on the communion table stimulates thoughts, for me, of what bread represents, how my understanding of it is a part of my formation.
The second part of the Lord’s prayer (Matt 6:11-13) which comes after highlighting God’s holiness and God’s kingdom (vv.9-11) moves now to the seeking of God’s will in the midst of the daily concerns of those gathered to listen to Jesus’ sermon (Matt 5-7). This crowd was likely quite diverse yet almost everyone would have shared the experience of living under the oppressive foreign regime of Rome. This experience would have been a collective spiritually forming (or malforming) experience, one that confusingly demanded allegiance to both God and Caesar and paying taxes to both God’s temple and to the Romans.
The mountain where most people think Jesus declared these words (today called the Mount of Beatitudes) is more like a hill in comparison to Canada’s mountains — but it is situated in a fertile area 200 metres above the Sea of Galilee. There were likely many farmers and their families congregating to hear Jesus speak. These farmers would know the work required to grow the grains for making bread. Women (and slaves if they were fortunate enough to hear Jesus that day) would have been the designated bakers in their households. These people knew the planning, ingredients collection, and work required to bake bread. Even now, baking bread takes intention, time, and focused effort. My favourite recipe requires at least 18 hours of proofing and raising before the dough, shaped by hand, goes into the oven.
What might this first century audience have thought of when they heard Jesus teach this new prayer—when they heard him say to God “Give us today our daily bread”? Were they hoping that Jesus would send down daily manna to them like their ancestors received in the wilderness (Exod 16)? Were they hoping for relief from the daily grind of kneading and shaping the bread dough and finding and chopping wood to power the ovens to bake the many loaves required to feed their families? The disciples may have remembered Jesus’ words to them after he walked on water: “...it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.... I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:32, 35).
Jesus is teaching this new prayer as the Bread of Life asking God to provide daily bread for himself and others. While on earth, even Jesus — the Bread of Life—required daily bread. There is a beautiful complete circle here of God providing ALL we need – daily physical bread to sustain our physical lives; and communion bread so we can demonstrate our participation together in Jesus’ sacrifice and the resulting freedom from sin we can experience. And lastly, we need the daily bread of life in Jesus so we never go hungry or thirsty again.
The Lord’s prayer does not say: “Give us today an excess of bread so we can store up reserves and feel secure for many days.” It asks God only for what is
needed today. It also does not say: “Give me today my daily bread” but “Give us today our daily bread.” The prayer asks only for provision for this one day, but the prayer asks that that provision would be enough for “us” — for the community and not just for me.
There is something important about being satisfied with what God has given us today. And there is something important about sharing bread with others and eating bread at the same table with others. The phrase “breaking bread together” has seeped into many cultures, both religious and secular. Our world still recognizes the power of sharing bread in community, of spending time at a table savouring food and conversation, even though these times are increasingly rare. In Acts 2:42-46 the early disciples and the nascent church itself were built on breaking bread together, “with glad and sincere hearts.” While daily bread involved personal and spiritual provision, it also was foundational for growing the church community. Daily bread was and is a gift from the hand of God to be stewarded well and shared generously. This is perhaps just as potent a symbol and need today as it was then.
Though the Lord’s prayer is short, and the word “bread” is so familiar to all of us, we are saying a lot when we ask for God to give us our daily bread today. May we look at bread differently this month — as a physical, spiritual, and relational gift — and perhaps even bake a loaf to share with family, friends, and neighbours. For the month of July, let us again pray the Lord’s prayer daily highlighting this request to Jesus: “Give us today our daily bread.”
CONSIDER:
˚ How has our Father been providing you your daily bread — physically, spiritually, and relationally?
˚ How can you live with thanksgiving for the physical, spiritual, and relational bread you’ve been given today — while also trusting God for tomorrow?
˚ How can you make breaking bread with others more significant and intentional this month?
˚ What is significant for you about Jesus being the Bread of Life?
PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER: PART 6
Our Father in heaven — give us this day our daily bread. May we more readily acknowledge the bread we are receiving daily is a gift from you. May we have glad and sincere hearts as we express thanksgiving for the physical bread that sustains our bodies. May we have glad and sincere hearts as we express thanksgiving for the spiritual bread that sustains our spiritual lives. May we have glad and sincere hearts as we express thanksgiving for the communion bread that sustains our church communities.
Our Father in heaven — give us this day our daily bread. May the daily bread that you have given us never become mine alone to make my treasure, security, and worship. May you lead me to those who need to be invited into the generosity of breaking bread together, who need physical, spiritual, and relational provision today. May the generosity and hospitality produce glad and sincere hearts in both givers and recipients.
Our Father in heaven — give us this day our daily bread. May you give us today more of the Bread of Life, your Son. May we not wait for that spiritual bread tomorrow or some other day, but may we experience Jesus’ sustaining presence today. May the Bread of Life both sustain and transform us more and more into the image of Jesus.
SO NOW WE PRAY
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever,
Amen.
SARAH PATTERSON
is the Adjunct Professor of Spiritual Formation and the Doctor of Ministry Track Leader at Tyndale University. She attends Scott Street Church in St. Catherines, Ontario.
THE POWER OF TEAMWORK
BY JIM BELL
Irealize that reading about finances is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, I am going to try to capture your attention — challenge accepted.
Before joining the team at CCMBC Legacy Fund, I was fortunate to have experienced some very rewarding opportunities in my career. One was with a professional football organization where I held several positions over the course of 12 years, including Vice President of Finance, President, and Chief Operating Officer. I also had the opportunity to be the CEO of a homeless shelter that provides many services to individuals needing a hand-up.
Even though these were vastly different experiences, there were some similarities between the two. In both organizations, I learned the importance of teamwork — and that is an understatement! I am very grateful that both high-profile, community-based organizations allowed me to develop my leadership skills. I don’t suppose one ever stops learning within a leadership role. At least, that has been my experience.
When you are running a professional sports team, teamwork and unity are critical for success, both on and off the field. I know that sounds obvious. Within a non-profit homeless shelter, teamwork is also paramount. You need staff and volunteers pulling together to assist people who are battling addictions, mental health, job loss, and relationship issues. Having the community supporting you financially, in addition to their encouragement and prayers, also goes a long way.
It’s no different at CCMBC Legacy Fund; teamwork is vital in what we do.
When I joined Legacy in 2022 as Chief Financial Officer, I must admit that I knew very little about Legacy.
I have been a member of the MB church community in Winnipeg for well over 40 years. By the grace of God, I was invited to a youth group event at Central MB Church back in the ’70s, was baptized there in 1981, and married my lovely wife Helen in 1982. We currently attend Eastview Community Church.
My post-secondary education is in accounting and finance, and over the years, I have served in different areas in our church, including property and finance. However, I had limited understanding of CCMBC Legacy’s services and its impact on our MB church family. But that all changed as I became acclimated to the role.
When I joined the Legacy team, I was immediately impressed by the mission statement: “CCMBC Legacy Fund exists to provide ministry-focused financial services to facilitate Kingdom Growth.” As followers of Jesus, we are called in obedience to join
with God who is building his kingdom. And to grow it, we can all do our part by utilizing our gifts to honour him. I was also taken with Legacy’s values that include our focus on depending on God, guidance from Scripture, participating in God’s mission, and being church-focused.
Crunching numbers, preparing balance sheets, income statements, and budgets are part of my job. I get excited when I see how it all works together. In simple terms, Legacy relies on our church community to invest with us, and we provide a rate of return. With these funds, we supply mortgages to churches, pastors, and camps. Legacy also provides many other services including payroll and benefits, accounting, and pension plan administration.
I am blessed to work with a dedicated and caring staff. It’s an easy place to come to work every day. The employees at Legacy use their gifts to serve within the Legacy mission. It is also a privilege to attend board meetings, and I must say that our MB Conference is blessed to have men and women in leadership roles who are ambassadors for Jesus. They want to do what is right for our MB family through obedience to God, and to be good stewards with what has been entrusted to us.
I know it is not wise to look too far ahead, however I am excited about the future. I like big vision. What does God have in store, what is his plan for our MB churches? A big part of the CCMBC vision centres on Collaboration and Collective Impact. These are powerful, inspiring words.
Collaboration and collective mean together and united. Think about what we can continue to do collaboratively as we pursue God’s plan together. Imagine the collective impact!
Let’s continue to work as a team as we look to the future, praying first, and praying always. Finances are just one piece, but an important one. I look at the team we have, including 230 churches, 30,000 believers, and a board of directors and staff who are very committed to following Jesus and his mission for us. Think of what we can do together, standing as one. Let’s move forward collaboratively at God’s pace, seeking his guidance every step of the way. Let’s continue in obedience to him and see where it takes us.
JIM BELL
is the Chief Financial Officer of CCMBC Legacy Fund. He and his wife Helen attend Eastview Community Church in Winnipeg, MB
Q&R corner
Q&R corner provides responses to questions that readers may have about CCMBC and its work collaborating with provincial MB conferences in areas of spiritual health and theology, leadership development, mission, and organizational health in order to achieve the overall mission: “To cultivate a community and culture of healthy disciple-making churches and ministries, faithfully joining Jesus in his mission.” If you would like to contribute a question, please send it to questions@mbchurches.ca
Please note that we will not be using your name in the MB Herald Digest in order to respect those who prefer anonymity. There may not be space to respond to every question—and sometimes we might not really have the ability or authority to respond to some questions (for example, those that relate more directly to one of our provincial MB conferences or to a local church leadership). We apologize in advance if we are unable to publish a response to your specific question.
How does our MB Confession of Faith statements in Article 12 about not swearing oaths and not giving primary allegiance to the state fit with the required “Oath of Citizenship” that all newcomers need to make to become full Canadian citizens, or that Christian politicians, peace officers and others make? How does our commitment to not swearing oaths fit with commitments that we make with marriage “vows”? W.
Thanks, W., for your great questions. These are questions that I don’t hear often from people in our family since many do not seem to feel that the swearing of oaths matters at all — or should be included in our Confession of Faith. I have tried to research what words are expected of new citizens, politicians, peace officers (RCMP in particular), and witnesses in court. Here are the various oaths that I believe are required for each category.
CANADA’S “OATH OF CITIZENSHIP” FOR NEW CANADIANS
I swear [or affirm] that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.
CANADA’S “OATH OF ALLEGIANCE” FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
“I, (Member’s name), do swear, that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third.” OR
“I, (Member’s name), do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third.”
RCMP OFFICER OATHS
Oath of Office
I, , solemnly swear [or solemnly affirm] that I will faithfully, diligently and impartially execute and perform the duties required of me as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and will well and truly obey and perform all lawful orders and instructions that I receive as such, without fear, favour or affection of or toward any person. So help me God.
Oath of Secrecy
I, , solemnly swear [or solemnly affirm] that I will not disclose or make known to any person not legally entitled thereto any knowledge or information obtained by me in the course of my employment with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So help me God.
WITNESS OATH IN CANADIAN COURTS
“I solemnly swear [with a hand on the Bible or any other religious book or artifact desired by the witness] that the evidence to be given by me shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” OR
“I solemnly affirm that the evidence to be given by me shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”
Here is what Article 12 of our Confession of Faith says about both the swearing oath question and the allegiance question:
Christian Allegiance in Society
The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ’s kingdom, not the state or society. Because their citizenship is in heaven, Christians are called to resist the idolatrous temptation to give to the state the devotion that is owed to God…. Because Christ forbids the swearing of oaths, we simply affirm the truth in legal transactions.
Let’s begin with our MB Confession’s prohibition of the swearing of oaths grounded in our commitment to Christ. So why exactly does Article 12 make not swearing an oath part of our MB Confession? Why is this even a big deal? The NFLT’s 2025 DRAFT version of the Explanatory Notes on this particular sentence in Article 12 says the following:
Swearing an oath involves a special verbal and/or an embodied symbolic action that invokes a divine being, one’s own life, or a sacred object (e.g., God, Bible, ancestors, etc.) to support or authenticate that a person is telling the truth. The implication is that swearing an oath reflected an invitation for the power being appealed to (viz., God, heaven, etc.) to curse the swearer if they lied.
The second implication is that this is a special speech event unlike other times when a person might quite easily not tell the truth. Swearing oaths was quite common in the Old Testament. God is recorded as swearing oaths
(Gen 24:7; 26:3; Exod 33:1; Num 32:10; Deut 29:14). Oath-making among the people of God was allowable as long as the oaths were exclusively in the name of Yahweh (cf. Deut 6:13; 10:20). Many well-known Old Testament people of God swore oaths (e.g., Abram [Gen 14:22]; Esau [Gen 25:33]; Isaac [Gen 26:31]; Joshua [Josh 6:26]; Saul 1 Sam 19:6; David 1 Sam 20:3).
With this Old Testament background in mind, it is a bit surprising that Jesus prohibited the swearing of oaths in Matthew 5:33-37. James restated the prohibition strongly: “Above all else, my brothers and sisters, do not swear — not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise you will be condemned” (Jas 5:12). The prohibition is not against making promises, vows, or signing contracts but against the need to swear oaths in the name of a higher external power to ensure truth telling and the fulfillment of those obligations. The implication is that disciples of Jesus should consistently use truthful speech and be faithful to their promises without the need to swear oaths (for more on truthful speech, see Article 10: Discipleship; Note 3).
Many Christian groups have assumed that since Paul uses oath language in 2 Corinthians 1:23 and Galatians 1:20, Jesus’s prohibition against oath making must have been hyperbolic or limited to vain or false oaths. While Article 12 provides no explanation for Paul’s actions in these texts, it does assume that Jesus’s prohibition is applicable for Christians today.
In many countries, the swearing of oaths is required when encountering some legal situations (e.g., witnessing in court, becoming a citizen, affirming identity for marriage certificates, etc.). Because some Christian groups opposed the swearing of oaths, Canada allows individuals in legal situations the option to “solemnly affirm” rather than swear an oath. Solemnly affirming expresses awareness that one’s response in this situation could have particularly critical consequences. Article 12 states that solemnly affirming rather than swearing an oath is the preferred action for disciples of Jesus today.
The summary of this note is that disciples of Jesus should heed Jesus’s words (Matt 5:33-37) and James’s words (Jas 5:12) and not swear oaths at all — but rather be trustworthy truth-tellers in all circumstances. Now the good news is that a believer wanting to become a Canadian citizen, a police officer, voted in as a Member of Parliament, or called to witness in a Canadian court case has the complete FREEDOM in each case to affirm rather than swear. So when it comes to the question of compatibility of these oaths and Article 12 in relation to the prohibition about swearing oaths, we would recommend that all believers simply “affirm” rather than “swear” these commitments — an action that could well spark an interesting conversation from observers about why someone would choose this option. We
“ ”Oaths, vows, covenants, and contracts are all solemn promises that technically should not be a problem for believers unless, of course, one makes a foolish promise.
should be thankful for this provision which allows believers to heed the words of Jesus.
Oaths, vows, covenants, and contracts are all solemn promises that technically should not be a problem for believers unless, of course, one makes a foolish promise (cf. Judg 11:30-31). The problem is when we need to add swearing to our promise to demonstrate that we will fulfill the promise. The assumption behind swearing is that our personal promise is not adequate in itself, so we need to appeal to some external deity, religious text, one’s life, or an artifact in order to add weight to our promise or to our testimony (e.g., court witness). It is not swearing to simply ask God for help when making a promise (“So help me God”).
Marriage “vows” are solemn and personal statements of commitment/promise made in the presence of God: “I take you…in sickness and in health….” Unless the marriage vow includes an element of swearing (viz., “May God strike me dead if I break this vow”), sincere marriage vows reflect truthful speech.
The second and more important question is whether a believer should ever make the sort of oaths of allegiance to King Charles the Third (representing Canada itself) that are absolutely required for new Canadians and Members of Parliament? Do these oaths require a level of allegiance that is primary rather than secondary? All allegiances (viz., to one’s friendships, work, country, political party, sports team, cultural hero, etc.) must constantly and intentionally be placed under one’s primary allegiance to Jesus and the Kingdom. For MBs, affirming rather than swearing is an
Believers in Jesus cannot give their country — no matter how good that country is — their primary allegiance since there will inevitably be times when believers will be called to obey God rather than human authorities.
allegiance question. Caution about making oaths of allegiance that risk one’s primary allegiance is also an important value.
When it comes to the “Oath of Citizenship” spoken (and signed) at the citizenship ceremony, participants declare together to be “faithful” and bear “true” allegiance to King Charles, observe the laws of Canada, and fulfill their duties to Canada. All of these promises are, of course, a matter of how one defines the key terms (“be faithful”; “bear true allegiance”; “observe the laws”; “fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen”). Since these terms are not fully defined in the oath itself, believers who take the oath would seem to have some latitude to define them within God’s larger Kingdom story and teaching about our relationship with the state (cf. Rom 13). I personally wish we could add some words to the end of the Oath of Citizenship: “…unless
my true allegiance to Canada, observation of Canada’s laws, and fulfilling of Canada’s citizenship duties conflict with my primary allegiance to King Jesus and to God’s Kingdom.” Believers in Jesus cannot give their country — no matter how good that country is — their primary allegiance since there will inevitably be times when believers will be called to obey God rather than human authorities (cf. Acts 5:29).
The DRAFT Article 12 Explanatory Notes say this about our primary allegiance to Jesus and God’s Kingdom:
Because Christians have their true citizenship in heaven (or in God or in God’s Kingdom), they must not let the demands of their national state (or any other organization) turn their lives away from the Kingdom story toward some other story. If Jesus is Lord (or King), then no political leader or nation state is worthy of primary allegiance. This posture of resistance could well lead to persecution and imprisonment for Christians unwilling to bow the knee of allegiance demanded by governments. This was the posture taken by the Apostle Paul who suffered willingly and greatly (2 Tim 2:1-13 ) — and it should not surprise us if this price will also be demanded from us today.
I hope that his has been a helpful response to your question. I’m hoping that we can live freely, joyfully, and also wisely as we navigate questions of our primary allegiance. While we should be careful about our spoken words in oaths, allegiance is much deeper than speaking out some words in a ceremony — but about living out our allegiance each and every day (Matt 6:33).
Blessings and Shalom in King Jesus — the only King worthy of our primary allegiance!
Ken Esau. National Faith & Life Director
The Community Table
LEANNE JANZEN, WITH FILES FROM RYAN JANTZI
our times a month, in a secluded corner of a grocery store in Ottawa’s suburban neighbourhood of Riverside South, The Community Table is open to individuals and families to receive essential food items. A ministry of The Gathering, an MB church in the neighbourhood — actually, the only church in Riverside South — The Community Table food bank started in May 2024. It serves approximately 50 households within the community.
“The only people that know about us are the people that need to know about us,” says Linda Cudmore, lead organizer of The Community Table and member of The Gathering. “We are able to serve people personally, with care and attentiveness, and then they exit our space right out to the parking lot,” she says.
In every interaction with their guests, volunteers with The Community Table offer a safe, non-judgemental space, serving people with dignity and respect. “A food bank is really a band aid situation for a much bigger problem. We want to nourish people, not only with practical food, but we want to show them that people care,” says Cudmore.
Pursuing an anchor cause
The neighbourhood of Riverside South is about a halfhour’s drive south of downtown Ottawa. The community does not show obvious signs that people are in need; there is no homelessness, no panhandling. It looks to be an affluent, thoroughly suburban neighbourhood. So why does it need a food bank?
In Spring 2022, The Gathering’s elder team went on a prayer retreat, specifically seeking God to show them the needs in their community. Jeff Jantzi, The Gathering’s lead pastor shares about the process on ONMB’s Jesus Stories podcast: “Coming out of COVID, we didn’t want to go back to things as they were. We felt an invitation by God at that moment to evaluate how we’re doing church, the kind of ministries that we’re leading, and the kind of church that we’re becoming. I felt a strong sense that God was calling us into something new. And we didn’t know what that ‘new’ was.”
On that retreat, the elder board agreed to pursue finding an “anchor cause”: a ministry around which the church could rally. As a smaller church, having an anchor cause could enable The Gathering to pool their resources; rather than having 10 or 15 different ministries, they could focus on doing one ministry really well.
Shortly after this prayer retreat, Cudmore approached Jantzi through her work with Connecting Steams, a ministry of Power to Change. Connecting Streams engages churches to serve the vulnerable in their communities and to bring the Gospel to people who need to hear about his love. Cudmore is Connecting Stream’s Associate City Lead for Ottawa, and at the
time, her team was developing a church consultation process. Cudmore was looking for feedback from Jantzi from a pastor’s perspective. From this conversation, Jantzi was eager to involve Cudmore in leading The Gathering through a process of discernment, asking the question: “Who are the vulnerable in our community?”
Pray first
In the summer of 2022, members of The Gathering participated in three separate prayer walks. At the end of the third walk, every area of the community was touched — the teams literally covered their neighbourhood in prayer. “We asked God to shed some light,” Cudmore says. “Who are the vulnerable? How are people suffering? How can we serve people in a tangible way?”
Cudmore says she encouraged those on the prayer walks to take detailed notes on what they thought God was saying as they walked past businesses and residences. After the walks, Connecting Streams compiled a summary of these notes and invited the congregation to a meeting to hear the summary, as well as to continue to pray into the discernment process. “It was a very slow but methodical process. It was in God’s time, not ours. We weren’t to get ahead of the Holy Spirit,” says Cudmore. “If God wasn’t in it, it wasn’t going to stick.”
At the beginning of the process, Jantzi admits, he assumed the church would open a youth centre.
Craig Cudmore, Chair of The Community Table Steering Committee and The Gathering’s mascot, Gat the Cat (right) participate in the community Christmas parade.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY TABLE
Riverside South has a large population of young people, and there isn’t much for them to do. Plus, he has a background in youth ministry and has connections with Youth For Christ.
“But as we went on these prayer walks and really sought God in all of this, it became quite clear to us that food insecurity was a growing issue and concern in our community,” Jantzi says.
Collecting the
information
The Gathering also engaged its congregation in a focused survey, asking people to describe their giftings and interest in serving the community, as well as how much time they could practically give to an anchor ministry. The Gathering meets in a high school gymnasium; their members are already actively involved in the practical logistics of the Sunday service. Additionally, there are many members who are busy raising young children. It was important to get a realistic picture of the congregation’s capacity and passion to take on an anchor cause.
In addition to the congregational survey, The Gathering started to collect statistical information about the neighbourhood. “I think the most surprising statistic that we found was that about seven percent of children and youth in our neighbourhood were living under the poverty line,” says Cudmore. “That really struck us.”
That was when the idea of a food bank started to take root.
Before The Community Table opened, the closest food bank for people living in Riverside South was about a 20-minute drive away. Food banks all over the city were stretched thin, as they were seeing a dramatic increase in use since the start of the pandemic. When
a group from The Gathering went to visit neighbouring food banks, they asked whether people from Riverside South frequent these depots. “It couldn’t be a more resounding yes,” says Cudmore.
The Lord provides
The Gathering had set up a committee to pray, discuss developments, and commit to reach out to community leaders. They also continued to hold regular prayer meetings to discern whether God was calling them to start a food bank.
“There were people in our congregation … who were on the fence with the food bank in Riverside South. We’re in this wealthy neighbourhood, we don’t need a food bank,” says Jantzi. “Then we prayed, and the Spirit moved. And people were like, ‘Oh! I get it now.’”
“There was just this overwhelming sense of unity as we prayed,” says Jantzi.
Cudmore says that confirmation led them to ask: where is this food bank going to be located? The church doesn’t even have a building.
They continued to pray, specifically that God would provide them a space. And God miraculously did.
During a meeting with business leaders in the community, Cudmore’s husband Craig expressed the church’s desire to open a food bank in the neighbourhood. “Then the owner of the grocery store walked over to my husband and said, ‘If you need space, I have space. And you can have it for free,’” says Cudmore.
Though the space is temporary — the store is planning a renovation in the future — it is a great location to get started. “We had been praying for probably a year and a half already at this point,” says Cudmore. “God gave us this, so we said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The Community Table provided Christmas hampers to about 40 families in the neighbourhood.
“WE HAVE SEEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, GUESTS WALKING THROUGH OUR DOOR, COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED,” CUDMORE SAYS. “WE GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT HAS BROUGHT THEM THERE. AND THEN THEY CAN’T BELIEVE THE GENEROSITY OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE LITERALLY LEAVING WITH A CART FULL OF GROCERIES.”
More than a food bank
Last May, when The Community Table first opened its doors, it offered services twice a month. Later, it expanded to three times, and now The Community Table is open four times a month. There is a growing number of volunteers from The Gathering, as well as from the broader community. Cudmore says The Community Table has been an opportunity to engage with people at the community level; people from the neighbourhood appreciate being able to support a local service.
Cudmore also says it’s a great way to educate members of the community about the reasons why someone may need to access a food bank. The Community Table serves single parents, new immigrants, multi-generational families living under one roof, people on social services, people who have lost their jobs, or who are in terrible health situations.
“We have seen on numerous occasions, guests walking through our door, completely overwhelmed,” Cudmore says. “We give them their space because they can’t believe what has brought them there. And then they can’t believe the generosity of the community. They are literally leaving with a cart full of groceries.”
Over the past year, many volunteers have been able to get to know some of the guests on a deeper level.
As trust is built, many people feel more comfortable sharing their stories or even requesting prayer for their situation. The Gathering has a prayer team that continues to pray weekly for The Community Table, as well as for any prayer requests received from volunteers or guests.
Cudmore remembers a guest asking for prayer for both of her parents, as they were in the hospital at the same time. The next time she came in, Cudmore asked for an update. “‘It’s a miracle! My mother got off life support!’ And she just broke down in tears and said, ‘Thank you for praying,’” says Cudmore.
“And we have story after story like that.”
Visit The Community Table and The Gathering websites for more information on this incredible ministry initiative.
If you are interested in hearing more about the story of The Community Table, particularly about how prayer shaped the process, listen to the interview with Linda Cudmore and Jeff Jantzi on ONMB’s Jesus Stories podcast.
Finish lines
JAKE MARTENS
Jake Martens was born July 16, 1929, near Graysville, Man., in Dufferin County, and grew up in Winnipegosis. His parents came from Russia in the mid-1920s as refugees and made a life through farming. During his youth, Jake suffered a skull fracture that was treated at home. He enjoyed sliding down the hill and playing hockey on the river using horse droppings as pucks. Jake didn’t start school until age 7, having only spoken German at home (his motivation for ensuring his own children spoke English before starting school). In 1943, the family moved to Mount Lehman. Jake attended Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C. His father wanted him to become a teacher, so he went to Normal School. He taught throughout B.C., and with summer classes, got his BA in 1956 from a university in Bellingham, WA. That summer, he married Helena Abrahams and taught in north central B.C. In 1959, Raymond joined the family, and they moved to Terrace, B.C. The family added Brian, Clarence, and Joy. Jake was sent as principal to challenging schools in and around Terrace, to settle things down. In 1969, the family moved to Caronport, Sask., where Jake took a 1-year Bible School program. Moving with a young family was difficult.
When they returned to Terrace, he resumed teaching. Jake spent summers taking UBC courses. In 1974, the family moved to Abbotsford, so he could earn a masters at UBC. Later, he taught in Abbotsford with special needs students. In 1990, he retired and spent time caretaking at summer camp and travelling on mission trips. Helena had multiple strokes affecting her speech and mobility. He cared for her at home, then visited her daily at the care facility until her death in 2005. In 2006, Jake married Sarah Ida Klassen Hiebert and moved near Clearbrook MB Church. Jake and Sarah went on mission trips and volunteered at food kitchens as long as their health allowed. In late February 2025, Jake fell and suffered a head injury. He was hospitalized and died Mar. 11, 2025. Jake loved God, cared for his family, and valued education. He was known for wise advice and listening carefully to other’s viewpoints.
Birth: July 16, 1929 Birthplace: Graysville, Man.
Death: March 11, 2025 Married: Helena Abrahams, 1956 [d. 2005]; Sarah Ida Klassen Hiebert, 2006
Family: Sarah (Klassen Hiebert); children Raymond [d. 2018], Brian (Patti), Clarence (Ruth), Joy [d. 2015]; grandchildren Daniel (Cassie), Stephen, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Andrew, Michaela, Kathy (Norio Avila), Wes; great-grandchildren Nora, Leo Church: Clearbrook MB, Abbotsford, B.C.
CLARA MARTINS
Clara was born Feb. 27, 1934, in Yarrow, B.C. She was the sixth child of 14 children born to Jacob and Agatha (Buhler) Nikkel and lived a life marked by service, hard work, and kindness to others. Clara left school after Grade 8 to become her mother’s helper at home; helping care for her younger siblings. When Clara was 12 she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour in vacation Bible school. She was baptized at East Aldergrove MB Church at 15 and later attended South Abbotsford MB Bible School for 2 years. Clara moved to Vancouver as a young adult where she met her future husband, Henry Martins. They were married Oct. 10, 1954, at East Aldergrove (B.C.) MB Church. While living in Vancouver they attended 43rd MB and Killarney Park MB Churches. In 1968 their family moved to Clearbrook, B.C., and joined Bakerview MB Church. Clara passed on her rich faith and her love for family to her children. She enjoyed attending Bible studies and entertaining in her home, blessing many with her delicious cooking. She appreciated music and played accordion and electric organ, inspiring her children to study music. Clara worked as a cook at Menno Home and Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C., where she especially enjoyed getting to know the young students. She volunteered with the Pioneer Girls Club in her church, the Catering Committee and delivered sermon tapes to shut-ins. After retiring, Clara volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee in
Abbotsford for 20 years and enjoyed travelling with her husband, including many memorable camping and fishing trips with family and friends. In 2016 Clara and Henry relocated to Kelowna, B.C., to be nearer their children, and when able, attended Willow Park MB Church. Clara was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Henry; son-in-law Don Haak; great-grandson Josiah Haak; sister Mary Schmidt (John), brothers Jim (Tina), Jack (Donna), Katie Tosey (Joseph), Victor (Ann), Ervan, and sister Rosella Rempel. She is survived by her children Philip (Sandra), Marlene (Barry) McPherson, Beverly Haak, and Pauline (Chris) Robinson; grandchildren Demara, Aaron, Kevin (Laurel), Riley (Noemie), Andrew (Marie), Michael (Shawna), Danelle (Paul), Colin (Carla), and Ashley; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters Dorothy, Victoria Onysyk (Dan), Ruth Willms (Ed), Irene Redekopp (Henry), brothers Art, Ken (Ann), sister-inlaw Ann Nikkel (Victor), brother-in-law Gerry (Rose), and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Birth: February 27, 1934 Birthplace: Yarrow, B.C. Death: January 12, 2025 Parents: Jacob & Agatha (Buhler) Nikkel Married: Henry Martins, Oct. 10, 1954 [d. Dec. 21, 2016] Family: children Philip (Sandra), Marlene (Barry) McPherson, Beverly Haak, Pauline (Chris) Robinson; grandchildren Demara, Aaron, Kevin (Laurel), Riley (Noemie), Andrew (Marie), Michael (Shawna), Danelle (Paul), Colin (Carla), Ashley; 19 great-grandchildren Church: Killarney Park MB, Vancouver; Bakerview MB, Abbotsford, B.C. Baptism: East Aldergrove (B.C.) MB, age 15
SUSIE ERNA FRIESEN-HODGES
Susie Friesen-Hodges died Nov. 14, 2024, in Red Deer, Alta. She was born May 30, 1933, in Winkler, Man., the sixth of 8 children, to Abram (a flour miller) and Maria (Thiessen) Friesen, who emigrated from Ukraine/USSR in 1926. The family moved to Hague and then Radisson, Sask., where the mill burned. They settled in B.C. on farms in Mission and Matsqui. Susie graduated in 1952 (Grade 13) from Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, and from UBC as a school teacher in 1956. She married Alex Harshenin in 1955. Susie taught high school English for 26 years in Vancouver and raised 4 children, whose musical education was a priority. Alex died suddenly in 1977, and in July 1982, Susie married John Hodges who had 5 children. The blended family moved to Rome, Italy, where John worked for the United Nations. Susie embraced Italian life, language, and culture while caring for her large family of 9 children, sometimes accompanying John on international visits. With a deep compassion for refugees, Susie assisted those arriving homeless in Rome from Poland, Iraq, Iran, South Sudan, and later, Jews from the USSR. When John worked for the European Union in eastern Europe, they moved to Austria where Susie enjoyed skiing, music,
friendship, and using her first language, German. As volunteers, Susie and John mentored young adults in the newly liberated countries of eastern Europe, especially Ukraine. In her 70s and early 80s, Susie accompanied John internationally when he spoke on genetics and ethics. In all, she visited 100 countries. Susie was a friend to everyone and hospitable to all. She and John returned to Canada in January 2021, settling in Red Deer, where she declined in health over 4 years, facing it with courage and patience, and dying peacefully in her own home. As a teenager Susie decided to follow Jesus, who was central to her life, values, and worldview. She was baptized into Matsqui (B.C.) MB Church. She loved reading, journalling, music, travelling, and people. Susie is survived by her loving husband John, her brother Abram (Elfie), 9 children, 16 grandchildren, 3 greatgrandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Birth: May 30, 1933 Birthplace: Winkler, Man.
Death: November 14, 2024 Parents: Abram & Maria (Thiessen) Friesen Married: Alex Harshenin, Aug. 29, 1955 [d. Aug. 25, 1977]; John Hodges, July 10, 1982
Family: John; children Nadine, Leon, Elinor, & Sharleen Harshenin; stepchildren Lindsay, Kathryn, Robin, Fraser, & Alastair Hodges; 16 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 1 brother Church: First Reformed Christian, Red Deer, Alta. Baptism: Matsqui (B.C.) MB
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