messenger - Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Transcription

THE
MESSENGER
a publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference
volume 47, number 14
August 12, 2009
EMCers gather in Riverton!
Convention 2009
www.emconf.ca/Messenger
editorials
Churches, preparing for H1N1 this fall?
W
ith H1N1 so much in
the news, how is your
congregation preparing for a possibly difficult time this fall?
Amid fall programming plans, to
prepare for a pandemic might seem
like fear-mongering. Yet prudence
can be good stewardship in light of
a realistic threat.
In the Spanish Flu outbreak of
1918, Canadian churches were affected.
I asked Jack Suderman, general
secretary of Mennonite Church Canada: “What should the EMC do?”
“I don’t have an easy answer,”
he replied. “We, together with Mennonite Disaster Service, have produced some excellent study guides
and stories for children and adults.
Those are available on our website www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/Browse/1155.
“There are also other materials
available. We have worked hard
together with the Canadian Council
of Churches and the Government of
Canada to visualize and plan for how
to respond to a serious pandemic.
We have tried to keep our pastors
and Area Churches up-to-date with
developments.
“We feel that in case of a serious
situation, the churches (and the
church facilities and building)
would be key elements in dealing
with what is needed.
“Our thinking is that, given
that this would cause significant
disruption to routines (of worship,
committee work, etc.), it is better to
get folks to think about this before it
happens. As you can imagine, some
decisions will need to be made very
quickly in such a scenario.
“You are certainly welcome to
access our website; our resources,
and encourage your pastors and
T
others to do so as well.” M
Terry M. Smith
Have your delegates reported?
W
hat sort of convention
reporting happened
within your congregation?
Recently I visited a congregation
whose leaders took great care to
report. The bulletin cover carried
the gathering’s theme and some of
the music was chosen because it
was played there.
At five separate points in the
service the leaders provided brief
reports on the event’s business
meetings. They clarified the voting
process. An overhead displayed a
EDITOR
Terry M. Smith
tsmith@emconf.ca
ASSISTANT
EDITOR
Rebecca Buhler
rbuhler@emconf.ca
Address changes and submissions to
The Messenger should be sent to
messenger@emconf.ca
MESSENGER SCHEDULE:
No. 16 – September 16
(copy due September 4)
2
list of matters discussed. An action
taken was mentioned. Delegates
spoke of what they appreciated and
disliked about the event.
The event reported on was, in
fact, the business gathering of the
Alberta and Northwest Conference
of the United Church of Canada.
It represents nine presbyteries
(regions of churches), 289 preaching
points (213 pastoral charges),
177 ministers, and 17,483 weekly
attendees, according to Rev. Lynn
Maki, ANWC executive secretary.
In terms of attendance by min-
THE MESSENGER is the 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 living, 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.
THE MESSENGER is published twice a
month (once a month in July and August)
by the EMC Board of Church Ministries,
440 Main St., Steinbach, Man.
Subscriptions: Canadian subscriptions
are $24 for one year, $44 for two years,
isterial members and delegates,
the Alberta and Northwest Conference’s annual regional gathering
rivals in size our twice-yearly EMC
national ministerial and conference
council events.
On consecutive weekends it
was helpful to attend our EMC
convention and then to observe the
reporting by Innisfail United Church
delegates.
Some of our EMC churches report
effectively about our convention.
How was the reporting within your
T
congregation? M
Terry M. Smith
$65 for three years (Manitoba residents
add 7% PST); U.S. subscriptions are $30
for one year, $55 for two years, $82 for
three years; all other countries are $45 for
one year, $85 for two years, $125 for three
years . Subscriptions are voluntary and
optional to people within or outside of the
EMC. Subscriptions are purchased by the
Conference for members and adherents.
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Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.
Second-class postage paid at
Steinbach, Manitoba.
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Phone: 204-326-6401, Fax: 204-326-1613,
E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca.
MESSENGER
On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger
THE MESSENGER August 12, 2009
letters
Church family is beautiful!
Fellow EMCers, I am writing to thank
you. Being a church planter’s daughter
meant I grew up away from extended
family, but it also meant that each year
we would make the trip to the annual
EMC convention where I had a different
kind of extended family.
I grew up calling many of you “Uncle”
or “Aunt” although you likely had no
blood relation to me. I treasured that
bond as a child, but had forgotten how
significant it was until this year.
In May of this year my husband and I
welcomed our second child, a son, into
our family. We very quickly learned that
he suffered from several medical issues
that caused breathing difficulties and we
spent a couple of weeks in the hospital.
During this time we felt the prayers
of many people as time and again God
brought peace to us during a trying time
and showed us his strength and power
as he brought miracles for our son.
As the annual convention was in our
home region this year our family attended
for the first time. I was once again blown
away by the beauty of a church family.
My husband and I were both brought to
tears by how many of you, many we don’t
even know, came up to us and expressed
that you, and in many cases your church,
had been praying for our son. What an
amazing feeling to know that we belong
to such a large and caring body! I feel
blessed to have grown up within this
family and to now have the opportunity
to raise my children to do the same.
Thank you again for your prayers. Our
son is improving every day! We thank
God for his presence and for the power
of prayer.
Carissa Rempel
Arborg, Man.
Letters to the Editor
Letters published are generally to
comment on issues raised in The
Messenger.
Letters by hand or fax require
a handwritten signature. All letters
require a name, an address and a
phone number.
Letters can be edited for length,
clarity, legality, and taste. The focus
of letters is to be on an issue, not a
personality.
The views and opinions expressed
by the writers are their own, and do
not necessarily represent the position
of the Conference or the editors.
All publication of letters is subject
to the policy approved January
2002 by the EMC Board of Church
Ministries.
Encourages move toward affirmation
This is to cast my vote of affirmation
for the work of the nominating committee
at the annual convention.
Of the six boards/positions that
required elections, three were filled by
acclamation. For many of us delegates,
who are not personally acquainted with
the names on the slate, it is appropriate
that we acclaim those who have been
slated by the nominating committee. It is
a vote of confidence in the work of the
committee.
When more names than positions are
listed for us, it seems to me that people
have been asked to say yes to a position
so that we, as delegates, can say no to
some of them. As the late Ed Friesen
once suggested, it seems to resemble
“anonymous stoning” more than the
“casting of lots.”
Being on a slate and then not elected
always feels like a rejection. Often, in our
churches, we wonder why people are
not willing to let their names stand for
election; perhaps part of our answer lies
here.
Whether
this
year’s
situation
happened by intention or simply by
default, I hope it will continue as a trend
away from elections and toward more
affirmations.
Peter Janzen
Swift Current, Sask.
only $2.50 each!
Pastors, youth/adult
Sunday School teachers,
small group leaders: Have
you tried Follow Me yet?
This 13-lesson study booklet is
written by EMCers for EMCers.
Contact the Conference office to
get copies:
204-326-6401
rbuhler@emconf.ca
3
Convention 2009
Part one of four
The faithful Church:
s
u
o
i
t
We are i nfec
Dr. Pierre Gilbert
The Christian faith
reproduces itself. The
more it reproduces,
the more it challenges
the structures of death
and chaos the World
generates.
T
hroughout the Church’s history, Christians
have suffered persecution. This is
somewhat puzzling to me, for why would
any state seek to wipe out men and women
who wish to be productive and honest citizens?
Well, for starters, dictatorships will seek to
eliminate any group that promotes values and
truths that threaten their absolute authority. In the
Western world, the evangelical church is reviled,
simply because it is increasingly the only group that
still encourages society to think seriously about
some of its assumptions in regards to the rights of
the unborn, sexuality, human dignity, and personal
accountability.
But the ultimate root cause behind the relentless
persecution of Christians is spiritual. The World
hates the living God, and it hates those who identify
with him (John 15:18-19). The source of this hatred
does not lie in ideology; it smoulders in the human
heart itself (Matthew 15:19; Colossians 1:21).
If Christians simply kept to themselves and said
nothing about their faith, they could perhaps be
spared such hardship. But by nature the faithful
Church is an infectious organism.
The Christian faith reproduces itself. The
more it reproduces, the more it challenges the
structures of death and chaos the World generates.
For that reason, the World hates the Church.
Again and again it [the world] has thought Christianity
was dying… But every time the world has been
disappointed. Its first disappointment was over the
crucifixion. The Man came to life again. In a sense—
and I quite realise how frightfully unfair it must seem to
them—that has been happening ever since. They keep
on killing the thing that He started: and each time, just
as they are patting down the earth on its grave, they
suddenly hear that it is still alive and has even broken
out in some new place. No wonder they hate us (C.S.
Lewis, Mere Christianity, 1942, 184-185).
If under repressive regimes, the World’s
opposition to the Church is brutal and unrelenting,
in most Western countries, the “strategy” consists
rather in isolating it—socially, politically and
ideologically.
The problem is not that some segments of society
are attempting to quarantine the church. That is
to be expected. What puzzles me, particularly in
Canada, is how little resistance Christians appear to
show. It’s as if public withdrawal was a virtue, a way
to avoid the excesses of the American religious Right.
While I recognize the potential pitfalls of
Christian political activism, Canadian Christians are
probably failing to occupy their rightful place in a
democratic society.
There are, for instance, critical issues to which
only the Church can effectively speak such as
the sanctity of human life. Unfortunately, we have
allowed ourselves to be co-opted in speaking only
about those issues the politically correct elite
considers acceptable.
When the Church sings the virtues of recycling,
we are patted on the back. But when Christians
say that a fetus is a human being that deserves the
full protection of the law, then they are reviled and
told to go back to their cosy little caves—“friendly”
advice some of us are but too happy to follow.
But there may be another factor that may explain
our hesitancy to occupy a larger space in the public
sphere.
When the Church
sings the virtues
of recycling, we
are patted on the
back. But when
Christians say that
a fetus is a human
being, then they
are reviled.
An irrelevant Church
For better or for worse, most people now
view the institutional church as an archaic and
dying club designed to meet the social needs of a
dwindling population of senior citizens. If this kind
of perception were limited to those outside the
Church, that would be one thing; unfortunately, it
also infects Christians, even leaders.
I have long been concerned about the negative
perception of the church in Western society.
The issue was at the forefront of my thinking
particularly so when I was a member of a Mennonite
Brethren Church in Montreal.
This church was mainly composed of firstgeneration Christians. The majority of these young
men and women had had very difficult lives. They
knew what it meant to be “living apart from Christ”
5
and to be “far away from God” (Eph. 2:12-13). But
in Christ, they found redemption, new life and
personal transformation.
Over time, however, I perceived a downside to
the raw enthusiasm of these new believers. Their
allegiance to the church was not driven by wilful
commitment, but by emotions.
Why? First, most of these young people had
grown up as nominal Christians. In Quebec, actual
participation in the church is a very low priority
and the degree of commitment most people show
towards it is lower than their loyalty to a particular
brand of cheese.
The second factor was the unrelenting antiChristian secularism found in Quebec culture. In
Quebec, to be spiritual is all right. If one believes
the human species was put here millions of years
ago by an alien master race who will one day come
back to turn us into smoked meat, that’s cool.
But Christianity is not so cool. Only total idiots
join churches and contribute time and money to
support them. This societal disapproval was a
major reason behind some of the erosion and the
unevenness of our young people’s commitment to
our church.
This phenomenon, however, is not unique to
Quebec. North American churches are experiencing
a subtle, but profound erosion of the significance of
the institutional church.
A compelling purpose
Why do we need the church and why should
we commit ourselves to a specific community of
believers? Simple. We have a compelling purpose
that is tied to two fundamental principles found in
Scripture.
God is up to something
God is creating a people composed of individuals
who will freely choose to love and serve Him for all
eternity, and at the very heart of the process, there
is God’s plan of redemption for humanity through
Jesus Christ. This is the most important, critical and
urgent project in the world, and the Church is right
in the centre of it.
God works in partnership
In order to accomplish this project, God has
chosen to work in partnership with men and
women.
A faithful and dynamic church is one of the most
critical elements in the fulfillment of God’s plan of
redemption. But a dead or corrupt church is by
6
far the greatest obstacle to the success of God’s
project. The sold-out church simply pretends to
offer a cure; in reality it only peddles sugar pills,
spiritual Kool-Aid laced with cyanide.
A dead or corrupt church is by far the
greatest obstacle to the success of God’s
project.
Reality
Last summer I attended an open-air baptism.
Nine men and women spoke about their encounter
with Jesus Christ, and the hope he brought into
their lives. It was like a slap in the face. I was
reminded once again that it’s not just head games
that Christians are playing.
We heard stories of pain, redemption and
transformation. Stories of broken men and
women who were renewed, and who will live on
for eternity—healed and whole…just because a
Christian community was faithful in offering the
only cure there is for our spiritual cancer. No other
institution in the world can claim the same thing.
T
As the church goes, so does the rest of the world. M
Dr. Pierre Gilbert, our 2009 EMC convention speaker
and an ordained Mennonite Brethren minister, is
Associate Professor of Bible
and Theology at Canadian
Mennonite University and
the Mennonite Brethren
Biblical Seminary. He is the
coordinator of the Winnipeg
Centre for Ministry Studies and
the author of Demons, Lies &
Shadows: A Plea for a Return
to Text and Reason (Kindred
Productions, 2008).
Need S.S. or Small Group Resources?
Consider these Bible studies by Arden Thiessen, D.Min.
The Church that Christ Builds – 13 Lessons on Ephesians,
144 pages, $8
Good News for a Broken World – 13 Lessons on Romans,
133 pages, $8
Hope for Tough Times – 13 Lessons on the Letters of Peter,
135 pages, $10
Contact:
Steinbach Bible College, info@sbcollege.ca or 204-326-6451
EMC office, messenger@emconf.ca or 204-326-6401
with our missionaries
50 years in Paraguay
three of six
Opening doors in East Paraguay:
Tres Palmas Church
In May of 1964, Frank and
Marge Kroeker committed to
a five-month pastoral role and
to getting a private school
started for a group of young
believers in Colony Bergthal.
This became the beginning of a
long-term EMC presence in East
Paraguay and was God’s way
of opening wide the doors of
effectual mission opportunities
for EMC.
Out of this initial “temporary
assistance” a strong and vibrant, mission-involved, mother
church has emerged—namely,
the Tres Palmas EMC. Admittedly, as Jesus indicated in Matthew 16, “the gates of hell”—the
enemy—also targeted his opposition at
her, and many battles ensued over the
years. But final victory is definitely in her
favour.
The church is pastored by Ernst
and Ingrid Reger. Membership stands
at around 80, with 140 in attendance.
Growth is minimal. People are transient
and many young people, going away
for higher education, do not find
employment around home following
their studies. Currently some 20 youth
are away studying.
The church has served as “the homechurch away from home” for many EMC
missionaries.
Consequently,
many
of EMC’s mission involvements and
Present Tres Palmas Church
projects grew and were gradually added
to the church load.
The EMC Board of Missions continues
its relationship with the Tres Palmas
church today by contributing annually
to its mission budget. There are planned
fellowships where Tres Palmas and EMC
missionaries come together.
The missions committee ministers
with the Guarani Indians at Sta. Teresa,
providing two personnel. Pastor Ernst
Reger is the part-time overseer of the
work.
A dynamic Paraguayan couple,
Augusto and Cristina Fernandez, serve
as pastoral couple, with Cristina also as
nurse in the clinic.
The spiritual life of the
Sta. Teresa Indian Church is
experiencing an all-time high,
with 26 baptized members
at present. Six youths were
recently baptized and received
into the fellowship. Church
March 2009: Pastor George Toews (Rosenort EMC), Pastor Ernst
Reger (Tres Palmas), Pastor Agusto Fernandez (Sta. Teresa), Frank
Kroeker
The spiritual life of
the Sta. Teresa Indian
Church is experiencing
an all-time high.
attendance is around 80 and
the church building is too
small.
Christians are beginning
to stand out more among the
unbelievers, a result of good
leadership, the work of the
Holy Spirit and the Word of
God. Another amazing area of
progress at Sta. Teresa is the
school. With seven teachers
on staff, they teach up to
Grade 9, with attendance at
153.
The missions committee
has an outreach among Paraguayans in Syryka’. A Spanish
ministry in Tres Palmas with
20 members from various
nationalities is ready to be organized.
Chris and Revita Kroeker are involved
with this new church.
The Lucero Hospital, where Anton
Schmidt is the leading medical doctor
and Anne Braun faithfully carries on
her spiritual counseling and chaplaincy
ministry, has seen many people come to
know Christ as Saviour. This ministry
has been a real witness and testimony
of the Church and community.
The missions committee administrates the Lucero Youth Retreat Centre,
where thousands of young people, from
all over Paraguay, have come over the
years to be introduced to a new life in
Jesus Christ. The church has also been
an active member for the Radio Mensajero radio station (to be highlighted in a
future article).
We stand amazed at the many areas
of missions in which the Tres Palmas
church is involved. The Lord has been
faithful!
Ken Zacharias
Ken Zacharias is EMC
Foreign Secretary, an
administrator overseeing mission work in
Paraguay, Mexico, and
Nicaragua.
7
Part three of three
As we are,
He
pursues
us!
Sid Koop
W
e long to be part of loving
communities where we are affirmed
and acknowledged. However,
sometimes we pursue that affirmation
in dangerous ways.
I took my sons swimming. Most interesting
were Payton’s words when we arrived home. He
exclaimed, “Mommy, Dad loves me more if I stick my
head under water!”
Somehow, at age three, he is starting to grasp
a message that most of us, in our weak moments,
know too well.
Culture tells us that to get noticed, to
experience someone’s love or care, we have to be
extraordinary. We need to perform.
Our world loves celebrities. But the reality
is that most of us perceive ourselves as
ordinary, or, in dark moments, as failures.
We live in a world that notices the successful,
bold, talented, beautiful. Our world loves celebrities.
But the reality is that most of us perceive ourselves
as ordinary, or, in dark moments, as failures.
We’ve been created with this desire for love and
8
community. Each of us needs to be cared for. But
there are moments when we ask as I am right now,
right here, “Does anyone really care?”
Or worse, in the midst of trials or failures, we ask,
as I am right now, right here, “God, do You care?”
Maybe that question ran through Hagar’s mind
(Genesis 16). From our perspective Hagar lived in
a world of the extraordinary, and at best she was
average, more likely closer to below average.
She belonged to Sarai, the wife of Abram, to
whom God had made a great promise. God told
Abram that he would have a son, his own heir,
through whom he would become a mighty nation.
And if Abram was to be the nation’s father, Sarai was
to be the mother.
Hagar was simply Sarai’s maidservant, an Egyptian, a possession. While God had made his promise
to Abram, and implied that it would come through
Sarai, their timing seemed different. Both Sarai and
Abram were getting old—76, 86 respectively.
In her mind, not only was the promise in danger;
so was her dignity. To be unable to have kids was
a disgrace. So she took things into her own hands.
Genesis 16:1-4:
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.
But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so
she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having
children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can
build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had
been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took
her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her
husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she
conceived.
Hagar had Abram’s first son. Perhaps for the first
time she had some status or importance, and she
let Sarai know. This infuriated Sarai. With Abram’s
permission, Sarai mistreated Hagar so badly Hagar
fled into the desert, once again as one abandoned,
ignored, rejected.
If this was my reality, I would have thought:
“Does anyone care? My master’s wife has driven
me away. The father of my child has abandoned me.
I am alone left to die. Does anyone care? As I am,
God, do you care?”
God’s answer was a resounding “yes!” and He
expressed it in three ways.
As Hagar was, God pursued her
Genesis 16:7 says, “The angel of the Lord found
Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring
that is beside the road to Shur.”
Hagar felt forgotten. But she was not forgotten;
she was found. One great theme throughout
scripture is that we do not first pursue God. Rather,
He first pursues us, no more clearly than through
His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved
God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins.” As we are, God cares
for us. As we are, He pursues us.
As Hagar was, God understood her
Genesis 16:11 says, “The angel of the Lord also
said to her:
‘You are now with child and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard
of your misery.’”
God heard Hagar. He understood her sorrow, her
pain, her abandonment. We all need people who
understand us, especially in a crisis. They tell us we
are okay and that we are going to be okay. This is
Christ. He understands us. He tells us we are okay
and we will be okay.
Hebrews 4:14-16 says,
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted
in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us
then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in
our time of need.
Christ understands our crisis because He has
journeyed in the same world we do. Not only does
He understand, He offers us hope. He enables us to
become okay, as, through his grace and mercy, He
gives us what we need to become what we cannot
become on our own.
His hope is not based on a possibility; it is based
on a reality. As we are, God cares for us, as we are
He understands us.
As Hagar was, God loved her
Genesis 16:13, “She gave this name to the Lord
who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’
for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees
me.’”
This is amazing. God saw Hagar, all of Hagar,
every part of her life, thoughts, and actions—and
still He loved her.
In our world, the love we most often experience is
based upon some value we see in the other person.
The reality is, because of our sin, there is not much
value in us, not much that can impress God.
We don’t like hearing this, but it is great news.
Here’s why. While there is not much value in us,
Christ still loves us. He loves us not because of who
we are, but because of who He is. If this were not
true, than neither could the reality that “nothing
can separate us from the love of God” be true. Life is
not about us; it is about Him.
Romans 5:6-8 says,
You see, at just the right time, when we were still
powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will
anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good
man someone might possibly dare to die. But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
Here is the truth: as we are, God cares for us. As
we are, He sees us, all of us. And still He loves us!
Hagar’s last words acknowledged that she
had seen the one who saw her, and it changed
everything!
My prayer is that, by God’s grace, we would see
the one who sees us; that we would see that as we
are, God cares for us; as we are He pursues us; as
we are He understands us; as we are He sees us and
still loves us.
I pray we would see this reality and, in seeing the
glory of Christ, we would become like Christ.
Because here is the greatest truth: As we are He
cares for us, but because He cares for us, He refused
to leave us as we are.
T
Through Christ, His story becomes our story. M
Sid Koop, this year’s speaker at
Abundant Springs, travels with
Truth Matters Ministries and is parttime director of student ministries
at the Evangelical Free Church of
Lethbridge, Alta.
9
Ministerial
Convention 2009
Gilbert: The real issue in Canada? Who Jesus is
God’s reputation isn’t very good in
the Interlake.
So said host pastor Glenn Plett on
July 3, 2009, when about 140 ministerial
members met at Morweena EMC. With
water-saturated fields in Manitoba’s
Interlake, less than a third of crops
were planted. Yet, as it says in Psalm
96, the Church is called to spread the
good name of God, Plett said.
BLO chairman Art Dueck welcomed
leaders, saying that pastors are needed
to guide people out of this world and
on to our destination.
The day’s theme was Expanding
the Kingdom’s Footprint in Our
Communities. Convention speaker
Dr. Pierre Gilbert spoke twice; in
between were Salt and Light Stories
of congregations’ community
involvements.
In the morning Dr. Gilbert spoke on
“Who do you say I am?” The Radical
Call to Maintain His Identity.
Civilized life, the value of human life,
and proper social action are dependent
upon convictions rooted in the
revelation of Scripture and centred in a
proper understanding of Jesus, he said.
The Word through the Spirit via the
conduit of the Church is essential, he
said. The Church is the most important
and critical institution in the world.
Dr. Gilbert said we must be clear
about the gospel and reject both
the humanism of Rev. Gretta Vosper
and a “Teddy Bear Jesus” (where we
apologize for Jesus’ radical claims
and substitute another version). The
real issue in Canada is who Jesus is.
As revealed in Mark 8:27-9:1, Jesus is
supreme and exclusive.
In Salt and Light stories, Pastor Don
Brynteson of Riverton introduced
a local movie project based on the
story of Job, which is designed to
encourage trust in God amid difficult
circumstances (the film is being edited
and will be made available).
Pastor Kim Stoesz talked of
Braeside’s 12 years of multicultural
ministry. When told it would not
work to have an integrated Latino
church within an English-language
congregation, she responded that it
is working because of God. Braeside
is also involved locally in a school’s
breakfast program and its clothing and
shoe drives, she said.
Deacon Isaac Banman spoke of
Mount Salem EMC’s being active in
short-term missions, MDS, a youth
missions night (instead of a gym night),
singing evenings, meals, visiting, and
an Acts 2:44 Project (where they share
possessions).
Darren Plett, a member of
the Church Planting Task Force,
Dr. Pierre Gilbert
raised, through a brief paper, the
issue of whether our conference
should become involved in “church
replanting.”
When churches decline, should
they, in some cases, die and be
replanted? he asked. This could involve
the same people, but with a changed
“mood, the tone, the atmosphere, and
the vision, to a ‘church planting,’ rather
than a ‘church surviving’ vision.”
This proposal is a work in progress,
Plett emphasized. Church planting
coordinator Ward Parkinson said that
any replanting would be voluntary; he
doesn’t want a misunderstanding: the
EMC is not closing churches.
In the afternoon Dr. Gilbert spoke
on “Do you know what you are doing
and why?” The Radical Call to Holy
Salt and Light: Mount Salem, Ont.
Since the beginning of the year we have
had the chance to send 28 adults and 20
youth to serve with Mennonite Disaster
Services.
As well, one person went to Bolivia.
Another went to a small village just
outside of Nairobi in Kenya; she and others
went to teach impoverished children, to
mentor teachers, and to build classrooms
in the community.
Our youth program is cancelled one
week a month to do missions locally. Last
year we took an evening, but this year will
be a full day of service on Saturday.
Another initiative that we are starting is
ACTS 2:44 Project-Sharing of Possessions.
In short, this will be a place you can post
things for people that they can borrow.
The idea is to share our blessing with
others even outside of the church.
There are several who serve for MCC,
Big Bothers and Big Sisters, as counselors,
for the Red Cross, and do service through
bringing meals or visiting those who are
sick.
These are, in short, some of the ways
that we are trying to be salt and light to
the world.
Albert Loewen and Netti Wall
Harold Thiessen, Doris Friesen, and Harold Penner
visit between sessions at the ministerial meeting.
10
Effectiveness. Quoting
Paul Hiebert, he said
that in heaven we will
do most of what we do
here, but we will not be
able to tell others of the
good news of Jesus.
As seen in Colossians
1:15-20, a proper
understanding of Christ
defines us, is essential
in this generation, and
Pastor Kim Stoesz:
remains the litmus test
because of God.
of whether we are his
followers, Gilbert said. We need to
proclaim the unique claims of Jesus,
do everything for the sake of the
Lord, and “Give it all! But give it all
strategically.”
In the Salt and Light segment,
pastor Harold Thiessen of Christian
Fellowship Church (Birch River) spoke
of the congregation’s long history
with Steeprock Bay Bible Camp, which
serves mostly First Nations children.
Travis Unger
(Many Rooms Church
Community, Winnipeg)
spoke of MRCC’s
supportive housing
project assisting people
with various needs
(including addictions or
mental illness).
Tim Reimer
(Morweena) and
Integration works Daphne Flett spoke
of Hodgson Christian
Academy; it serves
children from nearby reserves. HCA
enjoys “strong credibility” in the
community. It is important, they said,
to network with other churches, work
with local authorities, and realize that
a community environment does not
change quickly.
Conference pastor David Thiessen
led leaders in a sharing and prayer
time.
Terry M. Smith
As did various ministerial members, pastor Troy Selley
(Oak Bluff, Man.) contributed to the discussion time.
Convention 2009
Board of Trustees ‘concerned’ but
not ‘alarmed’ about budget shortfall
Conference Council
The EM conference council held
elections, approved a church group
insurance program, heard many
reports, and offered feedback.
The meeting was held on July 4,
2009, at the Riverton Recreation Centre
Peter Dueck: Is your God fit to love?
in Manitoba’s Interlake.
In a devotional, Peter Dueck
(ConneXion, Arborg) asked is your God
fit to love? He referred to a preacher
who said every arrow on the battlefield
is directed by God. Instead, Dueck
said Jesus is the gate and the Good
Shepherd. And just as the Interlake’s
forest is diverse in its trees, we need
each other in the conference. He led in
prayer.
Board of Church Ministries
Chairman Robert Goertzen
highlighted the on-line Anabaptist
encyclopedia GAMEO and encouraged
churches to help update congregational
information. BCM member and former
Evangelical Anabaptist Committee
member Henry Friesen said a six-part
lectionary plan is being considered
to help pastors preach yearly on key
Anabaptist points.
Gerald Reimer reported positively
on Abundant Springs 2009. He
informed members of challenges faced
by youth pastors.
General Board
Moderator Ron Penner highlighted
the board’s mandate, David Shenk
as speaker in Convention 2010,
ConneXion’s being processed as a new
church, EMC’s bicentennial in 2012,
and Ed Peters’ work on leadership
development. He said that the board
sometimes grapples what to say
about congregational tensions amid
varying expectations. In his final
report as moderator, he highlighted 1
Corinthians 15:58, stressing that the
Church is God’s primary agent to do
his will in the world.
Board of Missions
Chairman John Bueckert asked
if board members always agree?
No, but there is unity. There are
complex relationships among board
members, field staff, and nationals.
11
The Mexican state of Guadalajara is
being investigated, as is working with
other mission organizations. Should a
work start in Chile? A highlight is the
testimonies of workers on furlough.
Two concerns are how budget
constraints limit the placement of new
workers and tensions in Paraguay.
The BOM, with a church planting
mandate, is looking at how it relates to
parachurch ministries. There is a need
to make young people more connected
to Conference work.
Ernie Koop said EMC has 56 years
of formal foreign efforts, roughly 150
cross-cultural workers, and serves in
25 countries. He is surveying EMCers
on worker recruitment and promotion.
Foreign secretary Ken Zacharias
said two couples are being placed in
Mexico. Don Thiessen has returned
from his involvement with the German
church conference; the conference is
doing well, but needs to administrate
itself.
In Paraguay the EMC is looking at
entering into five-year agreements in
parachurch ministries.
General Secretary Tim Dyck
highlighted Mennonite World
Conference in Paraguay (moderator
Ron Penner will be there) and the
EMC’s being a missionally-minded
people.
Garry Barkman spoke of his work
with New Tribes Mission Aviation in
the Philippines, a country of 7,000
islands and 83 million people. He is
moving to Mindinao.
Board of Trustees
Chairman Syd Reimer said the board
has worked hard. Currently the EMC
doesn’t have to cut its budget. He said
the national building needs changes
and more space, and suggested it is
good to plan in tough times.
The current budget shortfall is
$357,000, higher than in previous
years. Is the board concerned? Yes.
Alarmed? No, he said.
With estate funds coming in, the
board wants to standardize the
bequest policy. Other organizations
have professional fundraisers—should
we? he asked. The conference was built
on prayer and giving by people who
didn’t have the resources many have
today. He suggested that most
conference funds come from
older folks and that younger
people need to be taught to
give.
Outgoing moderator Ron Penner welcomes council attendees.
Board of Leadership and
Outreach
Chairman Art Dueck said
he toured Manitoba’s Interlake
cropland with a “heavy heart,”
but contrasted such economic
Council participants stood to raise questions and make comments. Pictured are Harvey Plett, Flo Friesen (Harvey
Barkman seated), and Menno Hamm.
12
Election Results
Moderator
Richard Klassen
Board of Church Ministries
Doris Penner
Board of Leadership and Outreach
David Funk
Jeff Plett
Kim Stoesz
Board of Missions
John Bueckert
Warren Kroeker
Cathy Thiessen
Board of Trustees
Tony Hiebert
Dan Reimer
Nominating Committee
Gordon Bueckert
Alvin B. Plett
Alvin Rempel
Arnold Thiessen
affairs with the positive attitude and
generosity of Region 5 members. Why
are our leaders so special? he asked.
Because they are servant leaders.
Why are people so enthusiastic of the
EMC? Our Anabaptist faith. Young
people are taking up leadership, he
said.
Conference pastor David Thiessen
noted that there are diverse economic
hits across Canada, yet he is impressed
by the strong faith and resilience of
EMCers.
Peter Janzen reported on attending
three-day a conference on intentional
interim pastoral leadership. Outreach
Canada has staff members to assist
with coaching, conflict management,
and structural renewal.
David Thiessen said that leadership
conflict often relates to personal
differences; if pastors want to explore
this, they can contact him.
Church planting coordinator Ward
Parkinson touched on church plants
current and possible: Tillsonburg’s
new building, Heartland (Landmark),
a second Hispanic work in Calgary,
perhaps another try in Edmonton,
the likely shift of NECC leader
Andrew Reimer to being a community
pastor with Inner City Youth Alive
(Winnipeg).
The church planting task force went
on a two-day retreat to consider the big
picture. Gord Penner spoke of seeking
the opportunities that are there,
Darren Plett on church replanting, and
Peter Dueck on diversity in church
planting.
Ward Parkinson said the outreach
fund is a success and is now expanded
to include smaller churches (100 or
fewer members) as well as church
plants.
Evangelical Fellowship of
Canada
Tim Dyck spoke
positively of EFC’s efforts.
that volumes 2 and 3 of Mennonites in
Canada are being distributed to EM
churches.
Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies
Bill McCaskell (MacGregor)
spoke positively of his studies and
encouraged others to consider CMU/
WCMS. Pierre Gilbert, coordinator,
said the centre’s intention is to bring
together the best of Evangelicalism and
Anabaptism to train leaders. EMC has
been a good partner, he said.
New Church
The ConneXion began
as a coffee study group
of Morweena members
living in Arborg, Man.,
who became convinced
they should not leave
their community to
attend church, said
Henry Friesen. The
council voted to accept it
as a congregation.
Mennonite Disaster
Service
Evelyn Peters-Rojas
said MDS is being the
hands and feet of Jesus,
which brings hope to
people. Four years later
people remain needy
Church Group Insurance
Evelyn Peters-Rojas, MDS
because of Hurricane
In December 2007
Katrina. Peters-Rojas mentioned a
the council approved investigating a
volunteer who said she was tired and
group church insurance plan. After
bruised, but “bubbling” inside.
four plans were considered, RobertsonHall Insurance Church Protection Plus
Mennonite Historical Society of Canada
was presented (see sidebar). It offers
Representative Robert Goertzen
a wide range of protection, with half
spoke of the historical society in
the churches’ participation needed for
Quebec, Rev. Dave K. Schellenberg’s
the plan, and 75 percent needed for the
posthumous Award of Excellence,
Conference to be covered, Tim Dyck
GAMEO’s 14,000 articles online, and
said.
While churches do not have to join
the plan, it is desirable that all do, he
explained. Robertson-Hall had good
pricing, a good track record in EMC
circles, extensive experience with
charities, and no extra cost for abuse
coverage, Dyck said. The council
approved entering the plan.
CMU Council
In follow up to December 2008, the
statement of faith of CMU (actually,
the “two” statements of the MBs and
MC Canada, David Thiessen said)
was found to be of “great similarity”
with the EMC’s. The council approved
the appointing of an EMC member to
CMU’s council.
The Harmony Project
Members have been appointed to
consider the unity and diversity of
the EMC and to provide a model to
churches. It has met once and will
provide an interim report in December.
Question and Answer Periods
There were two question periods.
Terry M. Smith
Les Kroeker (Portage la Prairie, Man.) and Peter Janzen
(Swift Current, Sask.) presented reports for the Board
of Leadership and Outreach.
Inter-Mennonite
Chaplaincy Association
Fundraiser and
coffee house
October 3, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Come hear Matt Schellenberg
and Bucky Driedger
of the Liptonians
Fort Garry EMC, 602 Pasadena
Ave, Winnipeg, Man.
Delegates voted to fill conference board and committee positions.
13
Convention 2009
Mascots, bribes, and concert benefit EMC youth
On July 4, 2009, we woke up to a
steady rain that didn’t seem as though
it wanted to stop—so we prayed. And
by the time the youth started arriving
in Riverton for the EMC Convention
Youth Event, the rain had stopped.
We piled into the vehicles and the
adventure began. We met at the Marina
at Hecla Provincial Park where the
youth were split into six teams.
Their only instruction was to head
off to the destination they were given
and do what they were told. Points
would be given to teams for creativity,
for working together and, in a few
cases, for bribing the leaders with
sunflower seeds and mosquito spray.
Each station was quite different.
Bible quizzes, puzzles, instructions to
Despite only two days notice,
Amanda Falk agreed to come
perform for us and lead us in
worship.
build a sand castle, playing a game of
bucket-ball, and building a camp fire
kept the youth busy all afternoon.
The teams were also challenged
to find a team mascot along with as
many items as they could find from
the list given to them. The team
mascots became anything from a dead
mosquito to a small garter snake and a
frog (in the same bucket).
After the game, we all went
back to Riverton for supper. Pizza,
chicken, veggies and fruit quickly
disappear after running around a
park all day. Supper was followed
by the main session and a concert
with Amanda Falk.
Despite only two days notice,
Amanda Falk agreed to come
perform for us and lead us in
worship. Grandparents, parents,
youth and everyone in between
were blessed and encouraged by
her performance.
Thank you so much to
everyone
who helped us out.
Donovan Dueck directs youth for the event’s game.
(photos by Gerald Reimer)
Young people gathered items as instructed.
14
Amanda Falk
Thanks for showing up, for sending
your youth, for letting us use your
vehicles. Thanks to Andrew Kaltec
for making sure all the youth got a
wonderful supper.
And thanks to all the EMC churches
for agreeing that it’s important to put
time, money, and energy into youth.
May God bless you!
Donovan and Cathy Dueck
(see more Convention
photos on p. 17)
Supper at Riverton followed the game.
with our churches
Crestview keeping busy
Crestview Fellowship (Winnipeg, Man.):
All sorts of activities have been going
on at Crestview this spring and early
summer.
We held a car wash and a barbecue to
show our community we Love Winnipeg.
From little ones to seniors everyone
helped and it was a real blessing to
everyone that took part.
On May 31 we had a baptismal
service with Taylor Wiebe, Hayden
Esau and Chelsea Esau being baptized
on the confession of their faith. Lorne
and Shannon Esau renewed their
membership.
Eight ladies attended a retreat at Camp
Cedarwood at Lac du Bonnet on June 5 to
7. It was a great time of sharing, worship,
sharing, and being close to God’s nature.
Our annual Sunday School picnic was
held at Assiniboine Park with perfect
weather and wonderful outdoor worship.
For Father’s Day we put on a breakfast
in honour of all fathers. Many thanks to
Priscilla Wiebe, Mike Kroeker, and all the
others that helped set up and clean up.
We’ll be having kids’ clubs in August
and look forward to reaching many
children for Christ.
Irene Driedger
Crestview held a car wash and barbecue to Love
Winnipeg. Even little ones got in on the action (below).
Crestview held a baptism and membership service on May 31.
Blessed by ministry of
Grahams and Genailles
Swan River, Man.: We were privileged
to have Ken and Marion Graham
and Bert and Liz Genaille here in
Community Bible Fellowship on April
19–26.
Ken’s preaching was powerful
and anointed. He based his sermons
primarily on the book of Ephesians,
challenging us to the Abundant Life
found in Jesus Christ.
His message titles were The Approval of God, Discovering God’s Fullness, Demystifying God’s Fullness,
Dwelling in God’s Fullness, Demonstrating God’s Fullness, Disciplined in God’s
Fullness, Deliverance in God’s Fullness
and Called to Greatness.
At the men’s breakfast Ken shared
his testimony of how he grew up here
in the Valley, the struggles he had
growing up in an ungodly home, and
finding Christ through the ministry of
CBF back in the 70s.
Marion retold her life’s story at
a ladies’ brunch hosted by Connie
Reimer at her home. Those who knew
Marion in the early days were brought
up to date on the lives of their three
children. We were blessed as Marion
related how God worked in and
through the lives of their family up to
this present time.
It is wonderful to see and hear
how this couple grew in their faith,
listened to the wise advice of their
new Christian friends, went to Bible
college and served God in full-time
ministry while raising their three
children.
They told of instances where God
used people to provide food, a vehicle
and gasoline, or money just when it
was needed. Now they are happy to
come back to the valley to encourage
their former church and share Christ
with new people they meet.
Bert and Liz also shared from their
hearts about some of their hurts and
struggles of the past and how the Lord
brought healing and hope. Bert and
Liz also provided musical numbers
each night. Both played guitar and
sang good old gospel songs.
Many of those listening identified
with their testimonies and were
challenged to accept the abundant
life in Christ. People were brought
into contact with the truth and into
the presence of God. We were blessed
to have these two couples spend time
with us.
Betty Warkentin
15
with our churches
Summer time, camp time!
Fort Garry (Winnipeg, Man.): The last
weekend in May was chosen for our
family camp. The turnout was great; and
it truly was a family camp. There were
babies, tots, older children, teenagers,
parents, and even grandparents.
It was held at Winkler Bible Camp.
We all enjoyed the spacious grounds
and many enjoyed the various activities
available. Some even braved the cold
water.
David Thiessen, our Conference
Pastor, led us in the devotional sessions.
His topic was taken from 1 Corinthians 13:
Faith, Hope and Love. In the last session
he exhorted us to love one another as
found in 1 John 4:7-8.
Another highlight was the baptism of
Kara Reimer. It is always so special to see
young people make a public commitment
to follow Christ.
As a congregation, we also had the
privilege of several couples joining our
church. They had been worshipping with
us for awhile and so it is great to welcome
them into our fellowship.
David Kruse has been youth pastor
Campfire at our weekend at Winkler Bible Camp.
and associate pastor for many years, and
we have appreciated his ministry and
that of his wife Tammy. Currently they
are leaving the ministry so that David
can pursue further studies. We wish you
God’s blessings, David and Tammy.
Andrew Krahn has been asked to
fill this role for the coming year as fulltime associate pastor. We wish him and
wife Melissa well as they take up this
responsibility.
Three of our young people are
embarking on a new adventure in
August. They are going with Intermenno
for a year. Their first assignment of six
months will be in Germany where they
will live with their host families and
help in different ways. Rebecca Russell,
Andrew Neufeld, and Nolan Reimer, may
God go with you and enrich your lives
through this ministry.
Diana Reimer
Five couples recently joined Fort Garry church: Daniel and Michelle MacGibbon, Ron and Elaine Enns, Todd and
Ruth Friesen, Derek and Marilyn Klassen, Gregory and Winnie Chan with Justin and Francesca.
Pastor Layton Friesen baptizes Kara Reimer, with
assistance from associate pastor David Kruse.
Who’s coming to supper?
Swan River, Man.: The families attending
Community Bible Fellowship decided to
try something this past year. It’s called
Guess Who’s Coming to Supper? and
below is a summary of how things went
for the first year.
In September to December 2008, 28
families participated out of approximately
46 families. Sixteen of the 28 families
hosted at least once. Everyone who
participated enjoyed the experience and
wishes to continue getting together.
16
Hosts found the process to be quite
simple. The main meal was brought in
and pots taken home; clean-up was easy.
Suppers were planned for twice a month,
but it was decided that after Christmas
the event would happen on the last
Sunday of each month.
This idea proved to have some very
positive outcomes: Those living alone
were treated to an evening with friends
and new friends. People in the church
got to know each other better. Someone
could invite guests for dinner without
feeling overwhelmed with preparation
and clean-up.
If other churches are interested in
trying Guess Who’s Coming for Supper?
details of how arrangements are made
can be obtained from Tracy Burick at
burick6@mts.net. We would like to thank
Tracy Burick for heading up the planning
and organization of this activity in our
church.
Betty Warkentin
Convention 2009
The ConneXion, a church in Arborg, Man., was welcomed into Conference membership during the Sunday
afternoon service. Moderator Ron Penner shakes hands with leadership team member Henry Friesen.
Registration
Peter Dueck (right) leads in prayer for Convention speaker Dr.
Pierre Gilbert.
Convention worship team
(All Convention photos by Rebecca Buhler
except where otherwise noted.)
Glenn Plett, Convention program committee chair
Paul Peters (left) directs the Region 5
choir from members of its four churches.
Sunday lunch line
Conference Pastor David Thiessen prays for our new EMC moderator Richard Klassen and his
wife Kathy, supported by General Secretary Tim Dyck, Ruth Penner, and outgoing moderator
Ron Penner. Klassen is the pastor of Straffordville (Ont.) EMC.
17
stewardship today
Harold Penner
C
Just say charge it!
harge your cell
phone; charge
your burger.
A new credit
payment method is being
introduced in Toronto with
plans for expansion across
the country.
The Globe & Mail
reported on Visa Canada
chief executive, Tim
Wilson’s introduction of this
new payment method: none
other than the ubiquitous
cell phone.
The chip technology that is being introduced into
all credit cards over the next few years to improve
security and reduce counterfeit fraud will be inserted in
all new cell phones to allow them to be used in place of
a credit card. The technology is already in use in places
like Australia, France, and Hong Kong.
Some of the advantages of chip-enabled cell phones
being touted by Mr. Wilson are that the chip will also
be able to store loyalty card information eliminating the
need to carry loyalty cards, users will be able to pay for
public transportation with a wave of their cell phones,
and event passes may be purchased online and then the
phone scanned at the turnstile when entering the event.
Retailers will be able to forward coupons to your cell
phone based on your spending habits and proximity
to their store so you can take advantage of the coupon
for additional savings (or be tempted to make an
unplanned purchase).
Nathan Dungan of Share Save Spend predicted that
this new technology would soon be introduced to North
America when he addressed the Mennonite Foundation
of Canada annual general meeting in April 2009. It
appears it may be arriving even earlier than he had
anticipated.
Nathan shared how spending habits are being
affected by new technology. When using credit cards
average consumers spend 12 to 18 percent more than
if they use cash. Where the new technology is already
in use consumers using chip-enabled cell phones
spend another 10 to 20 percent more than if they use
traditional credit cards.
Clearly there is a significant incentive to the retail
18
When using credit cards average
consumers spend 12 to 18 percent
more than if they use cash. Where
the new technology is already in
use consumers using chip-enabled
cell phones spend another 10 to
20 percent more than if they use
traditional credit cards.
and credit industries to encourage the transition to the
use of cell phones for making purchases.
Whether using credit cards or eventually moving
to a new payment method like the cell phone, we at
Mennonite Foundation encourage you to stick to the
basics: prepare a budget reflective on your income
level; regularly review your spending to ensure you are
within your budget; if using a credit card, determine
beforehand how you will use it (type of purchases and
maximum dollar amount per purchase); pay the credit
card invoice in full each month.
A word of caution: should this new technology take
hold it will give a whole new meaning to an old credit
card commercial tagline “just say charge it.”
After all, a dead phone would leave you stranded in
T
more ways than one. M
Harold Penner is a stewardship consultant at the Winnipeg,
Man., office of Mennonite Foundation of Canada.
For stewardship education and estate and charitable
gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit
Mennofoundation.ca.
Celebrate with us!
The 50th anniversary of Island Gospel Fellowship
October 9–11, 2009, Burns Lake, B.C.
For more information visit
www.islandgospelfellowship.com
or contact Bill Bueckert at 250-692-3362
or Mike Watson at 250-692-3129
focus on...
Tim Dyck | General Secretary
tdyck@emconf.ca
Dealing with a deficit
Deficit (def-uh-sit) (noun) - A situation in
I
which liabilities exceed assets, expenditures
exceed income, imports exceed exports, or losses
exceed profits.
t’s generally not a good idea to spend more money
than you receive, whether you’re managing your
home finances, or that of an organization. Yet that
is exactly the situation that the EM Conference finds
itself in lately.
Over the past several years, the Conference
income has remained fairly stable, while expenses
have increased slightly. Last year, for example, the
Conference spent approximately $158,000 more than it
received, resulting in the highest deficit in our history.
One thing is certain: we do not want to
overreact with drastic cuts. We want to ensure
that we live up to the commitments that we
have made to our programs and our partners.
Fortunately, we have sufficient reserves to draw on in
times like this, so we are not in immediate peril.
You might wonder what the Conference is doing
about this deficit situation. There are basically two
solutions to a deficit: increase income or
decrease spending.
There is little that we can do to
increase our income, other than to appeal
to our constituents for increased giving.
Most of the Conference funding comes
directly from church budgets, and we
recognize that many of our EMC churches
are experiencing financial challenges. It
seems a prudent course of action to not
expect funding to increase dramatically
in the short term.
That leaves the option of decreased
spending. One thing is certain: we do
not want to overreact with drastic cuts.
We want to ensure that we live up to the
commitments that we have made to our
programs and our partners.
However, we are exercising caution
regarding new spending initiatives. For example, for
the present time, we are not approving new church
subsidies or new missionary funding.
At the same time that we have been experiencing
shortfalls in our operating budget, we have also
observed another phenomenon: our estate funds have
continued to increase each year. We have been blessed
by many people who have decided to include the
Conference in their will planning.
This situation has led the Board of Trustees to reexamine our existing bequest policy. A new bequest
policy has been proposed that transfers a percentage
of the estate funds to the operating fund each fiscal
year. Estate funds would still be used according to the
donor’s instructions, but the description of how they
would be spent would be included in the overall budget
document.
This provides increased accountability since the
budget is approved by Conference Council. A draft of
this new policy was presented to all board members at
the July Conference Council and was well received. A
final version of the policy could go into effect by the end
of the year.
We welcome your comments, suggestions and
especially your prayers regarding Conference finances.
T
After all, these are your conference programs at work! M
19
pictures of God
Joanna Plett
W
Staying connected, staying alive
alking through the park the other day,
I saw a strange leaf on the ground. The
centre around the stem was soft and
green, but all around the edges it was
completely dry and brown.
An argument ensued between my friend and I as
to whether the leaf was partly alive (my argument) or
completely dead (my friend’s argument). Although I
never did admit it to my friend, he was actually right. The
leaf was dead the moment it fell from the tree.
Looking up at the trees in the park a little later, I was
struck by their abundant life. Although the tiny shred of
life in the fallen leaf had amazed me, the green of the tree
as a whole was so glorious, I hardly noticed the miracle
of life in each individual leaf.
On the tree, the leaves couldn’t help but be green.
They moment they fell, though, they were essentially
dead, since they could no longer draw life from the tree.
In the past few years, I have discovered this
phenomenon in my spiritual life. Jesus reminded his
disciples near the end of his life that the only way to stay
alive in our faith and to bear fruit was to remain in Him
(John 15).
Last year, when I was living
abroad, I had a hard time
staying connected to God
personally and to the local
church communally. Although I
was alive spiritually and anxious
to bear fruit when I arrived, I
found myself struggling to keep
my faith alive as the weeks and
months went by.
The more I was separated
from Christian support and
accountability, the more I felt my
In the same way that a
towering oak luscious
with green leaves is
glorious, so our individual
lives connected to God
completes both our life
and his glory.
20
faith drying up on the edges. I tried to pray and maintain
my passion, but often felt like I was fighting a losing
battle.
Jesus knew faith could not be done alone. When he
was on earth, he consistently spent time with his Father,
gaining encouragement and refreshment. Similarly, he
surrounded himself with close friends whom he discipled
and who supported him.
But leaves do not only take life from the tree. They can
only grow by being attached to the tree, but the tree also
only grows when the leaves are doing their job. As we
draw life from God for our own growth, we contribute to
the growth of the family of faith by drawing others into
the community.
After returning from my trip abroad, I focused
specifically on building a strong base in a church family
and spending more personal time with God. Although it
has taken some time to renew the life that had dried up,
I have seen new strength and joy emerge through this
connection. As my own faith grows, I also more naturally
reach out and draw people towards God in my daily life.
Jesus told us to stay connected to God, to the vine, to
give us life and to bring growth to the tree, but ultimately
to bring glory to God.
Our connection to the tree
and the fruit we bear is not a
duty, but a lifestyle and a norm
in the Christian life. A fallen
leaf may be beautiful, but its
beauty is limited by time and
space. In the same way that
a towering oak luscious with
green leaves is glorious, so our
individual lives connected to
God completes both our life
and his glory.
The past few years have
confirmed to me again that
the Christian life was never
meant to be lived alone. God
longs to pour His life into us,
and as long as we remain
connected to him, his life will
pour through us to others
to bring growth to the whole
body of believers, resulting in
T
His glory. M
EMC
and
Statement of Faith
Church
Practices
A 25-part series
Angel Infantes
The Board of Leadership and Outreach has invited EMC pastors and other
leaders to reflect on the meaning of our Statement of Faith and Church
Practices. These writings are intended to inform and to invite conversation.
In the end, this 25-part series might be published as a booklet. Have you
heard a sermon on these articles? Encourage the preacher to forward the
material to The Messenger.
4. DEVOTIONAL LIFE
We believe Christians should seek to know God better through studying the
Scriptures, through prayer, fasting and Christian service. They should refrain
from anything that would dishonour God, bring reproach to the church or
exert a harmful influence on others or on themselves (Joshua 1:8; Matthew 4:2;
Acts 17:11; 13:2–3; Romans 12:1–2, 9–21; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2–3;
Colossians 3:1–14; 1 Timothy 2:8–10; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 3:17–18; 1 Peter
3:1–6; 1 John 3:1–3).
Church Practices
Article 5: Devotional Life
T
he devotional life of a Christian is more than a
life that is consecrated to God. It is also having
the desire to grow closer to God and having joy
in being close to God. It is a life that glorifies
God.
When a new life in Christ begins, it is dynamic and
continues to grow every day until the coming of our
Lord. This spiritual growth comes from God, our Father,
who nurtures us every day.
There are different spiritual disciplines that help us
grow closer to the source of our new life. This source is
God, and God is Spirit, and our new life is a spiritual life.
It is crucial that we participate in spiritual
activities so that we will grow in our spiritual
lives, learn about God’s will for our lives, and
then fulfill our purpose in this world.
Spiritual disciplines that help us grow include: the
reading of scripture, prayer, fasting, and Christian
service. These practices allow us to live out our new life
and to learn more about it.
It is amazing to see those who have begun their new
lives in Christ and then continue to grow spiritually
through these disciplines. The credit, however, cannot
be given to spiritual disciplines, or to ourselves, but
to God, who is willing to have an encounter with us
through prayer, the scriptures, fasting, and service. No
believer should miss out on this dynamic relationship
with God.
It is crucial that we participate in such spiritual
activities so that we will grow in our spiritual lives,
learn about God’s will for our lives, and then fulfill our
purpose in this world. God has called us to be a light
in this world so that other people may find the way. We
cannot do this apart from God.
In addition, these practices help us avoid offending
God and one another. The Church is made up of
believers; there are moral guidelines that should be
kept through the passage of time.
When we participate in these spiritual disciplines,
reading the Scriptures, prayer, fasting, and Christian
service, we learn what we should do as well as what we
should not do. We learn what will truly enrich our lives,
and what will cause damage to it. With the passing of
time, our lives will be transformed and filled with the
fruits of the Spirit.
Blessed is our God, who has provided us with the
means to grow closer to Him, and blessed are those who
T
consecrate their lives to God. M
Angel Infantes is the Associate Pastor of Spanish Ministries
at Braeside EMC (Winnipeg, Man.).
21
in memory
MARY MARGARET
FRAMPTON
1928–2009
Mary was born February 14, 1928, to
Calvert and Elizabeth (Donald) Irving.
She received her education at FernGlen
School, Milford School, and Sylvania
High School. After school she worked
as a bookkeeper in Tisdale Hospital as
a nurse’s aide and at Smith’s Hatchery in
Tisdale, Sask.
On November 22, 1951, she married
ANNE (FEHR) BUHLER
1929–2009
Anne Buhier (nee Fehr) passed away
peacefully at the Hudson Bay Health
Care Facility on Thursday, May 28, 2009,
at 79 years of age.
Anne was born on October 23, 1929,
in the Municipal District of Stanley
in southern Manitoba to Jacob and
Katherine Fehr and was one of 11
children (six boys, five girls). They
experienced extreme poverty and she
told stories of at times having only
potatoes to eat.
In the 1930’s the family moved to the
Gladstone, Man., area and Mom assumed
a lot of responsibility for her younger
siblings when her father was diagnosed
with tuberculosis and admitted to the
22
Arnold Frampton at Pleasantdale,
Sask. Arnold hauled pulp near Bellsite,
Man., and Mary stayed there. In 1953
they settled on the family farm in
the Maloneck District, whether they
remained until December of 2008, when
they moved to Pelly, Sask. Mary and
her husband Arnold attended Pelly
Fellowship Chapel.
Mary was an active member in the
4-H, UCW, Maloneck Country Club, and
Pelly Fellowship Chapel Ladies Aid. She
was a fine seamstress and spent many
hours lovingly sewing bridal gowns,
bridesmaid dresses, and graduation
gowns.
She was also an active knitter.
Each new baby born into the family,
or to friends of the family, received a
completely hand-sewn outfit. Arnold
never had to buy a pair of pants because
Mary always made them.
No one ever left her kitchen hungry. It
was no surprise that a bachelor friend or
two would show up around supper time.
As Mary grew a good garden, only the
necessary items were ever purchased.
Everything else was produced at home,
right down to her own homemade ice
cream and butter.
Mary was predeceased by her parents
Calvert and Elizabeth Irving; and her
three brothers, Thomas, Edward, and
Gilbert.
Left to mourn her passing are her
loving husband of 57 years, Arnold;
her four children, Kenneth (Patricia)
Frampton of Pelly, Kathleen (Robert)
Lukey of Pelly, Conard (Sonia) Frampton
of Norquay, and Bernice Frampton (Brian
Popaden) of Westbank BC; two brothers,
Harry (Irene) Irving of Tisdale, and John
(Merle) Irving of Naicam; two sisters,
Ann Angus of Sylvania and Elizabeth
Kjelshus of Melfort; and 17 grandchildren
and 19 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service was held on June
30, 2009, at Pelly Fellowship Chapel with
Pastor John Froese officiating. Interment
was in Maloneck Cemetery, north of
Pelly, Sask.
Her Family
Sanatorium at Ninette, where he later
died. Mom then went to work to help
support her family.
She had a keen interest in spiritual
matters and asked the Lord Jesus
Christ into her life when she attended
Vacation Bible School as a child. As
a teenager, she was baptized upon
her confession of faith and became a
member of the Mayfeld Rudnerweider
Church (Evangelical Mennonite Mission
Church).
Shortly after that, on June 27, 1948,
Anne married William (Bill) Buhler. In
1961 they left the farm and moved to
Muir, where they owned and operated
the store and post office. This was
mainly Mom’s responsibility, in addition
to caring for her family.
In the mid-1960s our father became
pastor of the Valley Stream Evangelical
Mennonite Church. Mom gave her
support as Dad attended Steinbach Bible
College and then as they ministered
together at Endeavour, Sask.; High Level,
Alta.; and in Paraguay, South America
before retiring to Hudson Bay, Sask.
Mom was a very gifted seamstress
and sewed many clothes for us, often
without a pattern and using only a
picture from the Eaton catalogue as a
guide. She was also hospitable and our
home was often a gathering place for
various groups of people, especially
young people.
Anne was predeceased by our Dad in
1991, her parents and several siblings.
She is survived by her children: Diane,
Bert, Margaret, Fred, Bob, Sharon, Pearl
and their families. She is also survived
by her sisters Tina and Sarah, brothers
John, Dave and Neil, sisters-in-law Lynn
and Shirley Fehr, brother-in-law John
Dyck as well numerous nieces and
nephews.
A funeral service was held on Monday,
June 1, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Pineridge
Fellowship Chapel with Pastor Alvin
Wiebe officiating. Interment followed in
the Hudson Bay Town Cemetery. Active
pallbearers were: Kenny Steppan, Gayle
Vander Roest, Tyson Buhler, Andrew
Buhler, Chelsea Grenier, and Joel Karcha.
Honorary pallbearers were mentioned
as “All of Anne’s Grandchildren and
Great Grandchildren.”
Eldina Duch, at the organ, led the
congregation in a selection of favourite
hymns. Son-in-law Duane Karcha
delivered the eulogy. Following the
interment, lunch was served by the
Pineridge ladies in the lower hall of the
church.
Her Family
shoulder tapping
ROSENORT EMC invites applications for a parttime, interim youth leader. Th is individual is
responsible to develop youth programs for junior
and senior youth from September 2009 to August
2010. The individual will work together with a
team of youth sponsors. Interested individuals
should send a resume to Rosenort EMC, Box 153,
Rosenort, MB R0G 1W0 or remcpastor@gninc.ca.
For information, please email or call the church at
204-746-8519.
WYMARK EMC, a country church located 20 miles
southeast of Swift Current, Sask., is accepting
applications for lead pastor. We aim to be a
friendly, family-welcoming church body of 70 to
90 people, and seek a pastor who can encourage
us by word and example to grow to maturity in
Christ. Enquiries can be directed to the Pastoral
Search Committee at 306-773-9089 (leave a
message) or funkfarm@gmail.com (Paul Funk).
MORRIS FELLOWSHIP Chapel (EMC), located
in Morris, Man., is looking for a full-time pastor
for a congregation of about 120. Previous pastoral
experience and leadership abilities are assets. For
job description and information, please call Brian
Klassen at 204-746-8102.
PELLY FELLOWSHIP Chapel (EMC) seeks a youth
worker or couple to develop a program for
youth and junior youth. PFC is a small church in
the village of Pelly, located in central Sask., close
to the Manitoba border. Submit resume to Pastor
John Froese, Box 70, Pelly, SK S0A 2Z0. Phone 306595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com.
LA CRETE Christian Fellowship, in the northwest
corner of Alberta, is looking for a full-time youth
pastor to be a part of our pastoral team.
LCCF’s service to God is based on core values:
a commitment to worship, discipleship, teaching
of God’s Word, and reaching our community and
world with the gospel. We are a vibrant church of
about 350 regular attendees who desire to spread
the Word through a variety of ministries.
The youth pastor will direct the youth
leadership team in implementing our vision of
helping our youth establish and strengthen their
personal connection to Jesus Christ. Applicants are
to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who is a willing and
teachable leader; a person whose love for the Lord is
reflected in their ability to work well with others.
Contact us for details. Call Mike Schellenberg at
780-841-9376 or e-mail lccfc@telus.net.
NORTH KILDONAN Mennonite Brethren Church
in Winnipeg, Man., is looking for a children’s
ministry director. The children’s director, who
will focus on visioning and implementing a Christcentred children’s program, will be an integral
part of the pastoral leadership team. The children’s
director is a half-time position. For an applicant
who also has a vision for small groups ministry,
consideration will be given for a full-time position
including both ministry responsibilities. NKMB
is a multi-generational congregation of nearly 600
members with many young families. Inquiries and
resumes may be sent to: Search Committee, NKMB,
1315 Gateway Rd., Winnipeg MB R2G 1P2 or email:
brigittep@nkmb.org.
CAMP ASSINIBOIA, near Winnipeg, Man.,
requires a full-time custodian/maintenance
assistant. Camp Assiniboia is one of three camps
Full text of ads available at www.emconf.ca/service.htm
operated by Mennonite Church Manitoba.
Position available fall 2009. Applicants must affi rm
Mennonite faith statement. On site housing and
benefits package available. Contact 204-895-2267
or camps@mennochurch.mb.ca. Information at
www.campswithmeaning.org.
CONTINENTAL MISSION in Thompson, Man., is
looking for a director and a treasurer. Contact
board chairman Ruben Goertzen (rgoertz@mts.
net) for job descriptions, or call Bill Penner 204679-1005 for information.
An evangelical ministry, Continental Mission
(started in the 1940s) is involved in evangelism,
church planting, camping, and drop-in ministries
among First Nations people, mostly in northern
Manitoba.
THE HODGSON Christian Academy (HCA) is
seeking applicants for the position of classroom
teacher. HCA is approximately two hours north
of Winnipeg on Hwy #17, just south of Peguis and
Fisher River Reserves.
The teacher position opening is for a class of 10
junior and senior high students. Manitoba Teaching
Certification is not a requirement, but applicants
with experience in Christian education will be
given preference.
HCA is a satellite school of the Morweena
Christian School. Please contact Principal Tim
Reimer 204-364-2466 or timr@morweenaschool.
org.
STEINBACH BIBLE College and Steinbach Christian
High School invite applications to fill two parttime positions as evening custodian. The
positions are seasonal, beginning in September
and going until June, and involve general custodial
duties.
Applicants must be in agreement and sign
the Statement of Faith and Lifestyle and Morality
Statement of the schools. Application and job
description are available at the SBC reception desk
or via email at reception@sbcollege.ca. Submit
application, resume, and cover letter to Steinbach
Bible College, Attn: Wes Bergen, 50 PTH 12N,
Steinbach, MB R5G 1T4. Fax: 204-326-6908.
CBF CHRISTIAN School, a Jr. K–grade 8 school
located in Swan River, Man., seeks a term teacher
for multi grades 5–8 homeroom (September 2009
to June 2010). Must hold a Manitoba Teacher’s
Certificate, be born again, and provide pastoral
references. Send resume to CBFCS, Box 1630, Swan
River, MB R0L 1Z0. For further information, call
204-734-2174 (weekdays) or 204-734-5702 (after
hours).
MENNONITE FOUNDATION, a donor-advised
charitable foundation (est. 1973) with 17 employees
and an operating budget of $1.9 million, seeks an
executive director. The director is responsible to
the board and will provide strategic leadership,
directing and managing the overall operation.
The candidate must be a church member in one of
MFC’s six supporting conferences.
MFC promotes financial stewardship from
a Christian perspective, creates opportunities
for people to be generous with their financial
resources, provides stewardship education for
churches and members, is committed to socially
responsible investing, and provides loans to
constituent churches and related charities.
We are a growing and dynamic organization
with over $100 million under management. The
head office is in Winnipeg, Man., with four other
offices across Canada.
MFC offers a competitive salary and benefits
package. Resumes should be submitted to
Personnel Committee, MFC, 12-1325 Markham
Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 4J6; edsearch@
mennofoundation.ca.
RAINBOW CHRISTIAN School, in Vanderhoof, BC,
seeks both a grade 3/4 teacher (2009–2010) and
a principal.
RCS is a growing K–8 Christian professional
learning community and has been in operation
for 20 years. It is a classified Group 1 Independent
School and currently has a staff of six and an
enrollment of about 80 students.
Applications must include: resume, three
references (including a pastor’s), transcripts,
BCCT certificate, statement of faith, philosophy of
Christian education.
The principal is a full-time position (.6 admin.
and .4 teaching).
Send a cover letter, resume, philosophy of
Christian education with statement of faith.
Rainbow Christian School Search Committee,
Box 710, 2994 Burrard Ave., Vanderhoof, BC V0J
3A0; ph: 250-567-3127; fax: 250-567-3167; e-mail:
rcschool@telus.net.
MORWEENA CHRISTIAN School (MCS) is inviting
applications for teaching positions in junior and
senior high school classes. MCS is operated by the
Morweena Mennonite Church. It is situated 25
kms northwest of Arborg, Man. MCS is dedicated
to providing a K-12 education in an environment
which holds a high respect for biblical values.
Send resume and pastor’s reference to Tim
Reimer, Principal; Fax 204-364-3117; or timr@
morweenaschool.org.
coming events
September 16–18
Winnipeg Prophecy Conference
Victoria Inn
Winnipeg, Man.
204-832-4627
www.wpgpc.org
September 19
Ignite the Light: Impacting Today’s
Culture with the Gospel
Richmond Hill Community Church
Toronto, Ont.
Sponsors: Billy Graham Association,
ALPHA Canada, E2, Power to Change,
Samaritan’s Purse, CBN, EFC
billygraham.ca/Ministries
October 30
MDS Fundraising and Dessert Evening
Music, reports, home-made pie
Crosshill Mennonite Church
Millbank, Ont.
204-261-1274 or 866-261-1274
www.mds.mennonite.net
23
kids’ corner
Loreena Thiessen
W
Space peas
hat is the best thing about summer? For
you it’s holidays, perhaps to visit a special
lake for swimming or boating. It’s feeling
the warm sun on your face, arms, and feet.
Then there are the colours, lush green after rain,
grass and waving feathery carrot tops, soft leafy lettuce.
There are vibrant pink petunias, sunny yellow lilies,
pleasing blue cornflowers, fiery orange zinnias and
mums. The sky is bluer too, and the clouds are fluffier
and more dazzling.
In summer, too, peaches are juicier, cherries are
sweeter, and peas fresh from the garden are crisp and
crunchy.
This summer is special for other reasons as well. It is
a celebration of the astronomer Galileo who discovered
400 years ago that planets move around the sun; the
stars are stationary and other moons circle other
planets. And it is 40 years ago that the first astronaut
walked on the moon.
On July 15 this summer seven more astronauts on
a new space journey flew into space to visit the space
station 400 kilometers above the earth. The astronauts
stayed for 16 days. What did they do?
One important activity for the astronauts is growing
Activity: Play Croquet Tag
You need: garden stakes or tent pegs, markers, light
note card paper, croquet mallets and balls.
Do: Write action words on each 3 by 5 card, examples,
Hop, Sing, Whistle, Yodel, Cartwheel, Roll, Stand on your
head, Walk on your hands. Attach one card to one stake.
Push stakes with the words on them into the ground
(lawn) with plenty of distance between each stake. Each
player has his own ball and rolls it in turn toward a stake.
Do the action on the stake nearest your ball. One turn
per roll.
Keep score: one point per action.
Variation #1: Play regular croquet with one stake at
each hoop. Do the actions at each turn.
Variation #2: Allow different points for each action
depending on the difficulty of it or on how well
performed.
Have fun!
PAGE 24
food. Every item needed for the work on the space
station must be delivered by spaceship. If the astronauts
could grow their own food this would help them a lot.
They could eat fresh like we prefer to do on earth.
Also, plants give off oxygen as they take on carbon
dioxide. All living things need oxygen to exist, and,
since there is no oxygen in space, the astronauts must
bring a supply with them.
As well, plants bring cheer, as we notice walking
through a flower garden. And so, one activity is
conducting experiments growing food in space in the
Lada greenhouse.
There are some difficulties growing plants in space.
One difficulty is that the plants act as though they’re
drying out because of low air pressure. They need to
be watered constantly. Another difficulty is that air
does not move quickly in space. The oxygen the plants
give off must move away from the plant to let in carbon
dioxide. If the oxygen does not move it will choke the
plant.
A positive result of growing plants in space is that
they last longer. A success is that the first seeds of
space plants will be planted and a new generation of
space plants will grow.
What kind of plants do you think they are growing in
space?
One plant is peas—little peas are leading the way—
space peas.
As you look around, can you see things to be thankful
for—colours, summer warmth, and all the delicious
T
foods you eat each day? Read Ephesians 5:20. M
THE MESSENGER
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
440 Main Street
Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5
Publications Mail Agreement #40017362
PAP Registration #9914

messenger - Evangelical Mennonite Conference

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