Why I believe in a literal six-day creation

The MessengerVolume 50 No. 7 July 2012

50 years of connecting the EMC!

IN THE BEGINNING p. 6Why I believe in a literal six-day creation

Also inside:

Reconciling our faith and heritage page 9

Braeside: the power of Pentecost is on display page 12/Braeside—el poder de Pentecostés en exhibición! page 14

Anabaptist church nearly triples, changing in composition page 17

2 The Messenger • July 2012

Editorials

• •

May the summer be a time of reflec-tion and decision-making that will strengthen local church educational

programs in fall, not weaken them!Sometimes churches decide not to resume

Sunday School when they lack children, teachers, or both. This can become a downward spiral: the program’s absence can deter new families.

As an Executive Secretary with responsibili-ties in education, I support Sunday School as an important part of local church education. Yet Sunday School’s role is best played out together with other forms of training.

What are the most important forms of Chris-tian education? The top three, in my view, are

parental examples of being part of the Church, parent-child discussions about the Christian faith, and a church that incorporates children within it.

Sunday School classes, youth groups, na-tional youth events, and Christian camps play vital roles for many people. These four become even more important when there is no Christian parental example (or when the top three are taken for granted).

A 1990 study of five major U.S. denomina-tions said a key spiritual influence was parent-child discussions about the faith, yet those surveyed reported that nearly 40 percent of mothers and 56 percent of fathers “rarely or never” talked with them about it.

How do we help parents in their faith in ways that transfer to the children? How do we assist parent-child faith discussions? How do we show children that being part of the faith community is basic to following Christ?

– Terry M. Smith

Syria is on many minds.MCC has a presence in Syria. Many

Christians are concerned, praying, and acting in various ways. We agonize over the violence.

What should the international community do? What can be done when United Nations monitors struggle to gain access? Where are the Christian Peacemaker Teams willing to intervene?

China and Russia are backing the Syrian government partly, I suspect, because they want their own intra-border conflicts to remain as in-ternal affairs. Western and European countries, Canada included, are reluctant to intervene in Syria, wearied by wars in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan.

What are we to do? Partly, “we should deter-mine all matters concerning the Christian and the state by carefully interpreting the Scriptures

with a deep sensitivity to the moral problems involved” (The Constitution, The State, 13).

The post-Schleitheim Anabaptist church is a helpful witness when we refuse to glorify war, remind Canadians of the horrors of conflict, and challenge a blind nationalism. How do we, though, in practice and thought display a “deep sensitivity to the moral problems involved” when we remove ourselves from discussions about when the state (national or international) can properly use force to protect people?

Living in times which remind us of the political intrigue and violence within the Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, we face tough questions from Scripture, Anabaptist history, and modern life.

We desire no more bloodshed and are weary of war. The situation in Syria is difficult. Pray for Syria. Beyond this, what is needed?

– Terry M. Smith

Syria and sensitivity

The top three

Nearly 40 percent of mothers and 56 percent of fathers “rarely or never” talked to their children about their faith.

www.emconference.ca/messenger • The Messenger 3

Table of Contents

Features6 In the beginning: why I believe in a

literal six-day creationA journey through the controversial subject of the origin and history of life– RIck Bettig

9 Reconciling our faith and heritageBicentennial feature: What makes us EMC?– Darryl Klassen

12 Braeside: the power of Pentecost is on displayBeing an integrated church ‘works here’

14 Braeside—el poder de Pentecostés en exhibición! Una iglesia integrada funciona aquí– Terry M. Smith

17 Anabaptist church nearly triples, changing in compositionNorth needs to let go of power and influence– Ron Penner

Departments2 Editorials

3 Pontius’ Puddle

4 Letters

19 With Our Churches

20 Births

23 News

31 In Memory

32 Calendar

33 Shoulder Tapping

Columns5 Writings Shared

Reading the Bible after Christendom and What’s Wrong with Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them

18 Archives AlcoveTo love God with all of our mind– Terry M. Smith

22 Thinking AboutWhat about Nate?– Ward Parkinson

34 Pictures of GodThe voices in my head– Joanna Enns

35 Stewardship TodayPeace of mind money can’t buy– Kevin Davidson

36 Kids’ CornerWhat’s in a promise?– Loreena Thiessen

pages12

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page21

Correction: In Treesbank’s church news [May 2012] it was said that Kenton and Lucille Penner and their (three) daughters were moving to Steinbach. It was missed that Kenton and Lucille also have a son, Ryan. The Messenger was responsible for this unfortunate error, not Janet Hamilton, TCC reporter.


Letters

The Messenger is the monthly publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. It is available to the general public. Its purpose is to inform concerning events and activities in the denomination, instruct in godliness and victorious liv-ing, inspire to earnestly contend for the faith.

Letters, articles, photos and poems are welcomed. Unpublished material is not returned except by request.

Views and opinions of writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Conference or the editors. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.

The Messenger is published by the EMC Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St, Steinbach, Man., and is a member of Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.

Subscription rates1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign)2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign)3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign)Manitoba residents add 7% PST.Digital only subscriptions: $15 per year.Single copy price: $2

Subscriptions are voluntary and optional to people within or outside of the EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the Conference for members and adherents.

Change of address and subscriptionsUndelivered copies, change of address and new subscrip-tions should be addressed to: 440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5Phone: 204-326-6401Fax: 204-326-1613E-mail: [email protected]/messenger

Second-class postage paid at Steinbach, Manitoba.ISSN: 0701-3299Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40017362

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our pub-lishing activities.

AdvertisingThe Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards, and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads and inquiries should be sent to [email protected].

THE Messenger schedule:No. 78– August 2012 issue (copy due July 20)

Submissions to The Messenger should be sent to [email protected].

ASSISTANT EDITORREBECCA ROMAN

EDITORTERRY M. SMITH

The MessengerVolume 50 No. 7 July 2012

A matter of consequenceI am writing to comment on an article that appeared in the March 2012 issue of The Messenger by Fiona Thiessen under the title: “Abortion: are we unaware?”

Fiona has brought to our atten-tion an issue that is by far the most important with which Canadians can be faced.

Now that MP Stephen Woodworth has proposed to the Parliament of Canada that a committee be estab-lished to examine the question: “Is the unborn infant a human person or not?” it is an initiative that should be supported by Canadians.

The leaders of every political party should be pushed to face this issue head on and not be allowed to dismiss it as if it is of no consequence.

We should not be unaware of what happens in an abortion. Thanks.

– Lorne MoorheadFlin Flon, Man.

Make a conscious decisionI couldn’t agree more with Tim Dyck’s article “Let’s Avoid an Unnecessary War” [May 2012]. Unfortunately, these types of wars are fought all too frequently even within our own EMC churches and conference at large.

It is interesting how EMCers take “pride” in being pacifists and yet have no qualms about killing someone’s reputation, self-esteem, dignity and ministry calling. Not to mention what this does to the image of Christ who we claim to represent.

I beg our leaders to take a look at the “war zones” within the EM Conference and attend to the casual-ties. Make a conscious decision to avoid these wars by laying down the weapons of assumption, prejudice, favouritism, power and control. It’s time to stop talking and start doing!

– Landis BenitezBrandon, Man.

Guidelines for lettersLetters published are generally to comment on issues raised in The Messenger. The magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length, style, legality, and taste. Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less.

I am wondering tooIn response to Ray Hill’s contributions [Feb. and March 2012], I am wonder-ing too.

Why in numerous crevices intersecting the Rock of Gibraltar, splintered and broken bones of carnivores and herbivores were found in a common refuge, though no bones were gnawed, indicating they fled a common enemy.

Why petrified wood stumps found in the north of 60 degrees latitude Arctic have a similar composite make-up as do palm trees of a modern Mediterranean climate zone.

How the big rock, known as the Okotoks erratic and with a mass of 18,000 tons, got to be placed on a farmer’s field 30 miles south of Calgary, Alta., when it has a similar composition with the mountains 50 miles to the west.

Why sea-life fossils are often found in higher strata of the alpine-glaciated Rocky Mountains, many thousand feet above sea level.

How is it that a small figurine was situated 320 feet below the earth’s sur-face, and that there was a 15 foot layer of basalt lava overlying the find.

As I think about such things, I appreciate much more the integrity of Velikovsky who, as one of his en-dorsements said, “writes about fifty times as well as most of his critics.” Velikovsky’s Earth in Upheaval, while not the final word on the subject, is at least a must-read for anyone seeking to understand Earth’s pre-history.

– Bill NeudorfLa Crete, Alta.


Columns • writings shared

Reading the Bible After Christendom by Lloyd Pietersen (Waterloo, ON: Herald Press, 2012). 259 pp. $.19.99. ISBN 9780836196177. Reviewed by Henry Friesen (The ConneXion), former member of the Board of Church Ministries.

What’s Wrong With Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them, Michael C. Zwaagstra, Rodney A. Clifton, and John C. Long (New York: Rowman and Littlefield Education, 2010). 188 pp. $18.50 USD. ISBN 9781607091585. Reviewed by Ray Hill (MacGregor), retired high school teacher and member of the Board of Church Ministries.

There is much lament over the diminished profile of the Church in society. Pietersen is keenly aware of this reality, yet remains optimistic about the pos-

sibility of significant positive benefit arising from a reading of Scripture that authentically honours Scripture, even when society appears to have rejected it.

Pietersen promotes a “reading from the margins” that reflects the situation and values of the early Anabaptist movement. While it might be true that the Church no longer carries the influence that it has in times past, it does not follow that the truth of Scripture can no longer effect positive change in people and society.

Pietersen believes that this can happen when Scripture

Zwaagstra et al advocate what most parents and teachers connect to and what should be standard fare in schools such as: teacher-centred learning,

standardized curriculum, discipline, homework and mate-rial challenging to students. There are also less mainstream ideas like student uniforms and teacher salaries based on results.

Some areas need more thought. Teachers, for example, are glibly separated into “outstanding” and “ineffective.” However, the specifics of evaluating teachers are vague and simplistic: “some form of performance-based merit awards” based on “student performance” (page 71). It ignores the invaluable learning that takes place during a teacher’s career. Also missing is that the school staff is a team that together must find ways to build a school.

The authors begin each chapter with a scenario de-picting what a “modern” teacher, school, parent-teacher relationship might look like. They proceed to critically analyze the situation and then make recommendations. The problem is that these disturbing scenarios are mere

is read from a place of weakness on the margins, yet with a strong voice of deep conviction that issues a clear challenge to the in-justices perpetuated by a society that has lost its moorings.

Pietersen reviews how Scrip-ture has been read throughout Church history, notes imbalances that were fostered by the Church’s prominence and authority, and highlights key characteristics of an Anabaptist reading.

He rightly cites the biblical indication that Jesus Christ is the clearest revelation of God as the prime concern of an Anabaptist hermeneutic, and then does a high level flyover of the entire Bible that models this consideration. Unfortunately, in spite of the solid merit of this reading, the exegetical work lies beyond the scope of this book.

Reading the Bible After Christendom provides a solidly Christocentric call, and a roadmap, for a return to biblical truth.

caricatures. Though there are valid criticisms of “progressive” teaching methods, their analysis, based on these caricatures, falls flat.

The authors also have no footnotes, making it difficult to find if their representations are accurate. Arguments in the main consist of flattering adjectives to describe teaching methods with which they agree and not-so-flattering terms for the rest. This reduces arguments to the level of personal opinion.

Readers who agree with them when they start the book will agree at the end and those who disagree will be frustrated. For those who want a critical analysis of our educational system and some concrete ideas for improve-ment, I would look elsewhere.

Pietersen promotes a “reading from the margins” that reflects the situation and values of the early Anabaptist movement.


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My journey through the controversial subject of the origin and history of life is perhaps best understood

in terms of the “voices” that informed my un-derstanding. An important lesson learned is to consider “who” is telling the story.

In this initial installment I will consider how God ultimately used science to draw me toward a firm belief in a literal six-day creation. The second installment, in August, will consider theological issues that arise.

High schoolAs a student attending a public high school, I wondered how the simple statements of Genesis 1 could be reconciled with science’s “findings.” The so called ”evidence of process” that required millions, perhaps billions of years, had found its way into the classroom, causing me to doubt the accuracy and reliability of the biblical account of creation.

In the mid-70s, I began my first year at the University of Manitoba with courses heavily weighted in the sciences. I was comfortable with evolution, yet also believed the Scriptures. I was convinced that God’s Word and the theory of evolution would prove compatible as I gained a deeper knowledge of science.

In the beginning:why I believe in a literal six-day creation

Part one of two

by Rick Bettig


UniversityI received a rude awakening during a geology lecture in which we were taught about earth’s sedimentary deposits being uniformly layered over millions of years. I wondered how this was possible given the biblical account of the Flood.

I raised my hand and asked, “How would a year-long global geological catastrophe, as de-scribed in the biblical account of Noah’s flood, affect the arrangement of sedimentary deposits on the earth’s surface?” My question met silence as 100-plus students and a stunned professor looked at me.

My face turned crimson as silence gave way to laughter. I concluded that in this context there was no room for God.

I realized that the framework behind the evolutionist’s interpretation of origins is natu-ralism. Naturalistic evolution theorized all liv-ing forms had developed from simpler forms by gradual steps over long periods of time—purely by chance—without a Creator.

I surmised that naturalistic evolution was more “fact” than “theory” to the faculty and most of my fellow students. I finished the year a confused, disillusioned young man with more questions than ever.

I really didn’t know where to turn for help. The church was unable to answer my questions and I was disappointed there appeared to be no Christian scientists championing the biblical account of creation. I gave up on a university education and for the next few years wavered in my faith.

Bible collegeI am, and will remain, eternally grateful that the Lord never gave up on me even though there were times when I gave up on Him. I began to recognize God’s clear call to serve Him, and decided I would to trust Him and step out in obedience to His call on my life.

At the age of 26 I enrolled in Winnipeg Bible College (now Providence University College) and began three years of intensive study when I again faced the challenges of science, evolution and creation.

In this nurturing environment I was gently guided toward various resources—both secular and sacred—that enabled me to explore, “Where did life come from?” I was convinced

God was the Creator, but less certain of the mechanisms of creation.

I was introduced to a variety of creation models, including the gap theory, the day/age theory, theistic evolution, the literary model, and the literalist model in which creation is ac-complished in six literal days of 24 hours.

At the outset, I was drawn to theistic evolution since it provided a process over eons (billions of years). Here were the long periods of time I believed were necessary for life’s development while God was preserved as the only Creator.

I believed I had settled the issue once and for all. I was wrong! Advances in science continued to challenge my understanding of creation.

ReassessmentBy the late ’70s there was a small but growing core of Christian scientists diligently examining how scientific data related to the biblical account of creation. Their work caused me to reassess my conclusions. I grew more convinced a young earth and, thus, a literal interpretation of Gen-esis, was not only reasonable, but preferable.

Today, there are many Christian scientists with earned doctorates in various fields, from around the world, who are convinced a literal understanding of the Genesis account of cre-ation is the most reasonable explanation for our existence.

What evidences did these Christian sci-entists present that caused me to take notice? Here are a just a few examples among many.

I grew more convinced a young earth and, thus, a literal interpretation of Genesis, was not only reasonable, but preferable.


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QuestionsQ. Is there available a scientifically observable process in nature which on a long-term basis is tending to carry its products upward to higher and higher levels of complexity?Dr. Ker C. Thomson, former Director of the U.S. Air Force Terrestrial Sciences Laboratory and former Professor of Geophysics at Baylor University, emphatically states evolutionary processes fail the test.

The test procedure is contained within the second law of thermodynamics. This law is one of the surest, most fundamental principles in science. It is used routinely to test the viability of postulated or existing concepts.

The second law of thermodynamics states there is a long-range decay process that ultimately and surely grips everything in the universe we know about. The process produces a breakdown of complexity, not its increase (in Ashton, 216–217). Is God a God of order or chaos?

Q. Why are our continents still here if they are thousands of millions of years old?Geochronology, better known as uniformitari-anism, believes various factors such as erosion by wind and water, volcanic activity, and the rising and sinking of land are occurring at the same rate as they did in the past. With this as-sumption in place, the geochronologist attempts to measure the age of the earth or other heav-enly bodies in the universe (McLean et al, 25).

Dr. Ariel Roth, former director of the Geo-science Research Institute in Loma Linda, Calif., observes, even after correcting for humankind’s agricultural activities, the rate of erosion is so fast that our continents could have eroded to sea level over 100 times in a conservatively postulated age of 2,500 million years for the continents (in Ashton, 96).

Q. If cosmic dust has fallen on the moon for over 4.5 billion years, why is the accumulation only a few inches instead of fifty feet?Because most scientists advocating an old earth believe the earth and the moon to be of similar age, it was expected lunar modules would

encounter a problem trying to land in over fifty feet of cosmic dust. Scientists were shocked to find the dust was only a few inches, indicating a period of accumulation of less than 10,000 years (McLean, 27).

A key concernLet me encourage each one of us to honestly investigate the contributions of those advancing Creation Sciences. I believe these are “voices” worthy of our listening ear. It is a matter of concern that some followers of the Lord Jesus remain unaware of the rich resources readily available to us through the efforts of dedicated Creation scientists who affirm the power and majesty of God’s creative artistry.

Rick Bettig, BA, MDiv, is the associate pastor at Steinbach EMC and serves on the EMC Board of Church Ministries.

Resources Used:G.S. McLean et al., The Evidence For Creation

(Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1989).Ariel A. Roth, “Biology,” in John F. Ashton, ed.

In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

Ker C. Thomson, “Geophysics,” in John F. Ashton, ed. In Six Days, 8th edition (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2011).

Editor’s note: Dr. Emil Silvestru, who had agreed to write on a young earth position, is recuperating from a stroke. Prayer for him is welcomed.


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Reconciling our faith and heritageby Darryl G. Klassen

Castigated, exiled and now humbled in their return to a once proud city, the people gathered in the shadow of their restored walls and temple. For seventy years the site of the

city had been desolate, barren, rubble hardly worth calling a village.Now, by the grace of God, this people had been allowed to come

home and rebuild and rededicate the Holy place. There would be a sense of restrained celebration; more so, there would be a call to repentance and confession before God.

This was the scene in Nehemiah 9 following centuries of rebellion in the face of a faithful God. Here was a people of a proud spiritual heritage clinging to their advantages in the faith: children of Abra-ham, descendants of the Patriarchs, possessing the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets, and bearing the physical markings of circumcision that set them apart.


They did celebrate the return of God’s peo-ple. But first they rehearsed in prayer the long sad story of God’s calling and their wickedness, of God’s many acts of deliverance, and their swift amnesia concerning God’s marvels on their behalf. “But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey your commands,” they prayed (Neh. 9:16).

Honesty and humilityCelebrating a heritage of faith in honesty and humility will not allow only the highlights. If Nehemiah is to be considered, it will also admit the sins of our past. For what is the focus of our celebration: our accomplishments or God’s faithfulness?

Indeed, as the returning exiles recalled their spiritual heritage they remembered that God called Abram, finding his heart faithful to Him and making a covenant with him, then keeping His promise all these centuries (Neh. 9:7–8).

God saw the suffering of Abraham’s de-scendants in Egypt and heard their cry. He sent

them signs and delivered them from slavery (Neh. 9:9–12). As the litany continues, it persis-tently focuses on what God has done and how the people failed.

In this way it underlines the gracious action of God on behalf of His people. Even their return to Israel from the faraway land of Persia was itself an act of extreme grace, though God is faithful and always keeps his promises.

How do we celebrate?What do we celebrate in this anniversary of 200 years of the EMC? Klaas Reimer’s courageous, albeit personally heartbreaking decision to leave the Grosse Gemeinde (large church) in search of holiness? Or God’s mercy in permitting these sojourners to find their own way in faith? Or God’s grace in blessing the spiritual journey of these few who, though misguided in earlier

times, eventually came to see the importance of sharing the treasures of their faith with non-Mennonites?

In any case we must see the flaw of human effort and the power of God to take our feeble attempts and build his kingdom.

What sins need confessing if we were to follow the example of Nehemiah’s celebratory/confessional prayer? Allow me to suggest three confessions.

Low German roots We need to confess that we focus too heavily on our Low German roots. This exclusivity is not as overt as it once was, but its undertones are still evident in our circles.

Who one is related to in the EMC was at one time a significant identifier and contributed to the “family” atmosphere of the conference. With the welcome influx of non-cultural Mennonites, the genealogical connection tends to sideline newcomers and put them on the fringe of life in the EMC.

Though less pervasive, it remains important to some who your parents are and what con-nection you can make to other EMCers. Many whose names are not Penner, Friesen, Koop or Plett feel alienated by such terminology and classification.

Cultural markersWe need to confess where we focus on cultural markers. Low German conversations have long been held over those of other backgrounds. Our great-grandparents, having immigrated to Canada for religious freedom, refused to speak English as if it were some heathen language.

With subtle levity and a hint of sincere intention, many DGR Mennonites quipped that God spoke German. After all, did not the Holy Scriptures in Genesis 1:3 declare, “Und Gott sprach: Es werde Licht” (And God said,

What is the focus of our celebration:our accomplishments or God’s faithfulness?


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“Let there be light”)? While the German culture is a part of our past, after six generations is it not time to adopt a more inclusive conversation, especially in the church? If we are to truly be evangelical in an English-dominated nation we must repent of “lingual superiority.”

Theological triumphalismWe need to confess when we allow

theological triumphalism within our attitudes. This attitude has on various occasions hurt the testimony of the EMC.

Though not taught overtly, it was apparent to some of us growing up in the EMC that we had the correct faith over and above others. Other denominations, even Mennonite denomi-nations, were a few points short of the position we had attained.

Those of mainline traditions were especially suspect. We were taught in the home that Catholics were errant in their traditions, but where we agree was not highlighted. Though we are many branches of the olive tree, we are all of the same root of faith. When Jesus said that the world would know his disciples by their love for each other, he did not allow for denominational prejudice.

Throw out DGR heritage?Shall we then throw out the DGR heritage alto-gether? No, of course not. Rather, we need to be sensitive to the fact that not all EMC members eat farmer sausage and joke in Low German.

In fact, those cultural markers really have nothing to do with the principles that make our conference Evangelical Mennonite. Adult/believers’ baptism, the “Way of Love,” disciple-ship, being Christ-centred and Bible-believing are what makes us EMC.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philip-pian church he wrestled with the issue of heritage and faith. He said:

If anyone thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benja-min, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, per-secuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I con-sider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Phil. 3:4–8).

In Greek class we were taught not to translate “rubbish” in its true vernacular. Suffice to say that when Paul compared his spiritual heritage with knowing Christ he considered his pedigree excrement in comparison to exalting Jesus.

If anything gets in the way of people of all walks and ethnicities coming to know Jesus, let us consider it waste compared to boasting in Christ and his Cross. If in our heritage we have something worth sharing, let us do so in humility and with a careful attitude in its impact on others.

We rejoice in the faithfulness of our spiritual forebears and the faith they have handed down to us. It is a worthy inheritance.

Celebrate the enduring name of Christ that will survive all tribes and tongues and crown Him Lord of all. And if you celebrate with perogies and borscht, remember, we stole those from the Ukrainians.

Darryl G. Klassen, BRS, MA, is senior pastor of Kleefeld EMC and editor of Theodi-daktos: Journal of EMC theol-ogy and education.

We need to be sensitive to the fact that not all EMCerseat farmer sausage and joke in Low German.


ALL PHOTOS BY CLAUDIA FIGUEROA

The 20 flags on stage and the Power-Point slides in English and Spanish foreshadow what is to come during

the service of May 27, 2012, at Braeside EMC in Winnipeg, Man.

On Pentecost Sunday lead pastor Kim Stoesz reminds the congregation that the Spirit came upon people from many nations to unite them, and she then asks us to greet each other.

Singing happens in English and Spanish, guided by the worship team, including Estuardo Figueroa, Braeside’s music and worship director.

Pastor Stoesz leads in prayer: in thankfulness for the freedom to worship and from persecu-

tion, and for the gift of the Spirit. She then says that 20 countries are represented in Braeside; eleven languages are actively spoken.

People come forward to tell

Braeside: the power of Pentecost is on display!by Terry M. Smith

their stories. Ellen Stoesz speaks of her father who came to Canada from Russia via Mexico in 1926 after escaping death from bandits numer-ous times during the Russian Revolution.

The Herrods are next. Wayne (Canada) and Essie (Ireland) Herrod met during missionary service in Kenya. Cultures are not wrong, Essie says, just different. They speak positively of the Turkana culture.

Bicentennial highlightedPastor Stoesz then highlights the EMC’s bi-centennial and some people laugh as the EMC convention’s promotional video is shown. Stoesz explains that not everyone coming to conven-tion has to toss a toilet seat.

Braesiders, about 250 on this morning, are asked to crowd together for a group photo to be used at convention. To take the picture the church’s photographer Claudia Figueroa stands on a stool with Angel Infantes, pastor of His-panic ministries, providing a bit of balance.

Kelly Rempel comes forward for the chil-dren’s feature and tells of Jesus promising a Congregants greet one another. / Congregantes

saludan el uno al otro.


“special surprise.” She and children make a wind sound and Kelly speaks of Pentecost being the Church’s birthday.

Pastor Stoesz leads in prayer for the offering, praying also for those who are persecuted and for the many ministries within Braeside.

More storiesMore people step forward with their stories. Yesenia Garcia, 18, whose parents came from El Salvador, says she has the best of both worlds: being Hispanic within Canadian culture. Her mother made her dress in the colours of the El Salvadoran flag, she says. She enjoys poutine and The Forks and says winter is “not that bad.”

Thomas Mathew, from southern India, came to Braeside in 1970 at a time when he was the only non-Caucasian in church. Some other non-Caucasians came and went, but he says he chose both to stay and to become a “true Anabaptist” by being rebaptized.

Language and food are “not my idea of being Mennonite,” he says, but MCC has helped to enrich his awareness of being Mennonite. With it now having a mixture of cultures, Braeside is “a mini heaven.” He is thankful that he and his family have always felt well accepted.

Mathew Jose, a recent arrival from southern India, speaks of Winnipeg’s being called “Win-terpeg” and of cultural adjustments in utensils and food choices.

Then Harry Fast reads from Acts 10. Next comes an audio recording of Acts 2—where,

it seems to me, Peter, a Jew from the ancient Middle East, is given the vocal tones of an African-American from the southern U.S.

People from 20 countries then come on the stage, select their flag, and walk down the church’s centre aisle. Suddenly a member stands and begins to recite John 3:16 in English and more people are standing, scattered throughout the sanctuary, simultaneously speaking in 14 languages, reflecting the wonder and seeming chaos of the Pentecost event in Acts 2.

‘Works here’Pastors Angel Infantes and Kim Stoesz—who have worked together for five years—come on stage and sit by a small table. Pastor Stoesz speaks of Pentecost, of many cultures, and how it being an integrated church family “works here” (contrary to what a non-Braeside pastor said was possible) because Braeside did not consciously choose it and the Spirit does it.

Braeside had decided to start a Spanish ministry in 1997, but it developed into more as people came from other cultures, she says. For 15 years it has been a multicultural church, reflect-ing many skin tones, countries, and dress styles.

The biggest challenge is language, she says. “How do we greet each other?” It is “a huge blessing” to be multicultural, and she hopes that next year more languages will be represented.

Pastor Infantes outlines the history of Pen-tecost: at first marking the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and later the gift of the Spirit after the coming of Jesus. He tells stories of outreach.

The final prayer is in Spanish and English. There is a closing song: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

A potluck follows with foods of many cultures and a long lineup of people. Tables are filled with people; some reflect a mixture of skin tones and some do not.

An invitationPastor Infantes has graciously asked me to be present, partly because both of us were previ-ously involved in Pentecostal churches—a clear link to Pentecost.

Kelly Rempel tells children about Pentecost. / Kelly Rempel com-parte la historia de Pentecostés a los niños.

With it now having a mixture of cultures, Braeside is “a mini heaven,” says Thomas Mathew.


Angel is from Peru, his wife Blanca is from Mexico, and, together with ministry couples from other backgrounds, they serve a multicultural church in Winnipeg. He wants me, a fellow EMCer of mostly British roots, to observe the cultural diversity of an EMC congregation during what happens to be our Bicentennial year as a Conference.

My wife Mary Ann and I have brought a friend, Carol Seburn, of DGR Mennonite descent and Baptist convic-tion. Carol describes the service as “powerful,” and she is not alone in that assessment.

“God has raised this Jesus to life,” Peter said, “and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of the Father, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Yes, “what we see and hear”—then in Jerusalem and now at Braeside too.

Las 20 banderas y una presentación de PowerPoint en inglés y español revelaron lo por venir durante el servicio del 27 de mayo de 2012 en la EMC de Braeside en Winnipeg, Man.

El Domingo de Pentecostés la pastora Kim Stoesz recuerda a la congregación que el Espíritu vino sobre la gente de muchas naciones a unirla y después pide que se saluden los unos a los otros.

Cantan en inglés y español, guiada por el equipo de alabanza, incluy-endo el director de la música y alabanza, Eduardo Figueroa.

La pastora Kim guía en oración dando gracias por la libertad de adoración sin persecución, y da gracias por el don del Espíritu. Dice que hay 20 países y 11 idiomas representados en Braeside.

Algunos pasan al frente a relatar sus historias. Ellen Stoesz habla de su padre quien vino al Canadá de Rusia vía México en 1926, después de varias veces escapar la muerte por los banditos durante la revolución rusa.

Braeside—el poder de Pentecostés en exhibición!por Terry M. Smith

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Braeside—el poder de Pentecostés en exhibición!

Los Herrods siguen. Wayne (Ca-nadá) y Essie (Irlanda) se conocieron durante su servicio en Kenya. Cul-turas no son malas, dice Essie, sola-mente son diferentes. Ellos hablaron positivamente de la cultura Turkana.

El Bicentenario DestacadoLa pastora Kim destaca el bicentena-rio EMC y a algunos les da risa viendo el video promocional. La pastora explica que no todos los que vayan a la convención tendrán que aventar un asiento de baño.

Piden que los de Braeside, unos 250 este mañana, se junten para tomar una

foto para usarla en la convención. Para tomar la foto Claudia Figueroa se para sobre una silla y Angel Infantes, el pas-tor de los ministerios hispanos, se para con ella para ayudarla a balancearse.

Kelly Rempel pasa al frente para dar una lección a los niños y relata de Jesús prometiendo una “sorpresa especial.” Ella y los niños hacen un sonido como de viento y Kelly habla del día de Pentecostés como el cum-pleaños de la iglesia.

La pastora Kim guía en oración pidiendo por la ofrenda, por los perse-guidos, y por los muchos ministerios en Braeside.

Más HistoriasOtros pasan al frente con sus historias. Yesenia García, 18añosdeedad , cuyos padres vinieron del Salvador, dice que ella tiene lo mejor de dos mundos: siendo hispana dentro de una cultura canadiense. Su madre hizo so vestido de los colores de la bandera salvadoreña. Le gusto “el poutine” (un platillo típico de Que-bec), The Forks, y dice que el invierno no es “tan malo.”

Thomas Mathew, del sur de India, llegó a Braeside en 1970 y era el único que no era de la raza blanca (non-Caucasiana). Otros vinieron y se fueron, pero dice que él decidió que-darse y ser un “verdadero anabautista” y bautizarse otra vez.

Dice que el idioma y la comida no le hace un menonita, pero la MCC le ha ayudado a enriquecer su concien-cia de ser menonita.. Ahora, teniendo una mezcla de culturas, Braeside ya es “un mini-cielo.” Está agradecido que su familia ha sido bien aceptado.

Mathew José, un recién llegado del sur de la India, habla de Winnipeg

siendo llamado “Winterpeg” y tam-bién habla de sus adaptaciones culturales en escoger sus utensilios y sus comidas.

En seguida Harry Fast lee de los Hechos 10. Sigue una grabación de audio de Hechos 2 – donde, a mi parecer, Pedro, un judío del a antiguo Medio Oriente, le han dado los tones vocales de un afro-americano del sur de los Estados Unidos.

Gente de 20 distintas países pasan

Yesenia García wears the colours of the El Salvadoran flag. / Yesenia García lleva los colores de la bandera salvadoreña.


a la plataforma, escogen su bandera, y caminan por el pasillo central de la iglesia. De repente un miembro se para y empieza a recitar Juan 3:16 en inglés, y otros esparcidos por todo el santu-ario, simultáneamente hablan en 14 diferente idiomas reflejando la maravilla y aparente caos del evento Pentecostés en Hechos 2.

Funciona AquíLos pastores Angel Infantes y Kim Stoesz, quienes han trabajado juntos por cinco años,pasan a la plataforma y se sientan en una pequeña mesa. La pastora Kim habla de Pente-costés, de muchas culturas y de como una iglesia integrada como familias funciona aquí. (Al contrario de lo que dijo un pastor, no de Brae-

side, que era imposible.) Braeside no lo escogióconscientemente sino el Espíritu lo hace.

Braeside había decidido empezar con un ministerio español en 1997, pero se desarrollómás cuando otros vinieron de otras culturas. Por 15 años Braeside ha sido una iglesia multicul-tural, relejando una variedad de colores de piel, países y estilos de vestidos.

El reto más grande es el idioma, dice la pas-tora Kim. “¿Cómo le saludamos mutuamente?” Es una gran bendición ser multicultural, y ella espera que en el año que entra más idiomas serán representados.

El pastor Angel resuma la historia de Pen-tecostés: empezando con la liberación de Israel de Egipto y después habla del don del Espíritu quien vino después de la venida de Jesús. El relata historias de evangelismo. La oración final es en español e inglés. El canto final es: Donde está el Espíritu de Dios, hay libertad.

Sigue una comida “potluck” o convivio, con comida de muchas culturas y una larga fila de gente. Las mesas se llenan con gente; algunas

reflejan una variedad de color de piel, y otras no.

Una InvitaciónEl pastor Angel amablemente me invitóa estar presente, en parte porque antes nos dos éramos involucrados en iglesias pentecostales—una clara conexión con Pentecostés.

Angel es de Perú, su esposa Blanca es de México y los dos, con otras parejas de otras culturas, sirven una iglesia multicultural en Winnipeg. El quiere que yo, un compañero en la EMC, de raíces británicas, observe la diversidad cultural en una congregación EMC durante el añobicentenario de la Conferencia.

Mi esposa Mary Ann y yo trajimos una amiga, Carol Seburn, de descendencia me-nonita DGR y convicción bautista. Carol describe el servicio como “poderoso” y ella no es la única en su evaluación.

Dice Pedro, “A este Jesús, Dios la resucitó y de ello todos nosotros somos testigos. Exaltado por el poder de Dios, y habiendo recibido del Padre el Espíritu Santo prometido, ha der-ramado esto que ustedes ahora ven y oyen” (Hechos 2:32-33). Si, “lo que vemos y oímos” en aquel entonces en Jerusalén y ahora en Braeside también.

Trasladado por Catherine Thiessen y Gerald Reimer.

The worship team leads in a closing song: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. / El equipe de adorción conduce la canción final: Donde está el Espíritu de Dios, hay libertad.

Braeside no lo escogió consciente-mente sino el Espíritu lo hace.


The Mennonite World Conference General Council meetings in Basel, Switzerland, on May 22–27,

2012, served as a spiritual “high” for me.Over one hundred delegates from

the global Anabaptist church gathered in the very region of the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement of the early 16th century. For many, this was the first time they had seen the places of events that they had read about in Anabaptist history books.

We saw the place in the Limmat River in Zurich where Felix Manz, one of the first martyrs of the movement, was drowned for his faith in 1527. We met for a brief time of worship in one of the mountain caves where early Anabaptists met in secret.

All in all, these sites were useful in illustrating the growth of the Anabaptist church from its humble beginnings till today.

Chrischona, the place of meeting, was significant for a second reason, namely, that this was the site in 1925 when the first MWC Assembly was held. At that time the participants were mainly white-faced from Europe and North America. This time 80 percent of the attendees were from non-white continents of Africa, Asia and South America.

The changes in composition were clearly apparent, highlighting the reality that more Mennonites today live in the global south than in the north. César Garcia, our new General Secretary, comes from Colombia, South America.

MWC’s headquarters has moved from Strasbourg, France, to Bogotá. The first language of operation will increasingly be in Spanish, creating a necessary adjust-ment for North Americans in letting go of power and influence.

Anabaptist church nearly triples, changing in compositionNorth needs to let go of power and influence

by Ron Penner

Since 1970 the Mennonite Church has almost tripled in size, from 600,000 mem-bers to 1,700,000, with the increase coming primarily in these southern regions. This is cause for thanksgiving and joy, but it also reminds us that our most fruitful mission efforts might be through and together with our fellow church members in the southern hemisphere.

As your representative for the EMC, I invite your prayers and financial support for MWC. Christ’s promise that the Church will be built is happening right among us, and we are privileged to be partners of it.

Partnership also includes tangibly seek-ing to walk with our brothers and sisters,

especially those who are experiencing hardship and suffering in their local context. May God help us do good to all, “especially those of the household of faith”

(Galatians 6:10).

Ron Penner (Aberdeen, former moder-ator) serves within MWC’s Executive Committee as a North American representative.

Ambroise Kabeya Kanda Mwanda of the Democratic Republic of Congo looks across the Limmat River in Zurich, Switzerland, where Anabaptist martyr Felix Manz’s death sentence was read on Jan. 5, 1527.

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Christ’s promise that the Church will be built is happening right among us, and we are privileged to be partners of it.


Columns • archives alcove

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To love God with all of our mind

Education comes in many places: a class-room, job site, kitchen, field, and more. Yet when it comes to classroom educa-

tion, some Anabaptists say the more you learn, the more you stray.

Such a view of classroom education is seen as protecting the Church against harmful influ-ences. It might fit with Psalm 131:1: “I do not concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.”

However, it does not fit with what Jesus identifies as the Greatest Commandment: that we are love God with all of our mind, as well as heart, soul, and strength (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29–30 , emphasis added). And what of a rab-binic saying that an “ignorant” person cannot be pious?

There is a difference between being unaware through limited opportuni-ties and choosing to be unaware. In some settings, members have had little prospects of formal educa-tion. Is this because leaders chose a lack of awareness for themselves and the people whom they serve?

In the 1940s and later Kleine Gemeinde members and leaders sought to become more formally educated at high school, Bible school, university, seminary—not necessarily in that order. To plot the journeys of some of our ministers, for instance, is to see classroom educa-tion interrupted early in life and then resumed at personal cost and of real benefit to our Conference.

To be Anabaptist while rejecting higher edu-cation would seem to be a curious twist of our early history. Prominent early Swiss leaders had been educated before becoming Anabaptists; they knew both of the dangers and benefits of

higher education, and they used their education for good.

Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz studied at university. George Blaurock was a monk and Mi-chael Sattler was an abbot. Balthasar Hubmaier held a doctorate in theology.

Earlier as a priest, Dutch Anabaptist leader Menno Simons had formally studied theology. It would be an error to think his Roman Catholic training left only negative influences on how he later thought, argued, and wrote. The more I study early church history and theology, the clearer it appears that Menno positively drew upon his past training for good.

While speaking out against errors in Roman Catholic and Reformers’ teachings, and “human sophistry,” Menno displayed Christ-centred use

of his previous education. To observe this, consider carefully his Confession of the Triune God, 1550.

The Kleine Gemeinde came to Canada in 1874–75. Some groups of Dutch-German Anabap-tists in Russia who came later did not, in Russia or here, share its distrust of higher education.

It was, for example, the Mennonite Brethren in Steinbach, Man., who began to hold winter classes in Bible instruction in the 1930s, a practice that grew into what is now Steinbach Bible College. (By comparison, back in the Netherlands Anne

Mankes-Zernike earned a Doctor of Theology degree in 1921.)

Much change has happened in the EMC and more will. Many of our younger members who come from conservative, traditional back-grounds in Mexico, for instance, are eager to learn and are bridging the education gap faster than did earlier generations of KG.

by Terry M. Smith

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journeys of

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Conference. Conrad Grebel studied at university.


With Our Churches

Pelly, Sask.—As the Book of Psalms is filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, may we, as his people, daily realize our dependence upon the Lord. May praise and thanksgiving be an ever-present part of our lives.

As a fellowship group of believers here at Pelly, we have much for which to be thankful. There are often visitors of various families; new faces that show up now and then; and, of course, the regular attenders, which makes for a wonderful time of fellowship.

Winter was very pleasant, much different than we usually experience in this area. Our activities were af-fected somewhat. Instead of having planned suppers, as had been in the past couple of years, people were encouraged to do more inviting and hosting as they chose and we had a few socials in the church. It seemed to work out well.

There was an eight-week Kids Club in March, April, and early May. The children pictured were regular attenders. There were snacks, singing, story and craft times. A point system was set up. They could earn points for attendance, memory verses, reciting the books of the Bible, bringing their

Pelly Fellowship Chapel

Kids Club held March to May

duo-tangs, and doing the weekly les-son sent home with them.

After reaching a certain number of points, each student could pick a prize. Six children earned enough points to earn the ultimate prize, which was a Bible. Much thanks goes to our Sunday School superintendent and assistant superintendent for all the effort put into this. Others helped with giving the weekly lesson, snacks, and crafts.

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Twyla Johnson leads VBS during a time of singing.

Students recite memory verses. The names of Old Testament books are in the background.

A student receives a Bible as a prize.

As has become a custom, the men of the church very ably prepared and served a Mother’s Day breakfast held in the village hall. The Banksons, a singing group, conducted the service this year. It was all much appreciated.

The men and boys enjoyed a pan-cake breakfast at the church on June 2, 2012, with EMC missions Foreign Secretary Ken Zacharias as speaker.

– Vivian Anfinson

As a fellowship group of believers, we have much for which to be thankful.


With Our Churches

Births

Straffordville, Ont.—Our church accepted five new members this past spring. Pete and Anita Thiessen, Dave Bergen, and Henry and Susanna Loewen shared their testimonies and their desire to be a part of the Straf-fordville EMC church body. They have already been serving in different ways for many years in our church.

Two new deacon couples were elected: Henry and Susanna Loewen, Abe and Sara Wall. Their commis-sioning service was held on May 27, 2012, which conference pastor Ward Parkinson attended and served us with a devotional.

Our ladies have been getting together once every other week for many years now. We all take turns having a devotional; we sing, pray and fel-lowship together.

For occasions like Christmas and Mother’s Day we make our gatherings a little more special

Straffordville EMC

New members and deacon coupleswith dinner, speakers and numbers. For these events we invite guests, and often our youth girls are welcome.

This past Mother’s Day we had a Mexican Fiesta. We enjoyed some good Mexican food, sharing time, and a good special number done by youth girls for their mothers. These Ladies Fellowship nights and special occa-sions have been big blessings to the ladies. They are times for encouraging and accountability in our walk with Jesus.

– Tina Siemens

REIMER – to Darcy and Rochelle Reimer of Winnipeg, Man., an adopted son, Andrew Philip Hanhong, born Apr. 21, 2009.

GRYBA – to Byron and Anita Gryba of Win-nipeg, Man., a son, Mitchell Wayne, on May 6, 2011.

SIRAN – to Tim and Jennifer Siran of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Thaddeus Jude, on June 4, 2011.

FRIESEN – to Derek and Kelly Friesen of Pansy, Man., a daughter, Taryn Agacie Grace, on July 27, 2011.

STEELE – to Brendan and Chrystal Steele of Lorette, Man., a daughter, Madeline Claire, on Aug. 14, 2011.

KROEKER – to Merle and Lorna Kroeker of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Rylan Dyson, on Aug. 30, 2011.

BROWN – to Lyndon and Cheryl-Lynn Brown of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Elliot Morgan, on Feb. 19, 2012.

WOHLGEMUT – to Oz and Melissa Wohlgemut of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Siegfried, on May 3, 2012.

MUEHLING – to Tim and Arlene Muehling of Winnipeg, Man., a son, Zachary Gordon, on June 6, 2012.

LOEWEN-WATSON – to Brent and Tanya Loewen-Watson of Winnipeg, Man., a daughter, Nadia Kaitlyn, on June 7, 2012.

Mother's Day Mexican Fiesta: Eva Blatz, Kathy Klassen, Maria Froese, Debbie Thiessen, and Aggie Blatz dressed in a Mexican style.

Membership service: (back) Dave Bergen, Pete Thiessen, (front) Pastor Richard Klassen with wife Katherine, Henry and Susanna Loewen, Anita Thiessen.

Deacon commissioning service: (back) Abe Wall, Henry Loewen, Richard Klassen, conference pastor Ward Parkinson, (front) Sara Wall, Susanna Loewen, and Katherine Klassen.

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With Our Churches

St. Vital EMC

Dedications and baptismsWinnipeg, Man.—Has God been at work in our community? Yes!

He created 12 unique and pre-cious people and placed them in our families in unique and precious ways: by birth, by adoption, by answer to persistent and sometimes painful prayer. He has taught these parents to humbly admit that the task of parent-ing is too much for them alone.

Baby dedication: Sophia, Abigail and Madeline James (Chris and Jessica), Eli and Liam Chandler (Scott and Sheila), Andrew Reimer (Darcy and Rochelle), Taryn Friesen (Derek and Kelly), Rylan Kroeker (Merle and Lorna), Sigfried Wohlgemut (Oz and Melissa), Elliot Brown (Lyndon and Cheryl-Lynn), Mitchell Gryba (Byron and Anita).

Baptized on June 24, 2012: Marcella Wiebe, Freya Qiu, Sheila Chandler, Jessica James, Su-zanna Hopcraft, Madison Schacht, and Graham Schacht with Pastor Jerry Plett.

He has commissioned our church to love and help teach those kids and to encourage and support their par-ents by our prayers and our actions. We are grateful to Him for each one of these: Mitchell Gryba (Byron and Anita), Andrew Reimer (Darcy and Rochelle), Taryn Friesen (Derek and Kelly), Sophia, Abigail and Madeline James (Chris and Jessica), Eli and

Liam Chandler (Scott and Sheila), El-liot Brown (Lyndon and Cheryl-Lynn), Sigfried Wohlgemut (Oz and Melissa), Rylan Kroeker (Merle and Lorna).

The Holy Spirit has also been at work in older kids, university students and adults, each in their own circum-stances. He has opened their eyes to see Him more clearly and they have

responded to the call to seek a deeper understanding of Him through a life of following Jesus.

We were privileged to hear their testimonies on June 11, and with great joy we celebrated their baptisms on June 24, 2012. Baptized were: Suzanna Hopcraft, Graham Schacht, Madison Schacht, Marcella Wiebe, Freya Qiu, Jessica James, and Sheila Chandler.

– Lisa Schau

The Holy Spirit has been at work in older kids, university students and adults, each in their own circumstances.

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Columns • thinking about

What about Nate?

Years ago there was a comedy movie called What About Bob? starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus. It was a

spoof on the psychiatrist–patient relationship.In short, Murray’s character, Bob, has so

many issues going on, and so frustratingly resists all efforts at intervention, that his therapist himself is eventually driven to distraction.

As the story plays out, of course, we come to love Bob’s endearing quirkiness and take delight as his overly-confident doctor slowly unravels.

But that’s only in the movies.In real life there are many Bobs, or Jims, or

Sallys who just don’t fit in. Whether it is because of mental or emotional sickness, addictions,

poverty, or an unshakable past, these folks find themselves outside the margins of society.

I think of a friend who used to live in my neighbourhood. Let’s call him Nate. Nate struggled over the years with alcohol, which led to employment problems, which led to welfare subsistence living. So he often found himself in need at the end of each month.

Nate survived by asking for favours and making promises he couldn’t keep. This led to

a pattern of habitual lying that wore out many relationships. People would cringe or roll their eyes when they heard Nate’s voice on the other end of the line. I would, too.

I know deep down Nate had a good heart. He wanted things to be better. He made professions of faith more than once, always seeking a fresh start. But getting the benefit of the doubt was impossible in a small town.

Here’s my question: why didn’t Nate ever feel comfortable in church?

Rationally, I can surmise that he felt out of place or self-conscious because of his own is-sues. Guilt can do that. Or I can see how his past had caught up with him. Burn enough bridges

and you end up on your own.But my gut still asks why he didn’t

feel comfortable in church; might it be something lacking in the church?

As Jesus walked this earth, sinners were drawn to him. He let them touch him. He reached out to touch them. The lepers and prostitutes, the diseased and possessed—untouchables all—were drawn to the loving touch of the Holy Son of God.

I know that as believers we need to be discerning and wise in the way we interact with the watching world. And we are, indeed, called to holiness.

But what have we established when sinners avoid our gatherings like the plague? Have we preserved our reputa-tions so carefully we’ve erected fences only others see?

For its first three centuries, the Church itself existed outside the mar-

gins of society. Like Jesus, we didn’t care about reputation, because we had none. And, boy, did we grow!

Since then the Church has acquired power and place and reputation. But what about those in each one of our communities who don’t fit inside our margins?

What about Nate?

by Ward ParkinsonConference Pastor

What have we established when sinners avoid our gatherings like the plague? Have we preserved our reputations so carefully we’ve erected fences only others see?

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News

WINNIPEG, Man.—Imagine being stuck at a railway crossing while a train eight kilometers long—that’s 450 cars—rumbled by.

That’s how much food Canadian Foodgrains Bank provided for people in the developing world in 2011-12, in-ternational programs director Grant Hillier told the board at its bi-annual meeting June 13-14, 2012, in Winnipeg.

“It would take a long time for a train that long to pass,” said Hillier of the 40,849 tonnes of food worth $43.8 million provided by CFGB last year.

Altogether, CFGB provided support for 2.1 million people in 36 countries through 116 projects last year.

Most of the programming was in Africa (78 projects in 19 countries), followed by Asia (30 projects, 13 countries) and Latin America (eight projects, four countries), he said. The countries receiving the most help were Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Altogether, those three countries received $15.6 million of drought aid.

Of the total assistance, just over $29 million was for food aid, $12.5 million was for food security activities that help people grow or access more and better food, and $2.3 million supported nutrition activities.

CFGB provided 40,849 tonnes of food last yearWould fill a train eight kilometres long

These responses were made possible by generous dona-tions from Canadians, who gave a record $15.8 million to CFGB in 2011-12, reported John Longhurst.

Of that total, about $11.8 million was donated directly to CFGB, including $5.5 million via donations of grain. Another $4 million came through its member agencies.

Altogether, a total of 19,396 tonnes of grain was donated by grow-ing projects and individual farmers.

Longhurst also acknowledged the continued support from the Canadian International Development Agency, which signed a new five-year funding agreement with CFGB worth $25 million a year.

“We had a great year, but it is all due to the amazing support from

thousands of people across Canada,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

For 2012–13, the board approved a budget of $37.2 million. Just over two months into the new budget year, the CFGB has already committed to 23 projects worth $10.1 million, with most of it going to feed 257,000 people in the Sahel region of Africa where an estimated 18 million people face food shortages because of drought.

Although needs in that region, and around the world, “outweighs what the Foodgrains Bank can do, member agencies, partners in the developing world and donors in Canada are motivated to contribute and are responding,” Hillier said. “It’s a blessing to be a part of that effort.”

– CFGB

Men carry heavy sacks of millet at a Foodgrains Bank-supported food distribution in Niger.

Altogether, CFGB provided support for 2.1 million people in 36 countries through 116 projects last year.

Subscribe to The Messenger electronicallyPrefer e-copy to hard copy? Issues of The

Messenger are available electronically. You

can sign up on-line at www.emconference.ca/messenger.

For those who are not members or

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News

OTTAWA, Ont.—“The question is not so much ‘What is human?’ but ‘When is human?’” suggests Faye Sonier, Legal Counsel for EFC.

“Medicine recognizes a point of viability for a child in the womb. Science is prepared to experiment us-ing pre-natal human tissue from conception onward. Yet, Canada’s Criminal Code states that a child in the womb is not human,” explains Sonier. “The Crimi-nal Code provisions on this point are dumbfounding.”

“Parliament needs to examine these provisions; consider their historical roots; and, debate whether they make sense in twenty-first century Canada,” continues Sonier. “The EFC fully supports the recent calls of Members of Parliament Stephen Woodworth (Kitchener –Centre, CPC) and Jeff Watson (Essex, CPC) for a full examination of Canada’s laws in this regard. As Canadians become more aware of what the laws stipulate, they will be astounded.”

As MP Stephen Woodworth offered in a December 21, 2011 media release, section 223(1) of the Criminal Code“defines a human being as a child who has completely pro-ceeded in a living state from the mother’s body, whether or not the child has breathed. This means that in Canada a child is legally considered to be sub-human while his or her little toe remains in the birth canal, even if he or she is breathing.”

Section 223(2) is equally troubling. It sets out that a homicide occurs when a person injures a child before or during its birth and the child dies after exiting the birth canal.

“An Ottawa area case dealt with section 223,” notes EFC Vice-President and General Legal Counsel Don Hutchinson. “A mother was charged with attempted murder after she used a pellet gun to shoot her nearly full term son while he was still in the womb. The boy, born two days later, survived after surgery and some time in an intensive care unit.

“The charges were later dropped because the

EFC supports discussion on definition of ‘human being’Criminal Code provisions are ‘dumbfounding’

child was not considered by law to be a human being when he was shot,” said Hutchinson. “In an interesting twist, she received several months’ probation for failing to provide the necessities of life because after birth she didn’t report

the pellet lodged in her son’s head.”

“According to section 223, the mother would not even have been charged had her son died before he was born,” continues Hutchinson. “However, had the child died from his in-juries after he was born, she would have been charged with homicide.”

“Do these provisions make any sense?” he asks. “Is that consistent with our contemporary understanding of life and human rights?”

“The wording of these laws is very confusing,” states Sonier. “The meaning is from a distant and less medically advanced society. The language of a now ancient time is far from obvious in the current century.”

Sonier says, “As a nation, we need to ask ourselves if these convoluted laws and archaic concepts reflect our values, modern medicine and our understanding of human rights and human life. If they don’t, our political represen-tatives need to take action.”

– EFC

“The charges [against a mother who shot her son in the womb] were later dropped because the child was not considered by law to be a human being when he was shot.”

– Don Hutchinson, EFC Vice-President

To order your copies (mailing extra)

contact Rebecca Roman, rroman@

emconf.ca or 204-326-6401.

Copies now available free!


News

KITCHENER, Ont. – What is MCC’s best kept secret?It is “Global Family”—a community-based, education

sponsorship program that is cost effective and empowers schools to decide what is best for students and families in their area.

Leigh and Lois Steckley, of New Hamburg, Ont., recently returned from a Middle East learning tour with MCC, visiting Jordan and Palestine. They wanted to get a first-hand glimpse of MCC’s education sponsorship in action.

While visiting the Al-Malath Society in the Beit Sahour of Bethlehem, Leigh Steckley remarked, “Seeing the smiles on their faces was enough to convince me of the need for sponsoring this school.”

The centre serves youth with mental and intellectual disabilities that are not looked after by other schools. The program contributes toward a long-term increase in cli-ents’ independence and dignity. They hope to open a work-shop where graduates of the program can be employed.

At the Latin Patriarchate School in Zababdeh, a village in the northern West Bank, quality education is delivered to Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Muslim students. Here they come together on equal footing and become friends.

Global Family funds provide scholarships to students who would otherwise not have access to quality education. They also assist with school supplies, including books and classroom furnishings.

Global Family currently partners with over 100 community-based organizations in more than 40 different countries. To learn more about Global Family and how to sponsor a project for only $25 a month or $300 a year, visit globalfamily.mcc.org.

– MCC

MCC’s best kept secretA hint: it happens in 40 countries

Lois and Leigh Steckley flank Mrs. and Rev. Samir Esaid, two admin-istrators of the Arab Episcopal School in Irbid, Jordan. The school integrates visually impaired Christian and Muslim students into regular classrooms where all are treated equally and fairly.

Stephen Dueck (Rosenort EMC) graduated from Bethany College in Hepburn, Sask., with a Diploma of Bib-lical Studies.

Bethany graduate

Global Family funds provide scholarships to students who would otherwise not have access to quality education.

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News

AMMAN, Jordan—Christian and Muslim religious leaders and academ-ics met in March 2012 at an MCC-supported symposium to discuss issues contributing to the emigration

of Christians from the Middle East.Attending part of the two-day

symposium was His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan who stressed the importance of cooperation between Muslims and Christians. The interfaith symposium was held in Amman, Jordan, in March and organized by the Royal Institute for Inter-faith Studies in cooperation with MCC and the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo.

Presentations focused on the challenges faced by Chris-tians and the fact that Arab Christians in some countries feel their rights are being denied. Participants agreed to a plan to address the need for equality, human rights and religious freedoms of all citizens of the Middle East.

Daryl Byler, an MCC regional representative, said the prince, a Muslim, seemed to garner the participants’ trust. “At one point, one of the Christian leaders told Prince Hassan, ‘We have placed our problems in your hands; we hope you will do something with the stories we have shared,’” said Byler.

Byler said it would be tragic for Christians to lose their historic connection to the Holy Land: “MCC partners throughout the Middle East have for years expressed concern about the emigration of Christians, and MCC believes a strong and vibrant Christian community is part and parcel of a strong and vibrant Middle East.”

– MCC

Gradual exodus of Christians from Middle East prompts planNeed for equality, human rights, and religious freedom

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These Canadian volunteers are helping their neighbours in Minot, ND. The experience is out of this world.

Where in the world...can you volunteer with MDS?

Call or write 1-866-261-1274 [email protected] to discover what is needed where and when.

MCC staff pictured with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal (right) at the symposium: (from left) Daryl Byler, an MCC representative in the Middle East, Nada Zabeneh, MCC Jordan program coordinator; and Suzi Khoury, MCC Jordan administrative assistant.

Byler said it would be tragic for Christians to lose their historic connection to the Holy Land.


News

• •

STEINBACH, Man.—The weather was perfect for SBC’s 2nd Annual Golf Tournament at Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.

About 100 golfers participated in a Texas Scramble, gathering in the clubhouse afterwards for a buffet dinner and prizes.

More than $35,000 was raised through the tournament, with proceeds designated to student bursaries such as SBC’s Summer Ministry Scholarship and the International Student Bursary.

SBC’s Summer Ministry Scholarship has been created to assist students in living out a life of ministry and service while preparing for college. Students can receive up to one-third of their tuition in a scholarship from the college for serving in a variety of summer ministries.

Since its inception, a yearly average of 33 students have served for approximately 270 weeks of ministry. Together with matching support from their home church and the ministry organization, a student can receive up to $6,750 in bursary for a summer of ministry.

The International Student Bursary provides full tuition

LIESTAL, Switzerland—Representatives of MWC and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists met in dialogue on May 28–31, 2012, in Liestal, Switzerland. The four days of conversation were characterized by both Christian warmth and frank exchange of perspectives.

This was the second round of dialogue based on Liv-ing the Christian Life in Today’s World. The first series of conversation took place on June 28–July 1, 2011, at the Adventist church world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In the latest dialogue, major papers were presented from each side on eschatology, non-conformity, and hermeneutics. Shorter discussions took up questions raised by each communion.

Mennonites responded to issues of pacifism, Sabbath, salvation and obedience, personal lifestyle, ordinances, hermeneutics, and eschatology. Adventists addressed

SBC’s golf tournament benefits studentsSMS and ISB assist those in training, ministry

Warmth, honesty mark Anabaptist–Adventist dialogueRepresentatives had met previously in 2011

to international students recommended by one of SBC’s constituent conferences and whose remaining costs will be covered by that conference. SBC has welcomed students from churches in countries such as Bolivia, the United States, and Paraguay, training them for ministry in their home countries.

SBC would like to extend our thanks to our sponsors and participants for your generous support. We are thank-ful for your partnership in training servant leaders for church ministry.

– SBC

questions of military service, Sabbath, contextualization, justice and discipleship, the role of women, church disci-pline, Ellen White, and eschatology.

One afternoon the group visited sites from Anabaptist history and a few places of interest to Adventists.

The representatives worked on a statement sum-marizing the discussion’s value and recommendations on how study materials might be shared. This paper will be referred to the respective authorities of each communion.

MWC participants were Robert Suderman (Canada), Valerie Rempel (United States), Henk Stenvers (The Netherlands), Patricia Urueña (Colombia), Danisa Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), and Tom Yoder Neufeld (Canada). SDA participants were William Johnsson (Australia), John Graz (France), Bert Beach (United States), Denis Fortin (Canada), Peter Landless (South Africa), and Teresa Reeve (Canada).

– MWC/GCSDA

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About 100 golfers teed off on June 5 to raise funds for Steinbach Bible College student bursaries.


News

BCM needs two more nominations Board of Church Ministries seeks two more nominations for a three-year term.

Duties:» Provide resources and services to help congregations

with Christian education, family-life teaching, music ministries and youth work.

» Minister to post-high school students and make ar-rangements for Conference youth events.

» Produce Conference publications and periodicals.» Promote the writing and publication of Christian

literature.» Administer the Conference Archives.

Please forward names of church-approved candidates to Tim Dyck, General Secretary, at [email protected] or 204-326-6401.

YARROW, B. C. –MCC’s original thrift operation in Yarrow, BC, was irreparably damaged on May 2, 2012, by a fire. While the fire department is still investigating, it is believed that the fire started in the kitchen, located at the back of the building.

“The back of the building is basi-cally destroyed and the rest of the building has suffered major smoke damage,” said Doug Willms, MCC BC Thrift Shop coordinator.

The shop, located at 42232 Yarrow Central Road, is completely run by volunteers. It will likely not reopen in the same location, but they will definitely look to reopen the store.

“The volunteers love their shop and have a real passion for the ministry of MCC,” Willms said. “They will definitely be looking for ways to keep the shop going.”

There are nine MCC thrift shops in BC, raising funds for the relief, development and peace work of MCC in more than 50 countries. Last year, the thrift shops contrib-uted more than $1.4 million to this ministry.

The Yarrow MCC Thrift Shop has its roots in the 1940s when local Mennonites collected clothing for needy people in war-torn Europe.

When the war ended and MCC’s efforts expanded globally, winter clothing was no longer in demand. It was decided that this clothing would be sold and the funds used for material resources needed overseas. Thus the MCC thrift movement in BC began.

– MCC BC

MCC Thrift Store damaged by fireOpening in new location is probable

The MCC Thrift Shop in Yarrow suffered irreparable damage in an early morning fire on May 3.

“The volunteers love their shop ... they will definitely be looking for ways to keep the shop going.”

– Doug Willms

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News

WINNIPEG, Man.—On June 18, 2012, a small group of students from Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) and CMU’s Menno Simons College began to challenge the federal government’s decision to deny supplemental healthcare coverage to refugees on June 30.

The 59 Cents Campaign for Refugee Healthcare is a po-litically independent, student-led movement that grew out of an assignment in a one-week course—“Speaking Out... and Being Heard: Citizen Advocacy”—at CMU’s Canadian School of Peacebuilding (CSOP).

“We believe that the recent changes to the Canadian In-terim Federal Healthcare Program (IFHP), which supplied refugees with the medical help, are unacceptable,” says spokesperson Matthew Dueck (Ridgewood EMC).

In 2011 alone, Canada opened its doors to 25,000 refugees. “Until now, refugees have been entitled to full medical assistance under the IFHP—a $20-million

Reverse healthcare decision, students sayRefugees’ full healthcare benefits should continue

per year program the federal government has cancelled, effective June 30, 2012,” says Dueck.

“$20-million spread across our country’s population works out to only 59 cents per person,” says Dueck. “It makes practical and moral sense to continue this relatively small program” before “treatable illnesses become serious long-term health issues.”

“We’re encouraging all Canadians” to send “59 cents to the Prime Minister, showing our willingness as a country to give our part toward a small but vital program—and hopefully pressure the federal government to reverse this decision,” he said.

The organizers are “overwhelmed by the response,” Dueck said. The campaign will continue after June 30.

For information, visit www.59cents.org or YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQiSe00HOec.

– CMU

59 Cents Campaign group: Maureen Gathogo, Rianna Isaak, Cecilly Hildebrand (Ridgewood EMC), and Matthew Dueck (also Ridgewood EMC). (Missing: Deanna Zantingh)

Registration forms available at the Eden Health Care Services office, WinklerFor information, please contact:

Armin Ens, Eden Foundation Chair (204) 325-6227 / Cell: (204) 325-8559 Earl Reimer, Director of Development, or Linda Driedger, Director of Event Co-ordina-

tion (204) 325-5355 / 1-866-895-2919 www.edenhealth.mb.ca

Breakfast Buffet at 7:30 a.m. at the Reinland Community Centre open to the public (donations to Reinland Community Centre)Trek begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Village of Reinland and finishes in Gretna at the ‘Gretna Hotspot Festival’.

Breakfast Buffet at 7:30 a.mJuly 21, 2012

Funds raised by trekkers will help support Eden’s Mental Health Recovery Programs

40 tractors 40 years or older

Gretna Hotspot Festival

Sponsorship from:

As a trekker you will enjoy:Riding your favourite tractor in support of mental healthScenic viewMennonite FoodSharing tractor stories

TRACTOR40 tractors 40 years or older

TRACTORTRACTORTRACTOR40 tractors 40 years or older40 tractors 40 years or older

TRACTORTREK

Registration Fee: $100Includes breakfast, lunch & supperPromotional wearEntertainmentPrizes

“It makes practical and moral sense to continue this

relatively small program” before “treatable illnesses become

serious long-term health issues,” says Matthew Dueck.

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DURANGO STATE, Mexico—More than 1,000 families in Durango State, Mexico, are now receiving food and blan-kets, as part of MCC’s response to widespread drought.

Packets containing beans, rice, oil, corn, lentils, noodles and sugar will be distributed to families in the villages and hills in the Nuevo Ideal area. Families will also receive canned meat and MCC blankets.

This assistance is in addition to projects already under-way for residents of the Low German-speaking Durango Colony. It was established 130 kilometres northwest of the city of Durango in 1924 by Old Colony Mennonites coming from Canada.

About 250 households in Durango Colony are receiving food packages. Sixty-four families are receiving cattle feed to help maintain their herds. In addition, 47 families will be provided with seeds so they can plant a crop.

Parts of Mexico face what some are calling the worst drought in 70 years. Crop yields last year were below normal

MCC extends food distribution in MexicoProjects will cost $105,000; donations welcome

Stockwell new director at Segue Career OptionsProgram supports meaningful employment

and many farmers in the colony have already sold their cattle to generate income. Farmers that still have livestock must pay high prices for feed.

MCC is working with Servicios Integrales Menonitas, on the distribution in both Durango Colony and Durango State. Servicios Integrales Menonitas is MCC’s agency for the Low German Program in Mexico. The projects will cost $105,000.

Donations are welcome. Cheques should be made out to MCC and designated Mexico Drought. They can be mailed to your nearest MCC office. Contributions can also be made by calling your nearest MCC office in Canada at 1-888-622-6337.

– MCC

Note by Ken Zacharias, EMC Foreign Secretary: EMC missionaries, John and Lorna Wall, minister with the CME German conference. The CME has two congregations on the Durango colony. This report of drought supports the news that has also come to us from the CME church leadership in Durango.

from the past...into the future

Friday, September 28, 2012 | 6 p.m.Heartland Community Church

Landmark, Manitoba

Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission Centennial Celebration Banquet

Complimentary tickets available at the

Evangelical MennoniteConference office

440 Main StreetSteinbach, MB204-326-6401

Landmark, Manitoba

Complimentary tickets available at the


440 Main Street

Landmark, Manitoba

Complimentary tickets


WINKLER, Man.—Eden Health Care Services recently appointed Debra Stockwell to the position of program director of Segue Career Options.

Ms. Stockwell comes into this position formerly having been the director of Robertson College, Brandon Campus. Debra brings extensive experience in program and cur-riculum development, human resource management and understands the value of appropriate education. Her previous experience was in the health care field working in paediatrics.

Segue is the supported employment program of Eden Health Care Services that works with an wide range

(continued p. 31)


News

• •

In Memory

Katherine B. Reimer1922–2012

Katherine B. Reimer was born on March 18, 1922, at Satanta, Kansas, to her parents Abraham and Agatha Reimer. She grew up and went to a country school at Satanta.

On April 27, 1941, she married our Dad, John K. Reimer, at Meade, Kansas. They lived on a farmstead at Meade. Two children were born to them.

In July 1949 they moved to Mani-toba. They adopted a daughter a few years later. The family lived in Blu-menort. Our mother was not always in the best of health.

In May 1982 they moved into Oakwood Place in Blumenort, their retirement home. On October 7, 2011, they moved to the St. Adolphe Personal Care Home.

On January 30, 2012, Mom was admitted to Victoria General Hospital. On February 14 she peacefully entered her eternal home. She reached the age of 89 years, 10 months and 27 days. She had looked forward to her 90th

birthday celebration.She loved and served her Saviour

all her life. One of her favourite pastimes was quilting. She and Dad enjoyed putting puzzles together.

She is survived and greatly missed by her husband John K. Reimer, the love of her life for 70 years; son Richard and his wife Helen, daughter Carolyn and her husband Ben Wiebe; grandchildren Darryl and Linda Reimer, Sheri and Ed Wise, Angela Waffer and Garry Kornelsen and eight step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren Alycia Vaden Long, Christopher Vaden, Jeremy Vaden, Gabriel Vaden, Jared Waffer, Elizabeth

Reimer, Daniel Reimer, Jalen Waffer, Ireesha Kornelsen and 14 step-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews, especially the Plett family in Canada.

She was predeceased by her parents and all her siblings; daughter Margaret and her husband Abe; and two grandchildren, Douglas and Theresa Knelsen; grandson Corey Kornelsen and son-in-law Peter Kornelsen.

Her funeral service was held on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, 2:30 p.m., at Blumenort EMC with Pastor Barry Plett officiating. Interment was in the EMC cemetery in Blumenort.

As a family we express our gratitude to the wonderful staff at St. Adolphe Personal Care Home, for the nursing care at Victoria General Hospital, and to the many friends and relatives who have been so very supportive at this time. Also, we are thankful for the homecare given at Blumenort all the many years.

– Her Family

Debra is sitting surrounded by team members Sheila Suder-man, Bryan Prokopetz, Art Friesen and Ei-leen Blatz (miss-ing are Peter Toews and Linda O’Connell).

of individuals struggling with significant employment barriers. The program completes functional assessments, personal evaluations and supports individuals in actual employment placements in the community.

Segue supports the philosophy that mean-ingful employment is a key component of a healthy and contributing life.

The team at Segue and the whole Eden orga-nization look forward to seeing the employment program flourish under Debra’s leadership.

– Eden

(continued from p. 30)

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Alberta

Manitoba

Ontario

Calendar

Sept. 21–23Discover Your Ministry Potential A weekend of self-discovery Westpointe Community Church Grande Prairie 204-326-6401, www.emconference.ca

Sept. 29MCC Ride for RefugeWaterloo, Niagara, [email protected]/partner/mccoCheck website for more dates and locations

Oct. 13MCC Ride for [email protected]/partner/mccoCheck website for more dates and locations

July 11MCC Manitoba golf tournamentBridges Golf Course204-261-6381, mccmanitoba.ca

Oct. 11–13Is the End of All Things at Hand?Winnipeg Prophecy ConfeerenceVictoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave204-888-7270, 204-853-7786, 204-832-4627, www.wpgpc.org

Oct. 12–14TRU'12: EMC Youth Leaders' RetreatWilderness Edge Retreat and Conference Centre, Pinawa204-326-6401, [email protected] www.emconference.ca

In Memory

Peter Loewen1925–2011

The afternoon of Oct. 3, 2011, Peter Loewen slipped peacefully into the waiting arms of his Lord. He passed away in the palliative care ward at the Riverview Health Centre. He was 86.

Peter is survived by his loving wife Caroline of Winnipeg, Man., as well as their children and grandchildren: Rita and husband Wendell Kroeker, Matthew (Kirsten, Haley, and An-nika), Dalen (Bonnie), Tyson (Diane, Karen, and Aurelia), and Amy; Sylvia and son, Ben; Ralph and wife Cindy, Pavel, Artie, and Marissa; Lyle and wife Paula, Brenlee (Joash), Kara (Tim), and Jordan; Stewart and wife Heather, Dawson and Jenna; Greg and wife Cathie, Mackenzie, Kaelee, and Aaron.

Peter was predeceased by his parents Isaac and Elizabeth, brothers Leonard (in childhood) and George, and sister Mary Friesen. He was born on August 18, 1925. He grew up in Gi-roux, Man., and quit school at the age of 14 to help on the family farm. After their marriage on May 1, 1954, Peter and Caroline moved to the Interlake, north of Riverton. They farmed and spent winters in the bush operating a sawmill.

In 1962, Peter bought his first mobile feed mill and in 1969 he built Scientific Feed in Arborg. In later years he spent many days helping his sons and son-in-law on their farming operations. About five years ago Dad

and Mom moved to Winnipeg, where they became part of the Braeside EM Church. Dad was honoured to have been asked to serve on the missions committee.

Dad loved people. Some of his happiest days were spent driving his motorboat and teaching his nieces and nephews, his children’s friends, and anyone else how to waterski. He loved meeting new people and sharing stories with them. He and Mom did a lot of traveling—to Israel, Europe, South America, Caribbean, and cruising. Their latest trip was to a granddaughter’s wedding in Mexico in January 2011.

Dad’s greatest joy came from giv-ing away Scriptures. In recent years he went on many “trips north” to distrib-ute LifeLight New Testaments. Rarely a waiter or gas station attendant did not receive a copy of a New Testament when he waited on Dad. Dad wanted everyone to know the Lord.

He spent hours praying for his children, grandchildren, friends old and new, and has witnessed many a changed life. Dad also loved to share stories of his Scripture distribution trips.

His memorial service was held on Friday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m., at Braeside EMC.

– His Family

Participate in EMC’s internship program! (one to two years)

For information, contact Gerald Reimer at 204-326-6401 or [email protected], or check out www.emconference.ca.


Shoulder Tapping

The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our Conference, its churches, boards and ministries; inter-Mennonite agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads are not to be for monetary benefit. To place an ad (150 words or less), e-mail [email protected] or call 204-326-6401 and ask for Rebecca Roman or Terry Smith. Ads will run twice unless other arrangements are made.

Pastoral positions

Crestview Fellowship (www.crestviewfellowship.ca), an Evangelical Mennonite Conference church located in Winnipeg, Man., is prayerfully seeking applications for a senior pastor. If you feel God calling you to this position or if you have any questions about the position, please call Alex Wiebe at 204-837-2516 or send resume and referenc-es either electronically to the Pastoral Search Committee, Attn: Alex Wiebe ([email protected]) or by mail to Pastoral Search Committee c/o Crestview Fellowship, 271 Hamilton Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2YOH3.

Picture Butte Mennonite Church, a young congregation of about 200 people, seeks a full-time pastor to begin as soon as possible. Picture Butte is a small town in Southern Alberta approximately twenty minutes north of Lethbridge, the closest city centre. As our congregation consists largely of Mennonites who have settled here from Mexico, the successful applicant must be able to speak and present their messages in both the English and Low German languages. Please forward resumes with referenc-es and all other inquiries to: Henry Krahn, Box 891, Picture Butte, AB T0K 1V0; 403-732-5994 or [email protected]

First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake, a small body of believers in northern BC, is looking for a part-time or full-time servant leader pastor. We desire to find a person who shares our vision and will work with us to fulfill it. Our ideal candidate will have an exceptional ability to inspire discipleship, outreach, and a desire to embrace our com-munity, while holding firm to sound biblical doctrine. Our candidate will agree with the Confession of Faith in the Mennonite Perspective. Please send your resume to FMC c/o Wilf Dueck [email protected], phone 250-692-3455 or (cell) 250-692-6454.

New Life Christian Fellowship in Stevenson, Ont., seeks a senior pastor who has a heart for people and loves the Lord. We are an evangelical church located in Stevenson, Ontario. The church is mostly young families with average attendance between 80 and 100 people. The major-ity of the people attending have a Low German-speaking background. We seek a pastor who has the heart of a shepherd and a desire to see our church grow. He should have strong preaching and teaching skills and ability to develop leaders. Pastoral experience is preferred. He must be in agreement with our constitution and statement of faith. Anyone who possesses these qualifications and is interested in this position can forward their resume to [email protected].

La Crete Christian Fellowship Church (EMC) seeks a full-time associate pastor.

La Crete, located in NW Alberta, offers rural lifestyle and a progressive outlook. With a range of family-oriented amenities, it’s a great place to raise a family.

LCCFC is a vibrant church of approximately 500 regular attendees who desire to spread the Word through a variety of ministries.

The associate pastor will provide direction to our care giving and outreach ministries as well as work closely with the pastoral team to strengthen the parishioners’ personal connection and commitment to Jesus Christ.

The applicant should be committed to a

personal Christian faith, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a willing and teachable leader, and a person whose love for the Lord is reflected in their ability to work well with others.

If the Holy Spirit seems to be inviting you to pursue this further, please contact Bill Neudorf at 780-814-1439, [email protected], or www.lccfc.ca.

Rosenort EMC, in southern Manitoba, seeks a senior pastor who will prepare and preach sermons that inspire, challenge and convict, emphasizing spiritual develop-ment. He will equip members, teaching and modelling local evangelism and missions and oversee the Leader-In-Training program. His ministry team includes a full-time youth pastor, lay ministers, deacons, and 250 members.

He will be a servant leader, modelling faithfulness and love for the Lord, caring for those with needs while guiding, directing, correcting and unifying the church with sound Biblical teaching. He views the Bible as the inspired and true Word of God, the authority for faith and action. Having a deep personal faith, strong convictions, and valuing family highly, he is a warm and loving person. He relates to us as a listener; not afraid to reveal personal pain and struggles; a compassionate and godly man.

See www.rosenortemc.com for full ad. Contact: Arlin Scharfenberg, [email protected], 204-746-6154.

Ridgewood EMC is looking for a full-time senior pastorto begin August 1, 2012. This multi-generational family oriented rural church is located north-east of Steinbach, Man., with over 200 in attendance on Sunday mornings.

As the spiritual overseer, the senior pastor is the shepherd and guardian of the congregation. This ministry is accomplished by studying and teaching, praying and preaching, and visiting and visioning on the basis of the Word.

Ridgewood EMC members strive to be a people that minister to the whole family, worshipping God together, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in love, responding to needs around, and cultivating a culture of Biblical disciple-ship, prayer and fellowship—all for the glory of God.

Applications along with a cover letter should be sent to Stan Hamm, [email protected], or Stan Hamm, Box 140, Blumenort, MB R0A 0C0.

Do you enjoy fishing? How about quiet community liv-ing? If you are God-fearing with a deep personal faith and seeking a full-time pastoral position, Treesbank Community Church (EMC) could be the place for you. We are a small country church located in southwestern Manitoba, between the Souris and Assiniboine Rivers. If you are interested in this position, please contact Leonard Plett at 204-824-2475 or at [email protected].

Other opportunitiesThe Morweena Christian School (MCS) is looking for a classroom teacher to serve on the teaching team in High School. Candidates with strengths in Math and Science will be given preference.

MCS is a rural school about 90 minutes North of Winnipeg Man., serving about 120 students.

The two-grade split classes range in size from 15 to 26 students. MCS was founded in 1966 by families of the local Morweena Evangelical Mennonite Church.

The candidate needs to be certifiable in the Province of Manitoba, needs to embrace the Evangelical Mennonite Conference Statement of Faith and be active in congre-gational life.

Send resume to Tim Reimer, Principal, [email protected].

Steeprock Bay Bible Camp seeks passionate and caring individuals to fill the roles of senior cabin leader, junior cabin leader and lifeguard. There are also many volunteer opportunities with the camp for cooks, nurses, maintenance or other. No prior camp experience required, just a desire to serve and to learn. Police checks are required for people 18 and over.

Steeprock Bay Bible Camp is an interdenominational camp that teaches the Word of God and principles of Christian life so that children in this area may know the Lord Jesus Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. SBBC is located in northern Manitoba on the Steeprock River near Sapotaweyak Cree Nation.

Camps are for ages seven to 14, primarily First Nations children, and run from July 2–August 4. There is also a teen camp for ages 13–18 that will take place August 6–11.

See the Camp Info tab at steeprockministries.com for applications. Contact Bethany Abrahamson at 281-3583 or [email protected] for information.

Inner City Youth Alive in Winnipeg, Man., is looking to fill the following positions:

Senior counsellors are needed for Gem Lake Wilderness Camp. Join us for one week, 10 days or the whole summer throughout July and August. Applicants must be 17 and older, have good leadership skills, be out-going, energetic, and ready for the adventure of a lifetime. If this sounds like you, please contact Gord at [email protected] or 204-582-8779 ext. 212.

Administrative manager to lead and manage the administrative team and give input for organizational di-rection to the ICYA leadership team. Full-time, permanent position, 40 hours a week from Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Go to www.icya.ca for details. Forward resumes to [email protected].

Director of programming to work closely with the Executive Director in giving oversight to all day-to-day functions and future endeavours of ICYA. Primary atten-tion will be given to providing leadership and direction to the program staff of Inner City Youth Alive. Go to www.icya.ca for details. Forward resumes to [email protected].


Columns • pictures of god

by Joanna Enns

Many years ago, when I was going through post-high school blues and desperately trying to find my place

in the world while volunteering overseas, one of my teammates, somewhat frustrated with my insecurity and indecisiveness, made this memo-rable comment: “I bet God is walking around in Heaven asking Himself, ‘Why did I give Joanna free will?’”

Free will. Sometimes I hate it. For a perfec-tionist people pleaser like myself, it would be so much easier just to have the list of correct choices and follow them exactly.

Lately I have been inundated with important life choices, both in my own life and in friends’ lives. While it seems easier to see the “right” choice for other people’s problems, my own are more debilitating. I run from one friend and advisor to another asking for advice, which inevi-tably causes more confusion since they all have different opinions on the best course of action.

The voices in my headReflecting on this process, I find that the

weight I give to each opinion has more to do with my respect for the individual, their position or their relative “success” than with the way their opinion contributes to the broader vision or call-ing on my life. I fear disappointing people who, though successful in what they do, are merely crossing the life path God has put me on.

In theory, I want my life and choices to be directed by God, and I seek to make choices that take me in the direction I believe God is leading me. When those choices conflict with the “success-ful” trajectory proposed by influential advisors, however, I discover the limitations of my faith.

These conflicts reveal that subconsciously I expect God’s trajectory to fall through at some point, leaving me to fend for myself in a world with different priorities. My need to create contingency plans freezes me in indecision and prevents me from pursuing my calling and pas-sions with freedom and peace.

Obviously, God usually does not give direct and specific answers and decisions, but he often provides direction. In this case, honest reflection revealed that my inner angst stemmed from a conflict between my God-given passions and the expectations that certain influential people had for me based on their definitions of success and their limited understanding of who I am.

Isolating the nature of the conflict allowed me to redistribute the weight of each opinion in my choices. Once I stepped back from the im-mediate decision and refocused on my long term calling, the choices leading towards those goals became clearer.

Although I certainly don’t know precisely where God is leading me, by looking back at God’s leading in the past and the ways he has gifted me, I can see a general pattern emerging. Once I released the opinions that, while well-meaning, were inconsistent with my broader calling, I experienced almost immediate peace and clarity.

This journey confirmed my need to bring my tough choices to God, and to trust that he is, in fact, the one with the most complete view of my whole life.

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My inner angst stemmed from a conflict between my God-given passions and the expectations that certain influential people had for me.


Columns • stewardship today

You and Mary run a lemonade stand as 50/50 owners. You opened

for business on a handshake. Mary dies. Do you still have a business?

Mary’s husband or child may be your new business partner. Do you have the opportunity, obligation or resources to buy them out? If so, at what price and what are the terms?

Are you better off starting your own lemonade stand, or sticking with the challenges of the old one? What if you die instead of Mary?

Without proper business planning, surviving family members may have to become active in the business, the business may be liquidated or sold to outside parties. Are you okay with this?

Buy-sell agreements can be used by nearly any type of business: corporations, limited liability companies (LLC) or partnerships. They are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Please consult with your family, tax advisor, and lawyer in preparing an agreement before any decision is made. Be sure this arrangement meets your current and long-term goals.

A buy-sell agreement is a document that determines the value of the shares or business interest, and the process involved, in cases such as:

• death of a co-owner• disability of a co-owner• retirement of a co-owner• divorce of a co-owner• departure of a co-owner• bankruptcy of a co-owner• a falling out between co-owners• desired sale of shares to a third party.

The method used to value the shares or business interest is the most important part of a buy-sell agreement. No one enjoys over-paying for a business.

On the other hand, it is in the owner’s best

by Kevin Davidson

Peace of mind moneycan’t buy

interest to ensure he or she (or their family) receives fair market value for their business interest. You should get independent, regular appraisals of the value of your business interests, especially if family members are involved.

Accurate and fair valuation also fixes the value in the deceased’s estate for federal and provincial tax purposes. Some of the ways to purchase the business interest are: owner’s per-sonal funds, company cash flow, sinking fund (business sets money set aside over time), bank loan, installment payments and life insurance.

The choice is yours: plan ahead, or take a chance and figure it out when disaster strikes. Please seek professional advice to minimize potential personal and tax liabilities, and for assistance with finding a cost-effective means to fund the agreement.

Business is personal. Don’t wait to discover the cost of failure to plan when you find your-self in business with someone you never chose.

A fully funded buy-sell agreement provides peace of mind money can’t buy.

Kevin Davidson is a stewardship consul-tant at the Calgary, Alta., office of Men-nonite Foundation of Canada (MFC). MFC provides stewardship education and estate and charitable gift planning at no cost. Contact your near-est MFC office or visit Mennofoundation.ca.

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The choice is yours: plan ahead, or take a chance and figure it out when disaster strikes.

36 The Messenger • July 2012 The MessengerEvangelical Mennonite Conference

440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5Publications Mail Agreement #40017362

Columns • kids’ corner

by Loreena Thiessen

Do you make promises?Have you promised to play with

your friend after school? Do you promise to help with the dishes? Do you promise to be home on time?

What happens when you make a promise?A promise affects at least two people: you,

and the person to whom you promise some-thing. What happens to the person who gets the promise?

If you make a promise to someone, that per-son expects something from you. They expect an action, some help, or that you will keep an agreement.

They believe your words, that what you have said is true, that it will happen. They believe you are honest. They believe you are responsible, that your actions will match your words; your

What’s in a promise?friend believes that she will have a playmate after school and that it will be you.

Your mother counts on your help after sup-per. Your parents expect you to get home at the time you have agreed on.

What happens to you when you make a promise?

When you make a promise you are giving your word, you are letting another person trust you. Their trust in you can make you more responsible.

Each time you do what you say you will do you trust yourself more. You learn that you are trustworthy and you become more responsible. This is a part of becoming grown up, to be responsible for your actions and your words.

When you do what you say, you know that you are honest, your words are true.

The Bible is a book full of promises. God leads his people through promises. When God sees that the people he has created are not fol-lowing him he sends a flood to destroy evil, but he promises to save Noah and his family in the ark.

He promises Moses miracles to persuade Pharaoh to let the people go. He promises enough food for the Israelites in the desert and sends them manna. He promises his people a Messiah and then Jesus is born.

Through these promises God shows his people who he is, and that he will take care of them. He has a plan and each promise is a step in his plan.

His plan is that people will know him and that he will save them through Jesus. God’s promises are true. Read Hebrews 10:23.

Activity: Find the promiseTo Noah – Read Genesis 9:13To Moses – Read Exodus 3:17To Abraham and Sarah – Read Genesis 17:9To you – Read Psalm 121:7To all people – Read Matthew 2:11

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Through promises, God shows his people who he is and that he will take care of them.

Documents

Why I believe in a literal six-day creation