MB Herald March/April 2016

Executive Board and BFL reports

The things we say without words

How do we experience God? Volume 55, No. 2 Publications mail registration number: 09648; Agreement number: 40009297

Transformation survey results

MARCH/APRIL 2016 W W W. M B H E R A L D . C O M

Gifts from U2 and God Acts 2:14–24 “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Why? Why is salvation available only to those who respond by calling on the Lord Jesus for rescue?

It’s not that God doesn’t know how to give gifts to everyone. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that our Father in heaven “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45, NRSV). The gift of salvation is a different kind of gift.

It requires a request. When the people were cut to the heart at Peter’s statement that they were responsible for the death of the Messiah, they asked, “Brothers, what should we do” (Acts 2:37)? Peter replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven” (2:38).

The gift of salvation flowing from Jesus’ death and resurrection requires an individual response.

Why? If God is loving and merciful, why does the gift of eternal life not come automatically to every human whether they respond favourably or not?

Do you remember when the world-famous rock band U2 gave an unsolicited copy of

their new album to millions of people with iTunes accounts? Some people got upset. iTunes had to give instructions for how to delete this free album from one of the world’s most popular singing groups.

Another story: in Luke 19, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem saying, “If you... had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace.... Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will... crush you to the ground...because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God” (Luke 19:42–44).

From the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16–17) until now, God is determined to honour human free will.

Our theme verse underlines the missionary call of Acts 1:8. Because God gives humans free will, salvation comes only to those who ask. In order to ask, they need to have enough information to ask (Romans 10:13–15).

Jesus died on the cross and rose again so that we can receive eternal life. How does the need for an individual response to this good news focus your energies?

—Marvin Dyck is pastor at Crossroads MB Church in Winnipeg. This article first appeared in “Waiting for the Resurrection,” a daily devotional for the season of Lent, published by Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.

[ CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES

8 11 12

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The things we say without opening our mouths The shaping power of technology –David Balzer

Mission-critical: Attention to global mission in Canada’s MB churches Transformation survey results, Part III –Greg Laing

DEPARTMENTS

Partnership postures

5 Letters

–Lloyd Letkeman

6 Homepage

How to run a great church camp

22 News

–Angeline Schellenberg

COLUMNS

4

16

18

34

Editorial

24 Transitions, family news,

church anniversary 29 Finish lines [Obituaries] 32 Crosscurrents

Eat, heal, tell –Karla Braun

ICOMB — Wiebe’s Witness

Singing and dancing with a water can: Performative worship songs in Angola teach Bible truth –David Wiebe

Executive Director

Letting go of “mine” –Willy Reimer

Intersection of faith and life The important places –Kevin Koop

CONFERENCE NEWS

19

Statement on Study Conference from the boards

20

Executive Board report

20

Board of Faith and Life report

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE DIGITAL EDITION issuu.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/MBHerald TWITTER twitter.com/MB_Herald WEBSITE mbherald.com JOBS jobs.mbherald.com PDF SUBSCRIPTION Email karla.braun@mbchurches.ca to subscribe via email COVER: Carson Samson Vancouver waterfront CORRECTIONS: The incorrect photo appeared with the obituary of Elisabeth Rogalsky. We regret the error. The correct photo can be viewed at mbherald.com/obituary/elisabeth-rogalsky/ In our Memories from MAID feature, the typist was incorrectly identified. She is Elizabeth Esau.

Mennonite Brethren Herald | March/April 2016

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[ EDITORIAL

Eat, heal, tell I walked away from a conference on evangelism feeling encouraged. Frankly, that was unexpected. I tend to associate the subject with feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Instead, ReNew, a pastors conference sponsored by the provincial arms of the Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches in Canada, provided the kind of refreshing the title implies on the theme of proclaiming the good news.

As expected, there was Bible exploration, an expert speaker (John Bowen, director of the Institute of Evangelism at Wycliffe College) and inspiring stories. And as is often the case, the stories captured the imagination. These pastors from our midst spoke of sweat and tears alongside their joys and successes. We heard about extraordinary faithfulness on ordinary journeys with real people.

Stories Take the rural pastor recently retired from a matured church plant in a growing bedroom community. The pastor has served on a variety of community boards and has polled leaders about what the church does that the town values. The community centre invited the church to hold a youth drop-in on their premises and even gave some funding. The small church holds a vacation Bible school where they have to cap the number of “mentors” allowed because all the agedout children want to return to serve.

Church members volunteer at a local golf tournament and offer “Operation Red Nose” service when the enthusiastic drinking draws to an end. Following the pastor’s lead, the congregation serves the community with open hearts, ready hands and words about the saving power of Jesus that makes it all possible.

Or a former missionary to West Africa who parlays her transcultural and interfaith experience into relationships among immigrant communities in a major Canadian city. The self-declared hyper-extrovert intentionally arranges the spheres of her life – from where she lives to how she commutes to where she gets involved – to intersect with many people from different backgrounds and to foster learning and understanding between them as she testifies to the Prince of Peace.

Or the community pastor in a core-area urban ministry that gathers people who don’t have a place to fit in. She doesn’t have power stories: her journey with people at risk of homelessness, living with addictions and persistent mental illness is slow, full of detours and obstacles. But she lives out her ministry’s key verse: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

And I wonder if that life-sharing isn’t what it means to share the gospel.

The harvest Eat, heal, tell. That’s how New Testament professor Sheila Klassen-Wiebe from Canadian Mennonite University encapsulates Jesus’s sending of the 12 and the 72 in Luke’s Gospel. Their mission – and ours – is to proclaim the news that the kingdom has come, and do it urgently (don’t stop on the road), but not so single-mindedly that we neglect to receive hospitality (eat). Not so quickly that we don’t observe how those we meet are in need of restoration (heal). As we share our lives with people, we begin to speak of the transformation we have seen and known (tell).

What’s remarkable, Klassen-Wiebe points out, is that the workers Jesus sends into the harvest aren’t experts. Beyond their decisive moments of choosing to follow Jesus, they have only begun to understand who he really is. As the 12 and 72 participate in proclaiming the Kingdom, they discover what the Kingdom is all about, and give God glory for it.

They respond to the white fields with joy, and the necessary workers for the harvest emerge as each one responds with faithfulness to his or her call.

Much of the time, however, we are not harvesting. Very few of us are gifted evangelists, said Bowen (insert sigh of relief here), but we all have a role to play in the multifaceted tasks of the harvest.

Like the pastor/church planter who scatters seeds throughout his community with acts of service, like the missionary who deconstructs misunderstandings that stand in the way of bridge building, like the community pastor who walks through valleys and wrestles with the demons of her motley parish, God’s field hands have many tasks besides reaping.

A long period of preparation precedes our bringing in the sheaves; those who harvest know that work has gone before, and those who clear stones and sow and water don’t despair when they don’t see the harvest.

We follow the Spirit’s leading in the places we find ourselves.

So I’m encouraged. As I have experienced God in my own life, I have things to tell as I go about eating and healing as the Spirit leads me to intersect with people around me.

—Karla Braun

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[ Reader response Offensive headline Re: “Bethany, dead at 88” (The Year that Was, January/February 2016). I thoroughly enjoyed the Witness and Herald last month. I appreciate the heart so vulnerably displayed in many of the articles. Thank you for desiring to produce a real, honest and truth-based publication.

I must say however, that I was shocked and disappointed by “Bethany, dead at 88” on page 19. As an alumna, I was offended at the seeming callousness of this title. For a place that has trained, taught and sent so many, a place that has rich heritage in so many families in this country, to be memorialized like that was offensive.

I would have loved to see a celebratory comment versus one that feels cold and negative. The blurb below the title shows honour to Bethany’s history, but perhaps a title could have been more carefully chosen. Unfortunately this choice of words leaves a bad taste in my mouth rather than fond and thankful memories.

the spirit and vitality of a place of discipleship, growth and transformation. While it is true that the college has closed, in essence, Bethany is still actually very much alive, as thousands of alumni continue to “be a fragrance” wherever they are.

Phil Siebert Online comment Like the death of a beloved friend, the closure of Bethany College was sudden and shocking, despite warning signs regarding its viability.

Similarly to the continuing spirit of the departed through the memories and lessons conferred on their loved ones, the influence of Bethany College is very much alive through its alumni. We apologize for the offence that was caused by our wording. —from the editor

MARCH/APRIL 2016 Mennonite Brethren Herald is 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. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

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Gina Balzer Chilliwack, B.C.

“Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.”

Familiar words, but what does justice require of us? mbherald.com/restack-the-boxes/

Re: “Bethany, dead at 88” (The Year that Was, January/February 2016). It would seem that the harsh caption regarding Bethany College reflects an insensitive, sensationalist flare that misses

Benny Leung: I think practising justice is similar

ISSN: 0025-9349

to following Jesus; it requires us to constantly think, practise and revise.

Copyright The articles printed in the Herald are owned by the Herald or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, Scriptural quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Letters to the editor

Mennonite Brethren Herald welcomes your letters of 150–200 words on issues relevant to the Mennonite Brethren church, especially in response to material published in the Herald. Please include name, address and phone number, and keep your letters courteous and about one subject only. We will edit letters for length and clarity. We will not publish letters sent anonymously, although we may withhold names from publication at the request of the letter writer and at our discretion. Publication is subject to space limitations. Letters also appear online.

Because the Letters column is a free forum for discussion, it should be understood that letters represent the position of the letter writer, not necessarily the position of the Herald or the Mennonite Brethren church. Send letters to: Letters, MB Herald, 1310 Taylor Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3M 3Z6, or by email to mbherald@mbchurches.ca.

About this issue As we journey through the season of Lent, quietly preparing our hearts to receive anew the message of great hope and suffering, this issue considers how we experience God. We are called to speak the good news to others: how have we been with God in ways that are worth talking about? As we share our lives with others, how might the friendships we develop and the lessons we learn be themselves an experience of God’s guiding, sustaining, equipping, loving presence? Praise God that he trusts his simple servants to do his work, despite our tendency to mess up.

Closing off the series on the Transformation survey, Greg Laing of MB Mission reflects on what the results reveal regarding global mission in “Mission-critical,” page 11. He notes some growth areas for our churches to develop concern for those outside our borders. MB Mission mobilizer Lloyd Letkeman tantalizes with hints from Forest Grove Community Church’s story of developing missional partnerships across cultures that enrich all participants.

In “What we say without opening our mouths,” pages 8–10, David Balzer further considers the symbiotic relationship between communication and technology – and its import for faith. Can we use the power of technology wisely to serve us without becoming slaves to its isolating power? How can we discipline our technology to lead us into deeper experiences of God and community?

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Volume 55, Number 2 • Copy run: 14,500 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD IS A PUBLICATION OF

For those who draw close to God particularly through music, it is no surprise that lifetime achievement award-winning music producer Roy Salmond is a grassroots philosopher. In “Listening things into being,” pages 32–33, Roy shares how his ears conduct his experience of God. This Lent and Easter, may you experience God in surprising places and have opportunity to share about it with others.—KB

Mennonite Brethren Herald | March/April 2016

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MENNONITE BRETHREN HERALD

HOMEPAGE Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed

Memories from MAID Easter in Africa

A church in Burkina Faso enjoys a macaroni dinner after the Easter service. Eating together makes for a happy celebration! It’s popular for churches to sew matching outfits for special occasions. —Carol Bergen, MB Mission worker PHOTO:

CAROL BERGEN Easter in Kodaikanal, India, may start with an interdenominational Sunrise service at the edge of the mountains, watching the sun come up through the clouds, then a service in the school’s chapel. Worship in the formal Romanesque building includes praise and worship sung with an organ and sometimes we celebrate a baptism. —Barbara Block, MB Mission worker

PHOTO: BARBARA BLOCK

[ On the web Love that hurts, love that heals Pacific Theatre’s latest production by a local playright explores how we can express and receive “common grace” in the brokenness of our own self-interest and relationships.

MCC provides blankets and warm clothing in Nepal Local aid agency partners help Nepalis still displaced after April 2015’s earthquake.

Emergency food brings hope to families Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s local partners

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in the Middle East provide food to refugee Syrian families with no source of income.

CMU announces environmental studies major The new four-year interdisciplinary major drawing on the fields of science, social science and humanities will teach students to think about how economic, political and social structures interact with the environment and inform how natural resources are used.

read more at www.mbherald.com

A missionary (tentatively identified as Dwight Wiebe) speaks through an interpreter at a youth camp in Nigeria on Easter Sunday morning.

Photo (NP044-11-16) from the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies is available to the public in collaboration with MAID: the Mennonite Archival Image Database. Research more images from Mennonite churches and organizations at archives.mhsc.ca.

Provincial conventions, where art thou?

This year, visit the provincial conferences’ websites to find their coverage of the annual convention, or go to CCMBC’s website for directions to all the reports and links to watch the recorded proceedings on GMMiTV. www.mennonitebrethren.ca/ provincial-conventions-2016/

[ HOMEPAGE

coming events Conference Events 2016

The addition and subtraction of Lent Seasons of seeking God, and elevated intentionality in spiritual practices like Lent or Advent are useful. “Grace removes earning; it does not remove effort,” writes Dallas Willard. So we preach grace and encourage people in their efforts to be “trained / gymnastisized in godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). -Bill Hogg, C2C rep.

We asked members of the BFL to share a glimpse into their choices of taking on or giving up habits as discipleship training in the season leading up to Easter.

David Miller, Que. rep: My wife Patricia and I set apart Good Friday as a day of fasting as a way of expressing thanks and remembering that Christ gave himself for our sins. The life we now live is rooted in his life given for us. Friday evening, we break the fast, celebrating our joy in belonging to God in Christ.

Paul Doerksen, Man. rep.: I read materials on Lenten themes, most helpfully, Alan Lewis’ Between Cross and Resurrection, a fantastic treatment of Holy Saturday.

Paul J. Loewen, Alta. conference pastor: I have given up coffee and media in the morning and focused it toward spending time with God in prayer.

Ed Willms, Ont. executive director: I have been involved in 40 for 40: forty days of prayer with 40 minutes dedicated during that Lent season, a significant event for me personally and my church.

Ingrid Reichard, vice-chair (2015): I start by asking God how he is inviting me to draw near to him this year. I wait, listening and eventually an idea arises. Sometimes it is fasting, other times it is increased reading (the Bible or a Christian writer) or times of prayer, or giving time or money as God puts people on my heart.

Keith Poysti, Man. conference minister: Scriptures relating to Christ’s passion (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22 and the Gospel narratives) help me remember how to participate in Christ’s resurrection life.

Daily during Lent, I read a short passage 3 times, asking what God wants me to see and hear, and pray for God’s help to live out what I receive.

Andrew Dyck, MBBS rep.: Some years ago, I felt invited to fast from certain ambitions preoccupying me. I needed to leave them with God and be faithful with the work that was already in front of me.

Ben Kramer, Sask. rep: In the first years [of discovering the Lenten tradition], I made common sacrifices like coffee and chocolate, and less common things like talk radio – that was the hardest. After having kids, I added things like Resurrection Eggs: each contains a visual cue that reminds our 3 boys about Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.

Mar. 2–3: Multiply Conference, Vancouver.

Mar. 4–5: MBCM Assembly, Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg.

Mar. 11–12: SKMB convention, Bridgeway Church, Swift Current, Sask.

Apr. 15–16: AEFMQ convention, Église

Chrétienne Évangélique de Saint-Eustache, and ETEM-IBVIE, Montreal.

Apr. 22–23: ABMB convention.

Coaldale, Alta.

Apr. 29–30: BCMB convention, Main Street Church, Chilliwack, B.C.

May 1–3: BCMB pastor and spouse retreat, Whistler, B.C.

May 29–31: MBCM pastor and spouse retreat, Hecla Island, Man.

June 14–16: Pastors Credentialing

Orientation, Columbia Bible College, B.C.

July 6–9: Gathering 2016, Toronto.

Partner events 2016

Mar. 4–5: Apologetics Canada Conference.

Mar. 24–Apr. 2: Soar Heartland, Winnipeg.

Apr. 22–24: AWAKE Niagara, Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont.

Apr. 23: Columbia Bible College

commencement ceremony, Abbotsford (B.C.) Pentecostal Assembly.

Apr. 23: MBBS-ACTS graduation, Central Heights Church, Abbotsford, B.C.

Apr. 24: Convocation, Canadian Mennonite University.

May 22: 50th anniversary, Crestwood MB Church, Medicine Hat, Alta.

May 27–29: AWAKE Kitchener-Waterloo, Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church.

June 2–5: ICOMB summit, Panama.

June 6–8: ICOMB post-summit, river village trip, Panama.

June 8–18: SOAR/Rendezvous Montréal.

June 8–17: SOAR Vancouver.

View more events from churches and agencies at mbherald.com/calendar.

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[ FEATURE

What we say without opening our mouths The shaping power of technology Have you heard of a kosher cellphone?

Israel-based Rami Levy Communications introduced one in September 2013 for the ultra-orthodox Jewish community. These web-restricted phones are configured to align lifestyle with faith convictions.

“To apply for one,” reports Forbes.com, “you have to complete a form outlining your reasons for needing a smart phone, and secure the approval of your rabbi, whose name and phone number must be written down so that the company’s supervising rabbis can decide whether they think that you can be trusted to use it responsibly.”

You may never have considered adding your pastor’s name to your cellphone contract; however, the truth this Jewish community acknowledges also applies to Christians who aim to live faithfully: our mediums of communication matter. We do well to pay more attention to the mediums we choose as more and more of our faith experience is mediated by technology.

Acknowledge the influence First, let’s acknowledge that channels of communication are not neutral.

Marshall McLuhan, one of Canada’s most iconic communication theorists, gave us the oft-quoted “The medium is the message.” We may use the phrase without really allowing its insight to penetrate our thinking and strategy. McLuhan was positing that technology will always shift a community’s environment and redefine relationships in the process. In other

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words, we choose our mediums, and then they shape us.

I enjoy taking note of congregations’ decisions around architecture, lighting and seating. McLuhan invites us to consider what frame of mind and physiological sensations these technological choices will prompt in our experience. How might these elements of form, rather than content, function to mediate God’s presence? Dark spaces with spotlightdotted stages conjure profoundly different meanings than a platform arrayed in natural light from encircling windows.

Don’t misunderstand my point here: I’m not disparaging stages and lights. But I do want you to notice that we are vulnerable to creating false expectations – for instance, for our congregations’ participation – when we fail to acknowledge the significant impact of form.

Communion with God is as much, if not more so, a sensory experience of our mediums of communication. Our choices send a message long before we begin to speak. Rather than being discouraged by this insight, I see this as an invitation to imagine how much we can offer a congregation by creatively orchestrating space, physical touch, movement and patterned practices of nonverbal interaction.

Social psychologist Sherry Turkle points to the growing sense of isolation among adolescents, the most “connected” generation in world history. There is a bizarre irony that in an always-on cellphone era, youth are expressing a deep sense of loneliness.

Pay attention to the results Secondly, paying attention is a good idea because our technological choices have the potential to achieve unintended results.

When my 16-year-old daughter returned from a soccer wind-up party, I was surprised to hear her report it had been lonely. Eighteen teenagers at one big table at Boston Pizza could be lonely?! “Every

single girl sat looking down at their smart phone screen all evening and literally the only time they looked up was the five minutes when the pizza arrived.” She described sitting alone in a crowd of “connected” teenagers.

There is always the potential for mediums to collapse on themselves. The very strength they offer, in this case, ease of connection, can actually reverse on itself. You may well argue that it wasn’t the screens that caused the

Boston Pizza disconnect, it was people’s choices, and you would be correct.

Technology is always a combination of hardware and behaviour.

But the “DNA” of some technologies pushes us in particular directions. When capitalist for-profit companies design our devices, their particular bottom line may not ultimately have to do with genuine shared meaning between humans. Enticing us to addictively browse their ad-driven content may be

their aim. We shouldn’t easily dismiss the capacity of a design to disrupt or enhance our social experience.

A grandparent I met at church the other day isn’t being anti-technology when he creates a cell-free time with his grandchildren with a technology drop-off basket at the front door. The teenagers verbally express their deep appreciation, he says. It almost sounded like he helped them achieve something they value. We can help each other define what true

Mennonite Brethren Herald | March/April 2016

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[ FEATURE CONT. connection is by risking to put limits on our technological choices.

Fuel imagination with the Word Finally, I invite us to allow the incarnation to fuel our imagination as we adopt, adapt or reject a technology.

Technology choices in faith communities will always be informed by theology (our view of Scripture, our view of authority and our church tradition), argues communication theorist Heidi Campbell.

Her work has helped me understand why conversations about kosher cellphones or the future of denominational print publications quickly become discussions about biblical peoplehood and authority.

We are always negotiating core theological commitments when we harness technology. The fact that these questions arise in our strategic meetings signals a healthy disposition to be a biblically rooted community.

When I pick up my Bible to discern technology, I go to John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Scripture has developed a strong incarnational bias in my view of technology! I can’t help but be amused when people comment that FaceTime or videocast sermons is very similar to face-to-face interaction: “You see them, you hear them, you connect – it’s basically the

same!” But I’m also perplexed because my understanding of John 1:14 is that Jesus literally moved into the neighbourhood as fully embodied presence.

There is a fundamental qualitative difference between FaceTime and face to face; allowing our language to say anything less is a gross reductionism of the incarnation. There may be various valid rationales for why we would multicast our pastor, but one of them cannot be that it is an extension of his or her presence into the lives of more congregants.

Think of it this way: if John 1:14 read, “and the Word became a digital representation of God delivered to us in two-dimensional pixelated (although HD) form,” we would quickly argue that that isn’t at all the same as “the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood” (The Message). Why then, do we fail to acknowledge this distinction in the way we speak about technology and in the way we implement our mission?

In my years as a radio broadcaster, John 1:14 always provoked me to humbly acknowledge the limitations of the medium even as I wholeheartedly pursued its missional potential. Let’s be clear: the capacity to digitally span geographical space with our content

should never be equated with embodied relational intimacy.

By now, you may well have found yourself reacting very strongly to my prompts in relation to some of the things we all love: our technology. In fairly provocative terms, I invite you to consider whether mediums of communication are neutral, whether technology can lead to unexpected results and whether a high view of the incarnation provides a way forward in our technological choices.

As I consider these dynamics, I keep coming back to that kosher cellphone; perhaps adding my pastor’s name to my smart phone contract isn’t such a bad idea. This kind of intentionality can serve as the catalyst for life-giving creative action in our hurting world.

David Balzer is a member of North Kildonan MB Church, Winnipeg, who teaches communication at Canadian Mennonite University. He is currently on a documentary film adventure to explore how and why people say “Oh my God” (omgthedoc.com). This article is a follow-up to “Beyond the next iPhone: The communication challenge and opportunity of our era” (October/ November 2015).

Toolbox

Discuss

When Religion Meets New Media, by Heidi Campbell (New

York, NY: Routledge. 2010)

How much accountability should we have to our spiritual family for our technology use? Would you allow your pastor to tell you how to use your smart phone?

More Than Talk: A Covenantal Approach to Everyday

Communication (4th ed.), by Bill Strom. (Kendall

Hunt Publishing Company. 2013) Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and

Less from Each Other, by Sherry Turkle. (New York,

NY: Basic Books. 2011)

What messages do we send ourselves and others by the value we place on screen interactions versus in-person face time?

What does the design of our corporate worship space say about how we expect to encounter God in that place? If there are there other places you prefer to go for a deep experience of God’s presence, what makes them special?

Meet us at mbherald.com to engage the ideas in this article.

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[ TRANSFORMATION SURVEY

Mission-critical:

Attention to global mission in Canada’s MB churches

Transformation survey results, Part III It seems that hardly a week goes by without someone offering to interrupt me to do a survey. They want to learn about my experience or uncover my opinions. I may give them the time they request, but without access to the outcomes, I seldom learn anything.

With these reflection articles on the survey pastors filled out in fall, we in the Canadian conference want to turn that around: we want every Mennonite Brethren church to pause and take stock. This final article continues the issues raised by Mark Wessner and Ron Toews in “The heartbeat of the gospel” (December) and “Glass halffull?” (January/February): what are our priorities and values in ministry? What is healthy (to celebrate) and what is not working (to soberly evaluate)?

This final segment turns to the topic of our life on mission with the Great Commission in view. The gospel is always good news, but especially to the lost. The lost reside across the street but also as “unreached peoples” in far-away, politically-closed corners of the world that we call Restricted Access Nations. The final section of the transformation survey asked five questions about the degree of a church’s engagement with cross-cultural ministry. I’d like to offer three reflections.

Encouraging data First, broad-based general support for the cause of global mission is encouraging.

This is reflected in budgets (85 percent designated funds for mission; 79 percent named MB Mission specifically) and promotion (the majority regularly publicize information from MB Mission or other agencies).

However, the results revealed that direct participation of churches is less robust. In

the past five years, about half the churches have sent their lead pastor for an onsite trip and a mere 25 percent plan to send either their lead pastor or a senior leader overseas within the next five years.

question. Could it be true that about half of our churches have our sleeves rolled up while the other half remain inwardly focused?

Though many churches participate in short-term mission (STM) trips, half indicate that these are not an intentional part of the congregation’s strategy and very few (16 percent) use STMs to proactively establish partnerships abroad.

Less than half (44 percent) affirm that they have a standing committee or team to champion global missions.

Remaining challenges My final reflection arises as I ponder what all of this data indicates about the condition of our hearts toward people who have not heard the gospel.

The regular provision of funds and the publishing of missionary updates are mission-critical to accomplish the work.

Global workers everywhere thank you.

MB Mission thanks you.

There is tremendous opportunity here to establish new and strategic practices that include meaningful and mutually encouraging relationships with overseas ministry. (See “Partnership postures” pg.12 by Lloyd Letkeman for one model of how this could be possible.)

But the evidence of the selective or nonstrategic involvement in mission (local and abroad) raises questions about our underlying motivation. There are urgent opportunities at hand to bring the gospel to all corners of the world, but first we need to be people who live with mission clarity.

Attentiveness to cross-cultural mission Second, there is evidence of significant attentiveness in cross-cultural missional ministry toward unevangelized people at home and abroad. The churches that responded to this question have felt led by the Spirit to engage with Canada’s indigenous people (40 percent), Muslims (39 percent), Sikhs (23 percent), Francophones (11 percent) and “other” totalling a whopping 70 percent. This is very good news as we view the changing demographic face of Canada, identify that Quebec has the least number of evangelical Christians in the Americas and take seriously the call to bring the gospel to people groups who literally have no church.

We need prayer support that is aligned toward Kingdom advance; we need humble but bold believers to serve sacrificially here and overseas. This will be costly and inconvenient. But our willingness to follow the Lamb wherever he goes (Revelation 14:4) is entirely connected to the condition of our hearts.

Will you ask the Lord to break your heart with the things that break his?

Having underscored all this good news, the survey does then give us pause: only half of the respondents answered this

This survey took your time but yields lessons and reflections that pay dividends of insight. Are we paying attention? Are we willing to humble ourselves and ask God to change our hearts and priorities?

—Greg Laing serves as Western Canada mission mobilizer with MB Mission.

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Partnership postures How to dance in a mission marriage Einer and Girlesa Zuluaga don’t speak fluent English and not many members of Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, can get much farther than hola and gracias in Spanish. But that hasn’t stood in the way of an empowering partnership. A rich relationship has grown between this Mennonite Brethren missionary couple from Colombia to the jungles of Panama and this suburban church in a mid-sized Canadian city.

When a church responds to an international invitation for partnership, vision for mission is ignited. FGCC’s partnership in Panama fosters longterm relationships, renewal and releases resources for Kingdom purposes. Lead pastor Bruce Enns observes that as the Panama connection began to weave itself into the fabric of the church, financial giving and volunteer engagement increased across all the church’s activities.

Not only are group visits to Panama an integral part of Forest Grove’s mission activity for people of all ages in the church, but visits from the Zuluagas are also regular occasions on FGCC’s calendar. Forest Grove does more than pay lip service to the notion that we both give and receive as we participate on mission. And that hasn’t happened by accident.

Over 15 years of relating with the Zuluagas to spread the gospel and grow discipleship among the Wounaán and Emberra people in Panama, FGCC has learned about their own need to learn and to train their people to serve cross-culturally.

The Zuluagas and FGCC pastors Bruce Enns and Maryanne Berge shared their story of partnership and the lessons they’ve learned at a Partnership Ready Symposium MB Mission facilitated at the MB Ministry Centre in Winnipeg Oct. 3, 2015.

PHOTO: MB MISSION

[ MB MISSION

MB Mission asked church groups who attended to send a delegation that included at least one from each of the following categories: pastoral staff, mission committee and board. A church seeking global partnership will benefit from diverse leadership representation with a variety of perspectives. Living out partnership postures internally is good practice before seeking them externally.

So what did churches learn from the testimony of Einer, Girlesa, Bruce and Maryanne?

Relationship matters! Participants caught the importance of putting relationships first, before money or projects.

Establish a covenant. FGCC, the Zuluagas and the Wounaán people have been on a 15-year journey. Many attendees were impressed by the value of a mutually agreed-upon covenant and the time it takes to craft one.

“The necessity of clarity and of reciprocity” are the key lessons Kevin O’Coin took from the event. The pastor and mission team member at The Meeting Place, Winnipeg,

THE ZULUAGA FAMILY

recognized how important it is for both parties to be clear on their expectations of each other and to provide opportunity for all partners to both give and receive.

The posture of humility and willingness to learn stood out to Grace Klassen, co-chair of the mission mobilizer team at Crossroads MB Church, Winnipeg. “In Christ, with God’s love as motivator and sustainer, an unlikely partnership can become a partnership of equals, [where parties experience] mutual gratefulness, love and concern.”

Conversations between affinity groups continued over lunch after the formal sessions ended. Participants were grateful for the opportunity to share their best ideas and greatest struggles with those from other churches facing similar challenges in their roles.

Church groups left asking themselves what next steps they need to take to enter into a mission marriage that will ignite renewal in their own congregations and further the spread of the gospel in the world.

—Lloyd Letkeman is MB Mission mobilizer for Central Canada.

Toolbox The MB Mission Partnership Ready Symposium is available on video. Contact MB Mission at winnipeg@mbmission.org.

Ellen Livingood of Catalyst Services has a two-part series of practical articles on partnership readiness. http://catalystservices.org/ wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Ptnshp-Ready.pdf http://catalystservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Ptnshp-Rdy2.pdf Nikki White, MBBS graduate in Intercultural Studies reflected on biblical humility and lessons from cross-cultural partnership with her church, North Langley (B.C.) Community Church. http://mbherald.com/do-justly-love-mercy-walk-humbly/ 12

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CHILDREN HAVE FUN AT KING ROAD’S TREK WILDERNESS SUMMER CAMP. PHOTO: SIMEON FAEHNDRICH

HOW TO RUN A GREAT CHURCH CAMP This is the time of year children’s ministries are busy planning their summer adventures as a way to share the life-transforming gospel with children from all walks of life. Looking for inspiration or motivation?

Here’s how three MB churches used barbarians, Death Stars and science experiments to draw children into membership in a new Kingdom.

Away from distractions “We take kids away from distractions of iPods and cellphones for a week faceto-face to build relationships,” says King Road MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C., youth pastor Edgar Wiens, “to give city kids a wilderness experience and tell them about the love of God and the gospel of Jesus.”

Each summer, King Road runs three sessions of TREK (To Reach Every Kid): week-long overnight camps for 80 children/week (Grades 3–5, 6–7, 8–9).

TREK’s 20-year history began with 43rd Avenue Church, Vancouver, and continued as a partnership between King Road and South Hill until the latter closed in 2013.

The weekend before the first camp, 40–50 volunteers haul ten 10x20-foot sleeping tents, a dining shelter, a kitchen

tent, a lake water filtering system and porta-potties to a provincial park or crown land.

TREK transmits the gospel through stories – specially written by a volunteer.

Last year’s theme was “Knights and Barbarians.” “The campers were knightsin-training,” says Wiens, “because as Christians, we need to be soldiers of Jesus.” Many volunteers return year after year because they love the idea of 150 people living out a story together.

High-school-age leaders-in-training (many of whom were once campers) acted the part of the barbarians, humorously trying to disrupt the camp. In reality, these young servants are key to running it: serving the food, washing the dishes, cleaning the outhouses.

Seniors volunteers as well. “Some of our older handymen wouldn’t miss set-up for anything,” says Wiens, who has been praying for a retired couple to serve as camp parents.

TREK’s staff training focuses on preparing them to be spiritually aware. “We are stepping into a battlefield when we teach kids about love of Christ,” says Wiens.

“We need to model Christ.”

TREK is an outreach: the goal is at least 40 percent non-churched kids. Wiens gives camp information to local food banks and shelters to pass on to families.

Through the public school counsellor on TREK’ s planning team, other guidance counsellors have learned about TREK and recommend students who may not be able to afford to attend another camp. The cost

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[ HOW TO RUN A GREAT CHURCH CAMP CONT. is $200 per camper, significantly less than many area camps ($300–400), and King Road sponsors children for whom the cost would be a barrier.

“Parents come up to me and say, ‘Whatever you’re doing there is great because our kids want to come back next year!’” says Wiens, “but I also get to hear the sad parts,” when a camper has had a negative experience or misunderstanding. “These become opportunities to work with parents. My approach is to humble myself and ask forgiveness and open the door for continued dialogue to see how we can improve.”

A big part of follow-up is encouraging counsellors to stay in touch; for example, by inviting campers who live near them to their church. Through emails, King Road invites campers to a TREK reunion, VBS and Athletes in Action soccer camp later in the summer, and midweek programs in the fall.

Wiens recalls how, last summer, after the speaker explained that God welcomes us all into his Kingdom, 10 or 15 teens lifted their hand to say they wanted Jesus in their lives.

“That brought tears to my eyes, and I said, ‘Okay God, let’s keep going. You’re at work.’”

Wiens’ advice for other churches is “Whatever you’re dreaming of doing, do it!” Whether it’s a campout or VBS or soccer camp, “it’s a unique opportunity to take kids out of their shells and pour the love of God on them, to make them feel accepted, to show them Jesus.”

New Hope’s day camp for senior Kindergarteners (age 5) to eighth graders runs five full weekdays followed by a Sunday family carnival (10:00– 2:00). Last summer, 100 campers (out of 200) did not name a church home on their application.

Braun’ s first vision pitch to the church is to get the church’s children to sign up and invite their “Fav5”– New Hope’ s term for non-Christian friends (inspired by a cellphone ad).

“Every night as a family, we’re praying by name for our non-Christians friends so their hearts will be open,” and she encourages the rest of the church to do the same.

Volunteers make sacrifices: giving up days of paid work or vacation time. Some serve all day at camp and then do a shift at work until 2:00 a.m. “People are giving up a lot to be there because they believe in the vision of what we’re doing.”

To put together a team of 100 volunteers, Braun casts “the vision of a mission trip where you don’t have to pay for flights.”

The Sunday after the first vision pitch, she passes a signup sheet through the congregation. Many in the youth group invite their friends from other churches to serve with them. Braun calls, emails or texts each of the previous year’s volunteers personally, encouraging them to return.

A mission trip without the flight

“For a lot of kids, this is the first or only time they’ll have the opportunity to be prayed for,” says Sarah Braun, day camp and junior youth leader of New Hope Niagara Church, St. Catharines, Ont.

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“I made it clear in staff meetings: the gospel message is not just for the kids; it’s for you,” says Braun. “Three adults accepted Jesus.”

Braun and session leaders write their own curriculum, centred on five gospel messages each year: Monday: God loves you.

Tuesday: we all sin.

Wednesday: Jesus died for us.

Thursday: we need to accept him.

Friday: we can tell others about Jesus.

“What makes or breaks it is we latch onto a theme a 12-year-old boy will like: Super Mario, Narnia, Transformers; if you do that, everyone will like it,” says Braun.

Last year’s theme was Star Wars. On Tuesday (“sin” lesson), the campers wrote down selfish things they’d done and put them in a Death Star. On Wednesday (“atonement and resurrection”) and again at the Sunday carnival, they put fireworks inside the Death Star and exploded it.

The message at the end of the week is about discipleship: “Think of the kids

CAMPERS AT NEW HOPE NIAGARA'S STAR WARS-THEMED CAMP THRONG A VOLUNTEER WITH THEIR NEWLY CRAFTED POOL NOODLE LIGHTSABERS.

“I’m a city slicker who likes his comfy bed and shower,” admits Wiens, “but it’s worth it because we are building God’s Kingdom.”

“We’re not doing day camp so a bunch of kids can have fun and learn Bible stories,” says Braun. “We are reaching kids who have never heard the gospel.”

Ontario’s 40-hour community service requirement for high school graduation draws some volunteers. Some aren’t Christians, but are competent to lead a group of children; they work alongside a leader with a strong faith.

PHOTO: SARAH BRAUN

PHOTO: HANNAH ENNS

life. “It’s hard for families who aren’t regular church attenders to get into the Sunday routine,” says Brown.

CHILDREN AT FOREST GROVE’S SCIENCE CAMP MIX CORN STARCH AND WATER TO MAKE QUICKSAND GOO — AN OBJECT LESSON ABOUT HOW JESUS CHANGES PEOPLE.

you were going to pick on, how are you now going to ‘pick on’ them with love?”

Braun emails all parents an invitation to junior youth, a place teens can find support in living the values they learned at camp.

On the final day, leaders pull campers aside to pray with them one-on-one.

In one such prayer time, “one kid talked about contemplating suicide that summer, and nobody knew about it,” says Braun. “We were able to follow-up with the parents and in junior youth.”

Her advice to churches is “Don’t be afraid to go full-day.” The easiest way to fill the afternoon is to bus to a local pool. It’s 30–40 percent more work for volunteers than a half-day VBS, but in New Hope’s experience, the greater convenience for parents draws more children from the community.

“And don’t be afraid to charge for it. Look at what local Y camps cost, charge a little less, and day camp will go from costing you money to being cost neutral.”

A stepping stone into church life

Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, introduces families to church by “giving campers the best experience with Jesus the week they’re here,” says children’s ministries pastor Maureen Brown.

Forest Grove runs two half-day camps: one in June for 40 preschoolers, one in July for up to 100 children entering Grades 1–6.

With Forest Grove’ s emphasis on intergenerational discipleship, Brown looks for curriculum that that encompasses ages. Their 2015 science-themed camp was from Gospel Light, which met their need for both preschool and elementary components. “We don’t want to bore kids, so we look for high energy activities that take us to a place that’s holy.”

The material must have a gospel message: “We provide an opportunity each time we do day camp for children to respond to what Jesus did,” says Brown. Last year, she asked children if they’d like to accept Jesus, to write their name on a paper chain. “I know those are young decisions,” says Brown, but “children are sensing that they want to follow God. Sometimes following precedes fully understanding.”

“We start with how much God loves them, the way he created them and has a plan for their lives,” says Brown. “That plan is Jesus: to come to know him, to grow in him and to show him to others.”

Forest Grove’s Wednesday-night children’s program during the year uses similar activities to day camp and provides a stepping stone into church

Day camps are staffed by many of the same volunteers who run the children’ s programs through the winter, providing relational continuity. Some are seniors, who “bring a comforting, nurturing presence,” says Brown. Others are young moms pushing strollers from station to station.

A big focus is on discipling younger leaders, who shadow storytellers and song leaders, and a couple times a week, take over their roles. Some years, these young leaders go on to reproduce the camp in a rural community, such as Blaine Lake, Sask.

Brown also mentors a Bible college student who takes on much of the role of director.

Last year, a girl entering Grade 3 approached Brown on the third day of camp saying she had asked her mom the night before to pray with her to accept Jesus. “We celebrated together and talked about the party the angels were having,” says Brown. “We give the message, but the Holy Spirit does the work. And how beautiful for the parent to do with her child and for us to come alongside them.”

Brown’s advice for other churches: “The key for me is that people have conviction in their heart to be part of this. I don’t want to twist arms.”

If a church wants to start a camp, “don’t force it,” she says. “Pray first; ask God to tell you who you should connect with to put a team together.” If they feel called they’ll know, “I’m not just in the kitchen making snack; I’m part of what God’s doing in children’s lives this week.”

And don’ t worry about numbers: “Some of my greatest experiences have been when we had a small attendance,” say Brown. “Just trust that God is bringing who needs to be there.”

-Angeline Schellenberg

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ICOMB:

International Community of Mennonite Brethren

Singing and dancing with a water can Performative worship songs in Angola teach Bible truth “Why is that woman carrying a huge water can on her head?” I thought to myself.

“Why are people putting chairs on their heads? Or Bibles? What’s going on?”

Everyone was on their feet, dancing in a loose conga line through the church and singing loudly in harmony to the beat of a couple of drums.

I was in a Mennonite Brethren church in Saurimo in Eastern Angola, Africa, at the end of a weeklong trip in the Angolan countryside. I had been sick the day before, and had agreed to an injection of what turned out to be a drug banned in most countries, but I was pretty sure I was not seeing things.

Then the pastor helpfully explained. “They are singing a song about the exodus of Israel from Egypt. The things on their heads show how they carried all their goods out with them.”

Discipleship tool How fun! What a memorable way to teach the Bible stories – completely relevant to kids and adults alike.

I thought of a few other encounters in Angola with the power of music. Two days before, some 200 people from the church met my fellow travellers and me at the edge of Cafunfo. We marched slowly for almost an hour to the church, while singing songs about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We weren’t worthy of that comparison, but that’s what they did.

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On my first visit to Angola in 2012, a brother in the Rocha Pinto church in Luanda led a choir, and sang lyrics he made up extemporaneously. My interpreter said, “They are welcoming us to Angola and their church!” Then the brother faced me, singing directly to (at) me! My interpreter said, “He’s singing, ‘Papa David will you take care of us?’”

Deuteronomy 6 teaches “bind the law on your hands and foreheads” as a way to remind Israel of the importance of the law.

Here in Angola, we saw people reminding one another of specific truths and stories through song and dance.

verse has become my all-time favourite too! What powerful theology is written in a few short rhyming lines!

Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure; how measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure – the saints’ and angels’ song.

Music written by and for the church is a powerful discipleship tool.

So much can be said through music.

Latent force Last summer, as I drove home alone from Calgary to Winnipeg, I put on Dave Brubeck’s Christmas album. When he played “Joy to the World,” I sang along. The arrangement makes the tune dramatically slow, so I really entered into the words. God spoke to me in a very deep way about the fullness of the Incarnation in that moment.

Music of the heart In Africa, I see a pattern of singing biblical content. Sometimes I hear gospel hymns in Africa that were imported by North American missionaries, but less and less.

The indigenous church must graduate to writing their own music for culturally relevant discipleship and witness. I’m glad our ICOMB members are mature and gifted enough to do that.

I’ve sung “Joy to the World” a thousand times since childhood. The memorized words are a latent force in my mind that could be unlocked in a powerful moment.

In Latin America, I hear lots of songs about the power of God in spiritual warfare. In North America, we most often sing emotional songs – expressing love and admiration to God – but we still sing theologically oriented songs like the one quoted above.

My mom used to do household chores singing “The Love of God.” Her favourite

Wiebe’s Witness

[ WIEBE’S WITNESS

Drawing from his travels to visit MB churches around the world, ICOMB executive director David Wiebe offers insights on faith.

Will we “cross pollinate”? Will we see people dancing in North American churches with chairs on their heads?

Well, maybe in our African-immigrant churches! In the Sudanese church in Calgary where I worshipped earlier this year, there were glimpses of Africa. I do hope we recognize the potential of music to disciple us.

I hope worship coordinators know our Confession of Faith, and choose music consistent with that. Or, for that matter, use the liturgies written from the Confession.

I believe that careful use of music will

strengthen and unify our movement – no matter what style we prefer.

David Wiebe is a fan of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and podcasts on church history (57 hours and counting).

After two decades of working for the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, he has served the International Community of Mennonite Brethren as executive director since 2011.

did you know?

Angola MB Conference (“IEIMA”) has about 12,000 members in 90 churches.

IEIMA originated when Angolan refugees in DR Congo returned to start new MB churches in the mid-1980s.

A leadership change in 2015 saw Sister Joana Tanta Garcia elected President of IEIMA. She is a pastor in the oil-rich province of Cabinda. Other leaders come from churches spread throughout the country. There are big challenges and expenses for meetings of the board.

THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH IN SAURIMO, ANGOLA, SINGS AND DANCES THEIR BIBLE LESSON FROM EXODUS. PHOTO: DAVID WIEBE

The reduced price of oil has affected Angola deeply and rendered the situation particularly difficult for the church in some areas.

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[

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Letting go of “mine” When my sons were young, we would go for ice cream treats from time to time.

With each boy, we saw the “mine” phase play out in these encounters.

Dad says, “Let’s go for a treat”– meaning unusual gift, something special. Dad joyfully gifts his child with ice cream and asks his happy child for a lick, to which the ever-grateful child says, “No! It’s mine!”

Dad is thinking, “Whose idea was it to go for a treat? Who paid for the treat? Nothing about this is yours!” Then out of obligation and the hope of ensuring future treats, the child “shares” the treat with Dad. If you’re a parent, you’ve had this experience. You may have even thought, “Where did I go wrong in my parenting?”

You didn’t. I know I’m assuming a few things, but go along with me for few moments.

Mine syndrome As adults, we still struggle with “mine” syndrome. It’s not that we’re incapable of genuine acts of sharing; it’s that it does not come naturally for us. Culturally, we’re told that we deserve everything we have and even some things we don’t have.

Spiritually, our fallen nature created in us a sense of incompleteness that we seek to change by acquiring things, experiences, accolades and accomplishments. We want to feel and demonstrate that we’re unique from all others. Don’t believe me?

Look at Facebook.

Pastor and author Jon Tyson described this human pursuit at a seminar I attended: “The church’s challenge is to cultivate the lordship of Christ over people who have been carefully crafted

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and conditioned to worship themselves.”

If I am worshipping myself, “mine” is a natural outcome of my worship.

We’ve become convinced that we are our own moral centre. So to deny that which we feel enhances our self worship becomes “sin.” To deny my sexual desires is “sin.” To deny my material or experiential desires is “sin”– at least that’s what we’re told.

The power of the cross The challenge of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is that until we release “mine,” we cannot receive or enjoy the beauty of what God has done for us.

To release “mine” is to submit to one who created us. When we let go, we discover what we long for most. It’s a move from worshipping self to worshipping our Creator, Redeemer and King.

That’s why I love the cross: the simple image of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on my behalf; a symbol of horror, glory and humility. He did for me what I could not do for myself. There is no “mine” in the cross. It is the place where my selfpreoccupation comes to die so I can embrace life in my Saviour.

That’s why I enjoy songs (like this one

by Chris Tomlin) that draw us into the power, reality and joy of the cross, from “mine” to Jesus. They redirect our worship to the one who deserves it, the one who died for us and rose again to new life.

At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life I’m in awe of You I’m in awe of You Where Your love ran red And my sin washed white I owe all to You I owe all to You, Jesus

At the cross, I surrender my life. I lay it all down. I crucify “mine.” I die.

The cross is where our independence and self-reliance is broken. The cross is where sin dies and new life begins. The cross is where we lay down our burdens. The cross is where our pain is washed away. The cross is where God makes reconciliation possible.

The cross was God’s plan to reveal himself to us, as Paul teaches the Colossians: “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions” (Colossians 1:19–21, NLT).

When we embrace the cross and all that God accomplished through Christ, we can sing with joy and passion Tomlin’s aptly penned bridge:

Here my hope is found Here on holy ground Here I bow down Here I bow down Here arms open wide Here You save my life Here I bow down Here I bow down.

Willy Reimer is executive director of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. He lives in Calgary.

Statement on Study Conference from the boards At the January 2016 meetings of the Board of Faith and Life (Jan. 24–26) and Executive Board (Jan. 26–28) of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, both groups spent significant time processing feedback they received on the October 2015 Study Conference via personal comments, event evaluations, meetings with church leaders and letters of affirmation and concern sent to both boards. Over the course of the meetings, the BFL and EB began responding to the letters addressing specific concerns.

The EB affirms the work of BFL to provide theological watchcare to CCMBC by upholding the Confession of Faith. We recognize that though the October 2015 Study Conference “God, Sex and Church: A theology of human sexuality” was well received by some, it led others to question CCMBC leadership’s commitment to the Confession of Faith.

The EB affirms the work of BFL and their commitment to Scripture as articulated through the MB Confession of Faith.

The EB is fully committed to the Bible as the infallible Word of God and the authoritative guide for faith and practice.

We stand with the BFL in upholding our historical biblical definition of marriage as a covenant relationship intended to unite a man and a woman for life. We are committed to the teaching that sexual intimacy rightfully takes place only within marriage between a woman and a man.

The EB encourages churches to engage with and study the Confession of Faith, applying its teaching with diligence and grace as we seek to be a redeeming community focused on Christ and his gospel.

Harold Froese moderator, Executive Board Ingrid Reichard vice-chair, Board of Faith and Life (2015)

GATHERING 2016 Gathering 2016 will be hosted in Toronto at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, July 6–9, 2016.

The theme verse, 1 Corinthians 9:16 proclaims “Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!” (NLT)

G ATHERING AD

By the radical, life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ, we are COMPELLED to preach the good news to all people near and far. Our mission is urgent and must be engaged together as the MB churches of Canada. Jesus calls his disciples to join him in the Father’s mission and to experience deep community on the journey.

Join together with Mennonite Brethren from across Canada in Toronto as we worship our King and explore how we can multiply the impact of our churches and shape our mission as Canadian Mennonite Brethren. Don’t miss this opportunity to worship, learn and discern with our faith family.

For more information visit www.gathering2016.mennonitebrethren.ca (updated regularly).

JULY 6-9, 2016 / HILTON TORONTO AIRPORT HOTEL Gathering2016.MennoniteBrethren.ca

Willy Reimer executive director, Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

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[ REPORTS

Executive Board Meetings Report Board of Faith The Executive Board of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches hosted the provincial representatives in Abbotsford, B.C., Jan. 28, 2016. This annual gathering of staff and board members from the provincial conferences is a strategic meeting where the CCMBC Executive Board processes significant issues and receives important feedback from the provinces.

This year’s processing focused on the October 2015 Study Conference and on new ministry opportunities with MB Mission initially presented at the 2015 AGM. (See MB Herald blog post “Hand in hand across borders.”)

BFL vice-chair Ingrid Reichard and executive director Willy Reimer, who both participated in the BFL’s meetings at the beginning of the week, guided discussion on Board of Faith and Life matters. The conversation was robust and passionate with leaders from across the country affirming the authority of Scripture, our unified commitment to the Confession of Faith and the need for continued pastoral support and theological guidance for Canadian Mennonite Brethren.

Harold Froese, moderator of the Executive Board, facilitated the ministry opportunities conversation that started when the USMB conference approached MB Mission for assistance. As the nations come to Canada through increased immigration and as the C2C Network receives more requests to assist church planting overseas, MB leaders are exploring the potential synergies of MB Mission and C2C working together. The group was asked to consider, “What might it look like to create a mission group with MB Mission and C2C to increase mission impact locally, nationally and globally?”

Discernment continues, and a report will

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be brought to Gathering 2016.

The Executive Board finalized the details of its five-year strategic plan Jan. 29–30.

Central to the strategic plan is a common ministry model that provincial leaders have affirmed.

The financial update noted that, while our church support increased slightly in 2015, it was $335,000 below our faith goal of $1,575,000. As a result, adjustments are being made to the 2016 budget expenditures. The work to launch CCMBC Legacy Fund Inc. has been progressing well. Legacy operations may begin in late summer or fall of 2016.

CCMBC Legacy Fund Inc. will replace CCMBC Stewardship Ministries, offering the same services for depositors for the purpose of providing mortgages for churches and pastors, payroll services for churches and accounting services for church plants and provincial conferences.

The BFL, provincial and Executive Board meetings coincided with CCMBC’s Week of Prayer, focused on Micah 6:1–8. The daily schedule included intentional periods of focused fellowship, devotion and prayer.

We are thankful for all who joined together from across Canada to pray.

It is an honour to serve with passionate Christ followers who love the church and seek to lead in ways that maximize effective ministry on the ground through local churches. The Executive Board meets again in Winnipeg, May 10–11, 2016.

Harold Froese moderator, Executive Board Willy Reimer executive director, Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

The Board of Faith and Life met this January for three days of meetings. The majority of our time was devoted to a debrief of the Study Conference, including the writing of responses to the letters of affirmation and concern which were sent to the BFL. We are grateful for the commitment to our Confession of Faith and to community that these letters demonstrate.

As part of the debrief, we identified the need for a significantly new approach to how we do study conferences in light of many changing factors in our denomination. Just three such factors are as follows: we can no longer assume 1. Audience: a common level of biblical literacy, a common hermeneutic, a common level of preparation for the discussion of the topic or a common approach to church governance.

open mic time loses its intended 2. The value if the previous assumptions are not in place and if the ground rules of engagements aren’t very clear. the venue has to allow for 3. Finally, exegetical/inductive engagement

with Scripture and with community.

The planning team for the next Study Conference has already been selected, and we look forward to a fresh format in 2017, when our topic will focus on discipleship and the role of the gospel in the formation of Christ’s followers.

In addition, the BFL is working on the ongoing resourcing of our churches on the topic of human sexuality.

The BFL also produces the BFL pamphlet series, and at this meeting we determined a need to update the

and Life Report pamphlet on Homosexuality and to produce new pamphlets on the Sanctity of Life and End of Life issues.

Unexpected.

We eagerly work with everyone who chooses to be generous – not just Mennonites.

At this meeting, the BFL also approved a Statement on Ordination that contains a description of our common practice regarding ordination along with some guidelines on ordination for our churches.

The Statement on Ordination will be published in the upcoming issue of the Herald and on the CCMBC website, and will also be communicated directly to our churches. Finally, the BFL would like to thank these members for their service: Terrance Froese, who is leaving the BFL due to a ministry role change, Brian Cooper, who stepped down as chair due to workload demands, and Ingrid Reichard, whose term as vice-chair is ending and who is taking time off from serving on the BFL to complete her DMin. We welcome Paul Loewen from Alberta as our new interim vice-chair. The new BFL chair was awaiting confirmation at press time.

Please pray for your BFL team as we carry on in our commitment to provide theological watchcare rooted in our commitment to scriptural authority as expressed through our Confession of Faith.

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Mennonite Brethren Herald  | March/April 2016

21

[ NEWS

HUGO FRIESEN (L) AND TED REGEHR (R) RECEIVED AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM LUCILLE MARR, MHSC PRESIDENT.

North Langley (MB) Community Church pledges expansion

Hugo Friesen and Ted Regehr receive MHSC Awards of Excellence

North Langley Community Church members voted “yes” on a multi-million dollar expansion plan with emphasis on ministry, renovation and refreshment.

Holding their annual general meeting at the new Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford, B.C., gave the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada (MHSC) the opportunity to see this new facility that tells the faith story of Mennonites in the Fraser Valley and is also the new home of the Mennonite Historical Society of B.C. Representatives from Mennonite historical societies and organizations from across Canada met on Jan. 13–16, 2016.

NLCC members formalized “Vision 2017” in a vote Dec. 6, 2015. North Langley has already started on their capital and pledge campaign to make up the gap between their estimated $3.8-million costs and the $1.8-million previously pledged toward new outreaches.

The major ministry expansion plan focuses on planting a church, probably close to NLCC’s existing campus, to give effective management to a parish model of multiplication. The target to launch the new venture is September 2016.

For overseas outreach, North Langley will partner with Wellspring Foundation to provide schooling to children in Rwanda.

“Vision” also embraces improvements to current outreaches to NLCC’s own community. Among the ministries to be augmented are “Catalyst” events: • Super Single Moms’ Saturday; • “Advent Conspiracy,” (“give Christmas away”); • “Making Spirits Bright” concerts, fellowship and dessert nights in mid-December; • Summer Day Camp expansion to minister to 300 neighbourhood children.

NLCC congregational volunteers, not staff, will carry most of the responsibilities for these events.

Existing facilities will be updated and enhanced to maximize ministry potential.

A modest, 4,000-square-foot addition will be built as part of church’s overall redesign.

“Our website is part of our foyer,” says executive pastor Steve Boakes, so the church will spend some Vision funding on rebuilding its website and adding a databank.

“This is worth it, friends,” says lead pastor Matthew Price. “Let’s make this happen!”

—Barrie McMaster, B.C. correspondent 22

March/April 2016 | www.mbherald.com

Among the many reports was a success story about the first 10 months of the Mennonite Archival Imaging Database (MAID). This collaborative project gives the public greater online access to photos held by Mennonite archives and has brought publicity and interest to these collections with 41,000 unique visitors to the MAID website and 160 images purchased in 10 months. A new member of the MAID project is the Mennonite Library and Archives, Fresno.

This year the MHSC Award of Excellence was given to Hugo Friesen of Abbotsford, B.C., and Ted Regehr of Calgary, Alta.

Friesen, a teacher and principal before his retirement, was involved in the early attempts to organize a Mennonite archive in B.C. and became the first archivist for the Mennonite Historical Society of B.C., serving from 1993 to 2005. He coordinated all the activities of the archives in its early years and has continued to work as a volunteer.

Ted Regehr worked at the Public Archives of Canada from 1960 to 1968 after which he taught history at the University of Saskatchewan. He has contributed much to the preservation of Mennonite history in Canada, serving as president of the MHSC in its early years, writing many books and articles including Mennonites in Canada Volume 3, and working with the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta and its archives and library. Regehr mentioned that it was Frank H. Epp, his pastor when he lived in Ottawa, who got

PHOTO: RICHARD THIESSEN

him involved in Mennonite history.

The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO), which began 20 years ago in 1996, continues to grow. Sam Steiner reported that it is difficult to keep the statistics up to date, especially congregational information that needs to be done at the grassroots level.

Among the discussions about future projects was how to do more digitization of books and periodicals. Accessibility and search ability are enhanced in digital form, but it is labour intensive to put them online.

The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies reported that theChristian Leader magazine has been digitized and is ready to be released on a USB stick.

MHSC is proposing “A People of Diversity” project and has applied for a grant to help celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. If the grant is approved, there are plans for an oral history project and a conference that would recognize how diverse the Mennonites in Canada have become since 1970.

The MHSC executive for 2016 includes Richard Thiessen as president, Royden Loewen as vice president, Alf Redekopp as secretary, Conrad Stoesz as treasurer and Barb Draper as member-at-large.

—Mennonite Historical Society of Canada release

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[ NEWS

WOMEN FROM KING ROAD CHURCH, ABBOTSFORD, B.C., WEAR DRESSES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER TO RAISE AWARENESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Dressed up to stop trafficking Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment.

Never be without it (Colossians 3:12b, 14, The Message).

“I have to do that next year!” Brianna Janz thought when she saw a Facebook friend wearing a dress every day in December to raise awareness and funds for International Justice Mission’s (IJM) work on behalf of human trafficking victims.

So in December 2014 and 2015, Brianna and her sister Julie Janz, together with friends from inside and outside King Road MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C., donned a daily dress in support of IJM. “Dressember is attractive because it’s something tangible we could do,” says Julie. “Human trafficking is a huge problem, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. At the heart of Dressember is the fight for dignity for women exploited for their femininity – that’s something I get excited about.”

“We definitely feel the church behind us.”

The wife of the German congregation’s pastor joined them this past year. “It’s cool to engage not just our generation but a variety of people,” says Julie.

“Every day you put on dress,” says Brianna, “you think of people who don’t have a choice of what they wear and what they do.”

What does the Lord require?

As Mennonite Brethren, “I feel our desire for peace has a big influence on making sure people are safe,” says Brianna.

Referencing Luke 12:48, she says, “When you’re given much, much is required; I’ve been given a great family and safety and education, so what does God require me to do with what I’ve been given?”

In Julie’ s university classes, answering “Why are you wearing a dress?” gives her plenty of opportunities to share her values regarding justice.

“When people ask, the verse that pops up for me is Micah 6:8: ‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ I tell them, ‘This is one of the reasons.’” The verse also appears in King Road’ s social media posts – viewed by many outside the church.

From knowing to doing History major Brianna says, “In every course I take – whether on the Holocaust or the American civil rights movement – we look at what the church did in those situations. It pushes me to ask, ‘What are the keystone moments in our world today that people will look back on and say, ‘What were [Christian] people doing?’”

The huge scary goal Dressember is the brainchild of thencollege student Blythe Hill from Los Angeles. In her TEDxtalk, Hill explains how, after she began wearing dresses every December out of boredom, she decided to use this challenge to raise money for human trafficking victims.

Inspired by Movember (when men stop shaving in November to raise support for prostate cancer research), in 2013, Hill set a “huge scary goal” of raising $25,000 US for IJM. With the help of 12,000 women in 32 countries, she reached her goal by Day 3. They raised $165,000 in a month. In 2014, Dressember grew to 26,000 women and $462,000.

In 2015,$867,000 poured in by Dec. 31.

Fundraising continues toward the goal of reaching $1 million by the end of January.

For Julie, a social work student, “Dressember awakened a desire in me to pray about how God wants to use me in the field of helping victims.”

The issue of modern slavery “forces me to take my faith to a level of action,” says Julie. “James talks about not just knowing the Word, but doing it (James 1:22). When I know about trafficking, I can’ t profess to be a Christian unless I do something about it.”

—Angeline Schellenberg

Mennonite Brethren Herald | March/April 2016

23

[ FAMILY NEWS Births

Brotzell – to Graham & Sarah (Martens) of Saskatoon, a son, Lincoln Anthony, Jan. 7, 2016.

Bushman – to Andy & Karen (Fehr) of Osler, Sask., a son, Owen Calvin, Dec. 6, 2015.

Carroll – to Dustin & Christine of Port Rowan, Ont., a son, Jackson Larry William, Nov. 6, 2015.

Cyr – to Cam & Karla of Pinegrove, Ont., a son, Theodore Benjamin, Dec. 11, 2015.

Doerksen – to Juergen & Susanne of Winnipeg, a son, Callen James, Nov. 13, 2015.

Duke – to Kayla of Saskatoon, a daughter, Sephora-Rose, Dec. 26, 2015.

Enns – to Brayden & Sarah (Foster) of Saskatoon, a daughter, Adaya Louise Victory, Jan. 25, 2016.

Fast – to Tom & Marcy (Janzen) of Abbotsford, B.C., a daughter, Haven Lorianna Peace, Dec. 5, 2015.

Giesbrecht – to Henry & Nancy (Neufeld) of Gem, Alta., a son, Jayden, Oct. 29, 2015.

Good – to Greg & Meaghan of Beamsville, Ont., a daughter, Scarlet Grace, Oct. 29, 2015.

Isaak – to Scott & Julia (Klassen) of Elm Creek, Man., a son, Levi Daniel, Oct. 30, 2015.

Jantzen – to Conrad & Chandara of Saskatoon, a daughter, Elizabeth Sokhanya, Jan. 23, 2016.

Martens – to Dan & Laura (Van Wieren) of Langley, B.C., a son, Bennett Walter, Nov. 19, 2015.

Neufeld – to Jonathon & Rebecca (Toews) of Saskatoon, a daughter, Rosie Charlotte Marie, Oct. 30, 2015.

Penner – to Tommy & Annette (Toews) of Abbotsford, B.C., a son, Brayden Nick, Dec. 5, 2015.

Peters – to Tim & Jaymie (Baumann) of Saskatoon, a son, Silas James, Nov. 27, 2015.

Weddings

Nicholas Buma of Mount Hope, Ont., & Kathryn Heidebrecht of St. Catharines, Ont., Sept. 6, 2015.

Vic Fast & Emily Bowman, both of St. Catharines, Ont., Oct. 17, 2015.

Joel Friesen of Portage la Prairie, Man., & Elise Fortier of White City, Sask., Sept.

19, 2015.

John Thiessen & Elizabeth Unruh, both of St. Catharines, Ont., Sept. 26, 2015.

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TRANSITIONS

Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba appointed Darryl Loewen executive director, beginning August 2016. Darryl previously served as teacher and principal at Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna, Man., and in church and community organization roles.

Previous director Ron Janzen stepped down in October 2015.

Former director Peter Rempel is serving in the interim.

In collaboration with the Quebec conference of MB churches, L2L appointed Alain Després as regional associate, beginning January 2016. In this part-time role, Després will facilitate spiritual discovery processes with leaders and churches to help them discern next steps and discover resources. Després previously served the C2C Network as provincial mobilizer and continues to serve the youth ministry at Église Chrétienne de Sainte-Thérèse.

Vijay Manuel was appointed head of schools at Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C., Feb. 1, 2016.

Vijay is an MEI alumnus with 20 years’ experience as a public school teacher and administrator.

He has also served as worship pastor at South Abbotsford MB Church, and as chair and founder of Character Abbotsford Society.

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March/April 2016 | www.mbherald.com

Melanie Unger began as associate pastor at FaithWorks on Nov. 17, 2015. She holds a BEd from the University of Winnipeg and is working on masters courses in theology at Canadian Mennonite University. For the past 6 years, she served as spiritual life facilitator at CMU. Melanie and John have 2 sons.

The Saskatchewan MB conference executive board has received the resignation of Terrance Froese as director of ministry, effective after the March provincial convention. Terrance will be relocating to B.C. due to family commitments and is open to God’s leading for future vocation. “We are thankful to God for Terrance’s impactful service; he has cared for our churches well,” says moderator Philip A. Gunther.

“We also thank Wanda for her role in partnering with him in this ministry.”

After serving Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary Canada as the founding president for 5 years, Bruce Guenther has chosen to return to teaching. He will transition to sabbatical leave June 30, 2016, and return to the classroom in fall. During Bruce’s tenure, the seminary obtained a provincial charter authorizing MBBS to grant degrees, the faculty team was expanded in Winnipeg and Langley and he served as a spokesperson for B.C. theological schools with the government of the province. “Without Bruce’s sacrificial and strong leadership, it is doubtful we would be where we are today, a good seminary poised for expanded service to our churches,” says board chair Ron Penner.

Don Froese will complete his ministry at The Gathering, the Broadway campus of Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, in summer 2016 to begin seminary studies. After serving as pastor of young adults and worship with Forest Grove since 2007, Don planted this nontraditional worship community in 2010.

After serving as pastor for more than 15 years, Tony Martens completes his ministry at Riverbend Fellowship, Borden, Sask., at the end of March 2016. He will be looking at other pastor ministry opportunities.

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27

CHURCH STAFF Lead Pastor

Purity, worshiP, obedience, and h o P e

Thompson Christian Centre Fellowship (MB church) welcomes applicants for the position of lead pastor. We are seeking an individual with a heart for God and his church. Our average attendance is 40 to 50 people. Please send inquiries to: Caroline Winship at carolinewinship@gmail.com.

Sr. Associate Pastor

Jericho Ridge is looking for a Sr. Associate Pastor. This 3/4 time position (30 hours per week) is open to both men and women who can assist us in living out our core purpose of cultivating disciples of Jesus who embody God’s love everywhere we go. The core functions of this position include: 1) Providing robust support to our ministries (people-focused administration), 2) Providing pastoral care for people (vigilant and compassionate shepherding) 3) Strengthening our systems (process-oriented thinking) For a Position Profile and details on how to apply, please visit www.jerichoridge.com

Lead Pastor

Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, British Columbia is seeking a full-time lead pastor with pastoral and/or other work experience. We are a church with about 200 attenders. We intend to continue to grow and be an evangelizing influence for Christ in the multi-cultural community of East Richmond, B.C. Applicants must have a strong commitment to Anabaptist beliefs centred on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. The candidate is expected to have proven skills in effective preaching and communication; congregational care and counselling; pastoral team leadership and developing lay leaders; and working with and relating to a multicultural community. This position is available starting summer 2016. Please send applications to pastoralsearch@peacemennonite.ca.

CLASSIFIEDS Mennonite Collegiate Institute, located in Gretna, Manitoba, is searching for a principal to start in August 2016. Our mission is to educate young people in an Anabaptist-Christian context, seeking to develop each student’s God-given potential, providing a practice ground for maturing faith in Jesus Christ, in thought, love and action. Our principal must be passionate about our mission, provide effective leadership, promote a vision for Christian education and build community – both within the school and its supporting constituency. We are seeking a person with a strong calling to serve within this dynamic context. MCI continues to build upon a strong heritage of Christian education, which began in 1889. Our current enrolment includes 127 students in Grades 7-12. Approximately one-half live on campus in the school’s residence. To find out more about this exciting position or to submit a resume, please contact the search committee at searchteam@mciblues.net. Applications close March 31st, 2016.

28

March/April 2016 | www.mbherald.com

August H. Konkel is president emeritus of Providence University College and Theological Seminary at Otterburne, Manitoba.

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FINISH LINES

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. —2 Timothy 4:7

Wendelin Mann Jan. 17, 1920–Apr. 9, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Kaminskaja, Russia PARENTS: Albert & Dorothea (Vegert) Mann MARRIAGE: Mary (Dyck) Mann, Sept. 4, 1948 [d. Aug. 14, 2011] BAPTISM: Assiniboine River, 1937 CHURCH: Community Fellowship, Newton,

Man.; Elmwood MB, Winnipeg FAMILY: children Lois (Ivan) Zacharias, Dorothy (Garry) Froese, Phyllis (John) Schmidt, Gerald (Marian); 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren including Naomi [d.]; 1 brother

Wendelin immigrated to Canada at 10, settling in Elie, Man. He met Mary at Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute. After 2 years at MB Bible College, Winnipeg, Wendelin taught geography and history in Manitoba. He spent his most rewarding years as teacher librarian at Garden City Collegiate, Winnipeg. He enjoyed singing tenor in a college male quartet, church choir and the Gospel Light Radio Male Choir for many years. He also served as lay minister in MB churches. After retiring, Wendelin volunteered in the libraries at MBBC and the MCC offices. He continued his love of reading, travelling, serving and spending time with family. Wendelin enjoyed the arrival of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He called himself “a bird with a broken wing” after Mary’s death. Faith and family were pillars in Dad’s life, and he lived his convictions to his last days.

Eva Lena Reddekopp Apr. 10, 1943–July 29, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Rosenhof, Sask.

PARENTS: Jacob & Helena (Fehr) Reddekopp CHURCH: Parliament, Regina FAMILY: brother Adam; brother-in-law Les

(Shirley) Penner; step-sister Nettie (Dave) Neustaeter

Eva grew up in Rosenhof, Sask., then worked in Swift Current, Sask. In 1980, Hans Dyck led her to the Lord. She lived the past 25 years in Regina, most of them at Heritage Towers,

where she was part of the social club, enjoying Bingo, card games and meals. At Parliament Church, she was part of the Heritage Builders seniors’ group and she helped with kids club.

She loved children, always greeting them with conversation. She also volunteered for the Salvation Army. If there was a need and her health permitted, Eva was eager to help.

1949, he left his job in B.C., promising to stay in Winnipeg until Betty married him. They married in September. David found work in Chilliwack, B.C. David was a greeter at Yarrow MB Church for 20 years. He sang in the men’s chorus, and together with Betty, served as deacon. After 39 years in Yarrow, they retired to Kelowna, B.C., near their daughter. He built many wood projects as gifts. He sang in the Willow Park Church fellowship choir. David is remembered for his sense of humour and contagious laugh. He was a faithful prayer warrior for his family, and often prayed “to be a light in this dark world.” He loved Betty and their family by going the second mile.

Jacob Reimer Sept. 2, 1915–Aug. 5, 2015

Mary Stobbe Oct. 25, 1932–Aug. 9, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Starbuck, Man. PARENTS: Jacob & Anna (Penner) Reimer MARRIAGE: Magdalene Dick, 1956 [d. 2000] BAPTISM: Coaldale (Alta.) MB FAMILY: children Doreen (Len) Wedel, Melvin

(Charlene), Leona (Brent) Brodoway, Harvey (Gwen); 6 grandchildren

Jacob lived in Coaldale from infancy until death. He gave his heart to Christ at 12. A man of faith, he served the church boys' club and choir. Jacob’s male quartet sang in church, care homes, prison and on the radio.

He and Magdalene farmed. Jacob passed on his work ethic to his children. He cherished time with grandchildren.

David Koehn Oct. 15, 1927–Aug. 6, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: La Salle, Man. PARENTS: Jon & Mary Koehn MARRIAGE: Betty Klassen, Sept. 24, 1949 BAPTISM: North Kildonan MB, Winnipeg,

August 1944 CHURCH: Yarrow (B.C.) MB; Willow Park, Kelowna, B.C. FAMILY: Betty; children Carol (Jim) Stobbe, Gordon (Bonny); 5 grandsons; 13 greatgrandchildren including Leah Joy Stobbe [d.]; 3 siblings

David accepted Jesus as Saviour at an early age. He left school at 15 to work at Dyck’s Box Factory, helping support his younger siblings until he was 20. David met Betty at church.

In 1946, his family moved to Yarrow, B.C., where David became a skilled carpenter. June

BIRTHPLACE: Yarrow, B.C. PARENTS: John & Susanna Braun MARRIAGE: Alvin Stobbe, July 30, 1955 BAPTISM: Yarrow MB CHURCH: Bakerview MB, Abbotsford, B.C. FAMILY: children Valerie [d. at birth], Reginald [d. at birth], Paul (Lorett), Linda (Ed),

Heather, Arlene; 6 grandchildren; 1 greatgrandchild; 2 siblings

Mary grew up in a family that read God’s Word. At 14, she accepted Jesus as Saviour at an evangelistic meeting at Yarrow MB Church. She enjoyed growing up on the farm.

When she moved to Vancouver to work, she met Alvin. Mary was very proud of her children and grandchildren. After living in Richmond, Langley and Vernon, B.C., she moved to Abbotsford in 2004, where she joined a care group at Bakerview. Mary enjoyed gardening, skiing, golfing, playing games and doing puzzles. She volunteered at Mennonite Central Committee and Garden Park. Diagnosed in 2000, she was determined to beat lymphoma; it was stable until November 2014.

Elizabeth Susie Thiessen Oct. 9, 1924–Aug. 11, 2015 BIRTHPLACE: Donskoj, Neu Samara, Russia PARENTS: Herman & Elizabeth Klassen MARRIAGE: Daniel Thiessen, July 6, 1956 [d. Nov. 2009]

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[ FINISH LINES CHURCH: Willingdon, Burnaby, B.C.;

Bakerview MB, Abbotsford, B.C. FAMILY: children Carolyn (Larry) Kwiatkowski, Arlene (Vern) Penner, Gordon (Julie); 8 grandchildren; 3 greatgrandchildren; 3 sisters

Elizabeth’s family immigrated to Canada in 1930, settling in Gem, Alta., and later in Yarrow, B.C. Elizabeth bent God’s ear daily.

She was active in her church’s choirs. In the 1970s, she helped reinvigorate Willingdon Church’s Ladies Mission Circle. With her value of education and love for children, Elizabeth enjoyed a rewarding career as a teacher. In her later years, she volunteered at the MCC store, helping wherever there was a need. Her family, whom she loved dearly, kept her busy. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking and baking; her zwieback were a family favourite. In spite of failing health, Elizabeth was thankful for the good life God gave her and her hope of being with him.

Wilhelm (Bill) Wall Mar. 3, 1933–Aug. 13, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Swift Current, Sask.

PARENTS: Henry & Maria Wall MARRIAGE: Marilyn Glen, September 1977 BAPTISM: Swift Current creek, Alliance CHURCH: Bridgeway, Swift Current FAMILY: Marilyn; daughters Audrey, Wanda (Glen) Weinknecht, Susan [d. in infancy]; stepsons Deon (Suzanne), Andre; 8

grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 4 siblings

Bill accepted Jesus as Saviour at an auction sale when 2 Bible school students asked if he knew Jesus. He earned his journeyman mechanic papers and his interprovincial heavy duty journeyman ticket. Bill worked at the Purity 99 Service Station, Standard Motors, the Swift Current Research Station and the Department of Highways. He retired in 1997. As a single parent, he nurtured his daughters. The three of them took holidays in Malta and Montana, picked saskatoons and visited Grandma and Grandpa Wall Sunday afternoons. When Bill married Marilyn, he became Dad to 2 sons. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life. He was a gentle, even-tempered man. Children whom Bill picked up for Sunday school thanked him for his part in their faith journeys. In later years, he served West Bank Bible Camp by fixing vehicles, renovating a granary into a

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cabin, and doing odd jobs. In retirement, he worked with Braun Construction, where he developed a love for woodworking.

Anita Ursula Zukowski Dec. 7, 1958–Aug. 15, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Vancouver PARENTS: Siegbert & Irmi Zukowski BAPTISM: Ellice Avenue Baptist, Winnipeg,

Apr. 24, 1977 BAPTISM: Moosehorn (Man.) Baptist; King Road MB, Abbotsford, B.C.

B.C., Wayne stayed in Manitoba to finish his degree in agriculture and met Kathy.

On their first date, they laid out the focus of their individual lives: to serve God anywhere, anytime, anyhow. After their wedding, Wayne and Kathy served 5 years in Bangladesh in agriculture with Mennonite Central Committee. In Winkler, Man., Wayne started his own business as an agronomic consultant, focusing on potatoes and natural farming methods. He enjoyed playing games and recreational hockey. Wayne was active in his church’s prayer ministry, leadership and Mexico mission trips. In December 2012, he was diagnosed with cancer. Wayne dedicated his remaining time to focusing on God and bringing others to him.

FAMILY: her parents; brothers Henry (Sonja),

Ronald, Gary; Communitas friends

Anita was a healthy child until a virus at 18 months caused a fever and coma that damaged her left brain. She relearned how to walk and talk and learned to play piano. Anita loved her family, especially her grandparents. She enjoyed evening devotions and loved Jesus from a young age.

In 1976, the family moved to Winnipeg, where her father pastored. She punctuated her father’s sermons with “halleluiahs” and “amens.” When she stepped from the baptismal waters, her face glowed with joy.

Her baptism verse was 2 Corinthians 12:9.

When the family moved to Moosehorn, Man., in 1979, Anita made new friends on her super-sized tricycle. The family lived with her grandfather in Vancouver until his death. In Abbotsford, she enjoyed services at King Road MB Church, where she was loved.

When Anita grew weaker, her parents found care for her near their home at Communitas Tulip Home. In 1997, the home moved to Fort Langley, B.C. The staff treated her as their own children. In May 2015, Anita was diagnosed with acute leukemia and lymphoma. She never complained.

Frank Braun Feb. 4, 1923–Aug. 18, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Schoensee, Siberia, Russia PARENTS: Johan & Susanna (Geddert) Braun MARRIAGE: Agnes Loewen, Aug. 19, 1951 CHURCH: Gem (Alta.) MB FAMILY: Agnes; Janice (Don) Juneau, Erwin

(Renate), Ray (Ruth), Carol (Derek) Reid, Harold (Brian), Lorna (Arnold) Retzlaff; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 2 siblings

Frank immigrated to Canada in 1927, settling in Hussar, Alta. In 1936, the family moved to Gem, Alta., where Frank attended school until Grade 8, then Bible school. Frank and Agnes married and purchased the Loewen farm, remaining until their move to Rosemary, Alta., in 2005 and Brooks, Alta., in 2014. Frank prayed for each family member by name every morning. At Gem MB Church, Frank served as committee/board member and treasurer.

He enjoyed cattle shows and sales. Frank loved fishing – summer or winter – a skill he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Wayne Baerg June 23, 1949–Aug. 16, 2015

John Henry Pauls BIRTHPLACE: Dominion City, Man. PARENTS: Henry & Elvira Baerg MARRIAGE: Kathy Froese, June 21, 1974 CHURCH: Winkler (Man.) MB FAMILY: Kathy; children Danny, Rebekah,

Judith, Jason, Philip (Joanna)

Wayne grew up in Winnipeg. At Bethany Bible College, Hepburn, Sask., he put down spiritual roots. After the family moved to

Jan. 2, 1936–Aug. 20, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Winnipeg PARENTS: Jacob & Anna (Dueckman) Pauls MARRIAGE: Martha Schmidt, June 24, 1961 BAPTISM: Domain (Man.) MB, 1954 CHURCH: Portage Avenue, Winnipeg FAMILY: Martha; children Kelly, Cheryl,

Richard; 6 grandchildren; 3 siblings

John accepted Jesus as Saviour as a teen. He grew up on a farm in Osborne, Man., and farmed till retirement. At 15, when his father asked if he wanted to quit school and work the farm, he jumped at the chance. John attended Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute, where he met Martha. John sang duets with Martha, joined choirs and small groups, and was part of the Town and Country Quartet for 30 years. In the past few years, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease took a toll, but he visited Kelly every other day at whatever hospital or home she was in. John died of a heart attack.

Ernest Leonard Siemens

At 19, Aron left Manitoba and moved to St. Catharines, Ont., where he met and married Mary, becoming part of another large family. Aron and Mary raised 4 children and successfully ran a farm in St. Anns, Ont., while Aron worked full-time in the automotive industry. After retirement, Aron and Mary relocated to Edmonton where Aron volunteered at church, MCC, Habitat for Humanity, and in the community. In 2012, Aron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He underwent successful surgery and chemotherapy. He will be remembered as a wonderful brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend who “never met a stranger.”

Oct. 11, 1928–Aug. 26, 2015

Henry Peter Dueck Apr. 12, 1929–Sept. 5, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Saskatchewan PARENTS: George & Anna (Dirksen)

Siemens

MARRIAGE: Eleanor Bartel, Oct. 8, 1954 [d. Mar. 4, 2013] BAPTISM: Coaldale (Alta.) MB, Aug. 29, 1943 FAMILY: children LeeAnne (Gary) Dyck,

Dwight (Rachel), Allan (Janice), Lauren (Nancy); 8 grandchildren; 3 greatgrandchildren; 2 siblings

Ernie grew up in Coaldale. He accepted Jesus as Saviour at a young age. Ernie loved taking his family to mountain parks to enjoy creation. He encouraged his children’s musical endeavours. He was delighted to watch his students learn, joining many of their extracurricular activities. Most of all, Ernie loved Eleanor. When she died, he felt as if he had “lost his right arm and left leg.”

BIRTHPLACE: Coaldale, Alta.

PARENTS: Peter & Anna (Warkentin) Dueck MARRIAGE: Mary Janzen, Aug. 26, 1952 BAPTISM: Coaldale MB FAMILY: Mary; children Arleen (Ron)

Froese

MARRIAGE: Mary Durksen, July 25, 1953 CHURCH: Lendrum MB, Edmonton FAMILY: Mary; children Marlene, Gordon

Fred Friesen

(Shirley), Gary (Colleen), Glenn (Doris); 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 5 siblings

Aron and his twin Ben were born into a caring Christian family of 12 children.

Aron’s love of animals, particularly horses, and farming followed him throughout life.

Aug. 18, 1926–Sept. 8, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Elie, Man. PARENTS: Aaron & Katherine (Klassen)

Nov. 23, 1925–Sept. 9, 2015

Central), Aug. 12, 1945 CHURCH: Broadway MB, Chilliwack; Central Heights MB, Abbotsford, B.C. FAMILY: Katherine; children Shirley (Don) Wiebe, Gerald (Sandy), Carolyn (Dan), Joyce (Pete); 10 grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; 1 brother

Henry and Mary farmed in Coaldale. He also worked at the research station for 16 years.

Henry lived his love for God in his prayers for family and church, his servant attitude and honesty. His bass voice was an asset to choirs, quartets and singing groups. He volunteered with The Gleaners and The Gideons. Henry created great memories for his family on vacations. In retirement, he was passionate about travelling and restoring vehicles.

June 16, 1931–Aug. 31, 2015

Rudy Thiessen

BIRTHPLACE: Winnipeg PARENTS: Johann & Justina Thiessen MARRIAGE: Katherine Friesen, May 1951 BAPTISM: East Chilliwack (B.C.) MB (now

Warkentin, Weldon (Pauline), Randy (Kathy); 5 grandsons; 6 greatgrandchildren; 3 siblings

Aron Froese

BIRTHPLACE: Mullingar, Sask.

PARENTS: Aron P. & Katharina (Goertzen)

his mother and siblings. Fred and Anne started a herd in Elie. Fred took winter jobs in Winnipeg and Ontario, operating his Cat or driving school bus with Anne.

In 1967, a water shortage necessitated the farm’s relocation to Oakville, Man. Fred played guitar, piano, violin and harmonica in church and prison ministry. He shared with his sons his love of farming, snowmobiling, motorcycles, airplanes, construction equipment, tractor pulls. Fred was proud of his grandchildren, visiting and praying for them regularly. He remained active on the farm for 63 years until declining health forced him to slow down in 2008, but he continued delivering grain to the Foodgrains Bank and helping his sons.

Rudy accepted Jesus as Saviour while attending Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute in 1942. His family moved from Marquette, Man., to Chilliwack, B.C., in 1943. He went to Elim Bible School, Yarrow, B.C., and East Chilliwack Bible School. In 1971, Rudy and Katherine moved to Abbotsford. Rudy worked at Royal City Foods, Chilliwack; Delnor Frozen Foods, Burnaby, B.C.; and Snowcrest Packers, Abbotsford, before retiring in 1991. Rudy and Katherine loved gardening together. They served Central Heights’ festival committee. Rudy’s bass voice resonated in Central Heights’ Men of Song, Jubilee Choir and Sacred Melodies quartet.

Friesen

MARRIAGE: Anne Epp, Sept. 29, 1951 BAPTISM: Newton (Man.) MB (now

Community Fellowship), 1946 FAMILY: Anne; children Ron (Vicki), Ken (Bev), Dianne (Ed) Giesbrecht, Rick, Barry (Jan); 8 grandchildren; 6 greatgrandchildren

When Fred’s father died, Fred’s farming career began at 19. He willingly supported

Elizabeth Derksen Aug. 6, 1923–Sept. 14, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Arkadak, Saratov, Russia

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[ FINISH LINES PARENTS: Johann & Maria Nickel MARRIAGE: Henry Derksen, Oct. 4, 1942 [d. 2008] BAPTISM: Bridgeway, Swift Current, Sask.

FAMILY: children Shirley (Hildor) Braun,

Betty (Ed) Nickel, John (Kristen), Hazel (Ray) Scheirer, Judy (Bernie) Friesen, Dennis (Vickie), Faith (Dennis) Klassen; 18 grandchildren including Jason [d.], Connie [d.]; 30 great-grandchildren including Brady [d.]

A preacher’s daughter, Elizabeth embraced a faith in Jesus that formed her values and relationships. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1925, settling in Main Centre, Sask. Elizabeth met Henry at Swift Current (Sask.) Bible School. They farmed near Main Centre, and in 1984, moved to an acreage near Swift Current. Elizabeth loved literature, poetry, music. She embodied love.

Kaethe Sawatzky May 2, 1926–Sept. 15, 2015

BIRTHPLACE: Schoeneberg, Chortitza,

Ukraine

PARENTS: Peter & Maria Derksen MARRIAGE: Frank Sawatzky, Jan. 23, 1949 BAPTISM: Schoeneberg pond, age 16 CHURCH: McIvor Avenue MB, Winnipeg FAMILY: Frank; daughters Hilde [d.1968],

Marlene (Herb) Regier, Lorie (Bill) Battershill, Lydia (Lyle) Penner, Louise Buors; 7 grandchildren; 3 greatgrandsons; 3 siblings

Life was difficult after the government imprisoned Kaethe’s father in 1937 (he never returned), but God carried the family.

The government closed the churches, but Kaethe’s family continued to read the Bible and pray. At 16, Kaethe accepted Jesus as Saviour. She took a course in Kindergarten service and worked in childcare for years. In 1943, after the local German population was evacuated in boxcars, Kaethe spent 2 years in a refugee camp in Backnang, Germany. Here she met and became engaged to Frank. In 1948, Kaethe’s family and Frank immigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg. Caring for her children was Kaethe’s great joy. She sewed, quilted and served in the church ladies group. She cared for her mother, who lived to 100, and 2 aunts. After Hilde died at 18, 3-year-old foster daughter Louise joined the family; her joy comforted Kaethe.

In retirement, Kaethe and Frank travelled the Americas and Europe, visiting their home village in Ukraine. In 2012, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Through the pain, her faith sustained her.

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[ CROSS CURRENTS

LISTENING THINGS INTO BEING I love to listen because you learn a lot about people; I listen to the space between the notes.—Roy Salmond You’re likely familiar with Canadian recording artists Carolyn Arends, Steve Bell, Brian Doerksen and Jon Buller, but you may not have heard of the “ear” behind the music. For the past three decades, Roy Salmond has recorded musicians and poets, the past 16 years at his Whitewater Productions studio in Surrey, B.C. A producer, percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist, pianist and singer, Salmond received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 37th annual Covenant Awards in Nov. 5, 2015. “[Roy] can play virtually any instrument,” said Arends in her congratulatory video greeting. “You have more production and engineering knowhow in your little pinky than most people acquire in a lifetime...but...you are getting this award for a lifetime spent...[to quote Eugene Peterson:] ‘listening things into being.’”

MB Herald copy editor Angeline Schellenberg talked with Roy about hearing God in unexpected places.

I remember your folk rock duo Salmond and Mulder from the ’80s. Why did you switch from performing to producing others’ work? I love young people: they’re filled with questions, opinions they’re sure of and an idealism I enjoy.

But they can get beaten down by disappointment in life, relationships and career. When I’ m working with artists wrestling with demons, not sure they can write about them, I tell them, “If you don’t acknowledge those dark places, what are you confessing to God?” The Psalms are full of lament.

When we go into those ultimate left turns in life, we find what Chesterton calls “the permanent things.”

You said once that you don’t like the term “Christian music.” Why not? There’s no such thing as a “born again” note. I’ve never seen a bar on a piece of staff paper that’s been redeemed.

What makes something Christian is the Spirit we bring to it and whether it illuminates something beyond ourselves.

This may get me into trouble, but I’m not sure a lot of worship music is Christian; it reinforces what we already believe to keep us safe and secure, and it doesn’t point us outside ourselves.

Unfortunately much musical art, even in the church, is geared toward emotional results; worship becomes an exercise in mood management rather than an engagement in the mystery. To quote Tom Waits: “Bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering.”

So what does the church need more of?

This sounds simple, but it’s not simplistic: the church needs more Jesus. And the freeing, engaging, centring love that helps us to be more true to ourselves and more welcoming of those who are different.

What does that look like in worship music?

It’s adventurous. And affirming. It pulls us forward rather than back. Sometimes making music –I’ve been guilty of this – can become an exercise in nostalgia that celebrates the past at the expense of the present. In all good worship music, there’s a sense of engaging in the Spirit of God who pulls us forward into a life of service and compassion.

Can you give an example?

Every six weeks, I play music in a retirement home. I love to watch them engage in singing, in a transformative sense, to see their eyes light up. There’s a

warmth and touchstone that make what we’re doing more purely altruistic than big productions in churches. It’s where I want to be musically: to put whatever I’ve got into the quiet, tender, small moments – they’re the ones that matter.

Is there scope for the gospel in secular music? Absolutely. Once a year, I lead a service at Cedar Park Church (Delta, B.C.) called Story and Song, where we invite people to share their favourite hymn or spiritual song, and say why it’s significant. I encourage people to look for spiritual songs; God is not limited to what we consider Christian music.

One fellow pointed out how a song in How to Train Your Dragon evokes the feeling of trust. Someone shared how James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” led him to church. We can attune ourselves to hearing God in the marginal places; he is there.

What is the power of a good song? Beauty feeds the soul and has its source in God. “Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes” (Romans 11:36 The Message).

The trouble is we want to catch beauty and package it and market it. Where are the artists who will affect change? A song about truth and goodness that helps someone lift their head up and believe for an instant that God loves them is harder to measure than a base week salary.

Music can push you and stretch you.

The trick is most people are afraid of change. But change is crucial to growth.

Following Jesus is not about safety. To quote C.S. Lewis: “He’s not a tame lion, but he is good.”

You’re obviously a man of quotes. What’s your favourite quote about worship?

Henry Ward Beecher: “I never knew how

ROY SALMOND IN HIS STUDIO PHOTO COURTESY: ROY SALMOND

to worship until I knew how to love.”

When we make a habit of choosing to love, that affects deeply our ability to worship; you can’t worship without a self-emptying.

It’s more than an emotional response to a cool song. When you have that sense of relinquishing control of your own appetites and tastes, the Holy Spirit has a chance to influence the eyes and ears of your heart. Loving God with heart and soul and mind leaves no room for ego.

The great thing about love is that, when we are loved, we feel free to be ourselves and let our guard down. You will feel hurt more deeply, but you will also feel more whole and human, and it takes less work than keeping the demons of life at bay.

Any advice for artists just starting out?

There’s one thing I’m sure about: your life is not going to turn out the way you’ve planned. If you can embrace that and hold it in healthy perspective, you can see life as opportunity to learn and grow.

To quote Malcolm Muggeridge: “Only dead fish swim with the stream.”

-Angeline Schellenberg

Roy’s top 5 mainstream songs that point to God:

1

O Nata Lux

2

Shaking the Tree

3

Adagio for Strings

4 5

Morten Lauridsen (Choral) Filled with a longing that draws me into the divine mystery. I don’t know what “holy” sounds like, but this comes close.

by Peter Gabriel from Secret World Live If church could be this joyful and celebrative!

by Samuel Barber Redemptive melancholia.

Spiritual exhaling. Makes me want comfort that is deeper than “feeling good.”

How We Love

by Beth Nielsen Chapman The greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Heart of the Matter

by Don Henley Discovering the depth of release with forgiveness.

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[ INTERSECTION

Where does God live?

The important places: I used to picture them somewhere far off, like a dream.

There, nameless faces are wrapped up in a flurry of activity not unlike my own, but at the heart of the cities, business or institutions that matter. The places on my television set. People commuting daily over the Lions Gate Bridge into Vancouver, waiting for the elevator to a Bay Street skyscraper’s executive office, warming up on Centre Bell’s ice before Saturday night’s Canadiens game.

My job and place felt insignificant. I was the part-time pastor of a small rural church in Blaine Lake, Sask., and I also worked as an insurance underwriter to make ends meet. I was very grateful for my occupations, which provided food and a roof over my head, but there were days when I felt inconsequential.

Important places had names like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal. It would be quite something to live or work in these important places, I often thought.

I wondered what it would be like to stop by and see the important people at work and play in these places. Then I might feel better by being near, just for a moment.

Scripture shift While I lived in Blaine Lake, I began to consider Scripture’s words about important places. That in the end, the important places will be no more (Isaiah 25:1–2). That for someone like Mary, God has brought down rulers from their thrones (Luke 1:52). That the nations are simply dust in a bucket (Isaiah 40:23–24).

And Jesus declares the first will be the last (Matthew 20:16).

I began to see that the important places were, in fact, not the vital locations I thought they were. Instead, the unimportant places are the ones that draw

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God’s attention. The small towns. The nameless cities. The cubicle buried in the depths of the office. The back pew.

I wrestled with David’s words in Psalm 84:10. I would rather be the doorkeeper where God lives, wrote the king. Yet, this man who found himself at one of the most important places also knew what it was to live as an annoying younger brother in a family of farmers in an outof-the-way place. A king – with a palace – nonetheless wrote that being with God is the truly important place.

Where does God live?

We know where our lesser deities live: in high-rise condos at the heart of picturesque capitals. Or perhaps, in the nicest house at the end of our street. We have names for where they live, and work and play: the corner office, a sprawling estate, the social club. In those moments when we are truly honest with ourselves, we may wish our place looked a little more like theirs. My humble manse on a dusty small-town road was a decent place to live, but was it important?

Where does God live?

Jesus dwelt in dusty and humble places: with a woman sneaking water from a well in the middle of the day (John 4), with a man who stole for a living (Luke 19), with a boy who couldn’t speak and his desperate father (Mark 9).

With these Scripture passages dogging my thoughts, a move away from my small town changed my perspective on just how important that little place really is.

Six months ago, we packed up our family and drove across provincial lines to settle in a slightly larger, somewhat less outof-the-way place: Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Home of the WHL Tigers, birthplace of Medalta pottery.

Since I’ve moved, the unimportant places have become all the more important to me.

Where does God live?

I can see clearly now where God lived in my former home. With the lonely senior at coffee in the nearby residential care facility. With an office oddball running over to the printer in the basement at the insurance company where I used to work.

With the toddler (who happened to be my son) having a meltdown in the church nursery.

I lived in these seemingly unimportant places. Yet, God lived there with me as well. In his presence, the places I was least likely to want to go hosted some of the most meaningful moments of my life.

The important places are still far off, like a distant memory. But no longer are they imagined. Now, the faces in them have names and stories I came to know over the course of my life and work within them.

I’m now in Medicine Hat. I wonder where God lives here.

I wonder which out-of-the-way places he calls home in this city. I wonder in what unimportant cranny I’ll stumble across God’s doorstep and hear him say, “I’m glad you came, I live here too, welcome home.”

Kevin Koop is the lead pastor of Crestwood MB Church. He lives in Medicine Hat, Alta., with his wife and their fouryear-old son.

GATHERING

2016

JULY 6-9, 2016 / HILTON TORONTO AIRPORT HOTEL Gathering2016.MennoniteBrethren.ca

YOU ARE INVITED! Because of the radical, life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ, we are COMPELLED to preach the good news to all people near and far.

That was the Apostle Paul’s mission and that is the mission Jesus gave us. This mission is urgent, important and motivated from deep within: we are compelled because we are so personally moved by our source Jesus.

Join together with Mennonite Brethren from across Canada at Gathering 2016 as we worship our King and explore how we can proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ across our multicultural landscape. We will come together to experience community with our national faith family. We will engage in equipping opportunities and grow in our awareness of the ministry needs and opportunities across Canada. We will seek the Spirit’s leading and pursue discernment on strategic issues and we will see what God is doing.

See you in Toronto!

—Willy Reimer, Executive Director, Canadian Conference of MB Churches Gathering is a great opportunity for us to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. We invite you to attend as we pray and discern together what it means to be “Compelled to Preach the Good News”. There will also be opportunity for conversation around conference ministry updates as we hear what God is doing among us.

We look forward to seeing you in Toronto!

—Harold Froese, Executive Board, Canadian Conference of MB Churches

ACCOMMODATIONS:

REGISTRATION FEES:

FINANCIAL REPORTS:

Delegates and guests are responsible to make their own hotel reservations directly with the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites.

$ 199 per person prior to June 1, 2016 $ 299 per person after June 1, 2016

All delegates will receive a summary of the financial reports. For those interested complete sets of financial reports will be available on-site.

The deadline for hotel reservations is June 14, 2016.

Room Rates: $119 per night plus taxes (double or single occupancy). Please note that hotel bookings after June 15, 2016 would be based on availability.

Hotel Information: Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites 5875 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON. RESERVATIONS: Phone: 905-677-9900 Group Rate Code: “Canadian Conference”

This includes breakfast, breaks and lunch on Thursday and Friday, plus one supper and all conference materials.

PARKING:

REGISTRATION:

Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites has offered a special parking rate of $5 per day for participants travelling to Gathering 2016 by car.

Online: Gathering2016.MennoniteBrethren.ca Mail: Gathering 2016 1310 Taylor Avenue Winnipeg MB R3M 3Z6 Fax: 1-204-654-1865 Phone: 1-888-669-6575

TRANSPORTATION: Complimentary airport shuttle is offered between the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites and Toronto Pearson Airport.

• From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – every 30 min.

• From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm – every 15 min.

• From 9:00 pm to 4:00 am – every 20 min.

Deadline for registration is June 21, 2016!

Pick-up points are as follows: • Terminal 1 – ground level at posts P3 or S5 • Terminal 3 – arrival level at post C22

Cancellation Policy: Refunds less administrative fee of $100 will be granted to requests received by email at michelle.penner@mbchurches.ca or in writing to Canadian Conference offices prior to June 21, 2016. No refunds will be granted after June 21, 2016 due to binding commitments between the Canadian Conference and vendors. If you are unable to attend, substitutions are allowed.

For more information visit Gathering2016.MennoniteBrethren.ca

“YET PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS IS NOT SOMETHING I CAN BOAST ABOUT. I AM COMPELLED BY GOD TO DO IT. HOW TERRIBLE FOR ME IF I DIDN’T PREACH THE GOOD NEWS!” 1 CORINTHIANS 9:16 (NLT)

GATHERING 2016 JULY 6-9, 2016 / HILTON TORONTO AIRPORT HOTEL Gathering2016.MennoniteBrethren.ca

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