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U kraine is highlighted here for many reasons.
The EMC started in 1812 in what is now Ukraine when it was dominated by Russia.
Many EMCers trace their Dutch/German/Russian family histories back to this period in Russia/Ukraine.
We have EMCers of full or partial
Ukrainian descent.
Probably, EMCers of Ukrainian or
Dutch/German/Russian descent both travel to Ukraine to connect with their histories, intertwined and distinct.
Ukraine’s history is complex, involving landowners and landless people of various cultures. Having existed before, during, and after the
Russian Revolution, Ukraine holds varied memories: happy, sad, violent, peaceful. ( The Holocaust by Bullets ,
Father Patrick Desbois, 2008, reveals memories of horror.)
This focus reminds us that Ukraine still exists; it is not a memory. It sought and got independence from
Russia, yet its citizens are divided on whether to identify with the West or with Russia.
Signifi cantly, Ukraine is a place of current ministry by EMCers. This post-communist country has many needs.
The interweaving of past and present, history and current ministry is shown within four glimpses of
Ukraine by EMCers who have visited or served there.
There is an older, yet current expression of faith used in Ukrainian church circles: СЛАВА ІСУСУ ХРИСТУ!
СЛАВА НА ВІКІ!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory forever!
As part of Christ’s Church, we dare not exist for ourselves. We are to assist more voices to praise God in Ukrainian (and in many other languages) both within and beyond our
EMC local churches.
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Terry M. Smith
S adly, media reports on church responses to H1N1 often seem superfi cial.
Reporters focus on whether to use holy water or if parishioners will shake hands. Individual reporters, it seems, refl ect their weak understanding of the Church or go for the easy story.
The Church, at the same time, dare not miss an opportunity to respond to H1N1 and broader faith issues. Let us speak of the need to care for each other and invite Canadians to face their frailty with faith in the Lord.
Our personal health infl uences our perspective on H1N1 and our interpretation of Scripture on illness and health. Unfortunately, in our individualized society and church, we often stop there. H1N1 might not.
Whether H1N1 will hit to the extent predicted will be revealed over time;
I am not a scientist or a medical doctor. But as a minister, I say one task is clear: the Christian Church is to seek to protect Canadians on many levels.
Times of widespread illness are
mentioned in Scripture. Europe dealt with the Black Death. Menno Simons wrote to Christians suffering from the plague in Amsterdam (1558). Ulrich
Zwingli served a local church where he was forbidden to leave during a plague. The Spanish Flu of 1918 affected churches in Canada.
Our Canadian society is not so modern as to be unaffected by widespread serious illness with a higher than usual death rate, nor are Christians beyond this.
“Dear children, let us…love…with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
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Terry M. Smith
EDITOR
Terry M. Smith tsmith@emconf.ca
ASSISTANT
EDITOR
Rebecca Roman rroman@emconf.ca
Address changes and submissions to
The Messenger should be sent to messenger@emconf.ca
MESSENGER SCHEDULE:
No. 21 – December 2
(copy due November 20)
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,
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THE MESSENGER is a member of subscriptions, should be addressed to:
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THE
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On-line edition available at www.emconf.ca/Messenger
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 2

Ward Parkinson
Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw (Zondervan, 2008). 355 pp., $16.99, ISBN 978-0-310-27842-9. Reviewed by Ward
T
hink: Francis of Assisi meets Don Cherry. Think:
Menno Simons meets Tony
Campolo (on Red Bull).
Now you’re ready to jump into Jesus for President . Here
Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw,
This King is unlike any other king, and this kingdom will be unlike any other earthly kingdom.
With his Nazareth address as a
“commencement speech” and the Sermon on the Mount as a
“platform,” Jesus showed the way representing a new generation of
Christian prophets with monastic leanings, boldly challenge the
American religious and political status quo.
But this is not “culture wars” fodder. Their appeal is to a radical
Third Way, a following of Jesus that takes seriously his teachings about justice, about peace, and about kingdom living.
Both the title and the timing of this book are telling. Released in 2008, the book was obviously intended to be an ideological shopping cart thrust out onto the eight-lane superhighway that is the
American presidential campaign.
Though their timing is calculated, their message is timeless and effective (even for non-Americans).
The shopping cart won’t stop all the traffi c, but it will certainly get noticed, cause some damage
(offense), and slow a lot of people down long enough to consider their ways.
The reader is invited to see, in the broad sweep of biblical narrative, how God has been calling out a people for himself, a peculiar people worshipping and serving a God who suffers no rivals.
Israel’s downfall, according to Claiborne and Haw, was her failure to remain distinctive. God’s response is to send Jesus to both announce and embody the arrival of the Kingdom of God.
forward for the people of God, the church.
Has the church fulfi lled its mandate to rightly represent her
King in the world?
Those looking for soothing words of assurance and comfort about the state of the church today will not fi nd them in Jesus for President .
Instead they will fi nd a bold corrective recipe, written with a prophetic punch that debunks and deconstructs spurious notions of kingdom prevalent in the Western church.
I think EMC readers will applaud the emphases on the centrality of
Jesus, on radical Christian living, and on loving enemies. I also think that Claiborne and Haw’s call to bold, public, countercultural kingdom action will feel like a kick in the pants.
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Ever wanted to see the land of the
Bible up close? Hosted by Pastor Dale
Dueck, Winkler EMMC, and covering 11 days, visit Old Jerusalem, The Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden Tomb,
Nazareth, Capernaum, the Mount of Olives, Beth Shean, Sea of Galilee,
Meggido, the plains of Armageddon, the
Dead Sea, and Qumran.
The tour will begin at Neot Kedumim, which offers insight into the geography and vegetation important to many Bible stories.
This tour will stopover in Athens,
Greece, at Mars Hill and the Acropolis
March 25 to June 4, 2010
(where Paul preached in Acts 17). We will visit Corinth to get a perspective on
Paul’s two letters there.
The base price is $3,379 Can., which includes return airfare to Toronto, transfers and assistance upon arrival, hotel accommodation, two meals daily, an air-conditioned tour bus, site admission. There are incidental costs
(connecting airfare to Toronto, passport fees, driver, guide and hotel tip fees, etc.) for which you are responsible.
Call 204-325-7667 or email pastordale-wemmc@mts.net
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 3

4
A few years ago Minna and
I went to Ukraine with a group of English teachers.
Minna taught English to eager students convinced it was the route to success. Doctors, teachers, students, and others struggled with our notoriously inconsistent but desirable language.
I taught l Peter in a church with a young translator whom I had to trust because I knew no Russian or Ukrainian. The most memorable moment was in the last class when
Minna and Don Thiessen a middle-aged man said he had learned to love his wife more.
During three weeks of teaching we had great freedom to share our Christian faith with believers and unbelievers, whether teaching English in a state university, teaching Bible in the Pentecostal church, or socializing with students outside of class.
It was a tremendously enriching educational, cultural, and spiritual experience. We often wonder whether we will go back for another stint of teaching.
Since we were there, we needed to connect with our own families’ geographical roots. After teaching in Kharkov, we took the night train to Zaporozhe to connect with a guide to take us to Chortitz and
Molotschna. The day and a half was too short.
After Chortitz Island the first day, we headed the second day to what used to be Molotschna Colony.
This is where our paternal families had lived, the
Pletts (Minna’s family) in Kleefeld and the Thiessens in
Conteniusfeld. We didn’t check out maternal families
(Toews and Harms).
Kleefeld was a field of grass waving in the gentle breeze; Conteniusfeld has continued over hundreds of years and turned out to be the best-kept village we saw.
To this Thiessen a well-kept yard is a gratifying sight.
What did this mean to me? I could not connect easily to my spiritual heritage even though we walked streets that our great-grandfathers walked. Somehow the time gap was too great and the geography didn’t do it. Even the genealogical connection was weak.
We saw the Willems house, the railway station, the girls’ school, the watch factory, and some Mennonitebuilt homes, but this was of a later era and a different
Mennonite group. What our ancestors had known was gone.
What moved us was walking through a village with our friend Betty. “This is where my grandfather taught,” she said, referring to a building half-torn down. “I need to walk this street to feel how my family felt.” We gave her time alone. “My father got on the train at this station,” she said. “They sang ‘Gott mit euch bis wir uns wider sehn’” (God be with you till we meet again).
We felt what was near to her—that which we did not feel about our own long ago family.
This visit confirmed that it is not because of geography, or in spite of it, that I have my spiritual heritage; it is because people before me, each generation, passed it on.
We in Canada will not be Christians because we live in wonderful Canada. We will be Christians because other believers have kept the faith and we have followed.
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Don Thiessen, Ph.D., is a minister at Ridgewood EMC, has taught at Providence College, and has served as interim president of Steinbach Bible College.
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

T he opportunity to visit one’s roots is an opportunity not to be missed. So when I heard about friends who were planning on doing some mission work in Ukraine, my interest was piqued not necessarily because of the ministry, but because I had heard stories of Ukraine.
Since I was a young girl I listened to my father Art
Krahn tell stories of raising chickens for the Russian government in his living room, of watering horses at the nearby river, of German soldiers hiding out in his home during the war, and of fleeing his home in Ukraine in 1942 to come to Canada.
Last year I had the privilege of leading a team of 11 people to Krivoy Rog, a city of about 700,000 in central
Ukraine, to help run an English camp with a youth drop-in called Shelter-Plus. Shelter-Plus is a ministry linked to the Family Life Network, a Mennonite Brethren ministry.
Over 100 kids came; close to 60 made decisions for the Lord. Last September 2008 several of them were baptized by the staff at Shelter-Plus. This year, when we returned, we saw many of them had grown and developed in their walk with Jesus and were now ministering alongside those that had ministered to them.
Last year our team decided to support a staff member of Shelter-Plus financially, enabling him to go to Kiev for seminary. He had prayed for this opportunity and applied without funding available, believing that God would provide—and God did. He has now had three intensive courses in Kiev and will begin his fourth this month. His passion for Christ is evident when he preaches.
Having had the opportunity to worship together with this group of people, it gives me a glimpse of heaven.
We worship in
Russian and English,
Janine (centre) with some friends from camp.
and, although we do not speak the same language, the power of God goes beyond language; and His presence is there and together we praise Him.
An oasis in the dessert is a picture that comes to mind when I think of Shelter-Plus.
There is a high rate of alcohol consumption among men in Ukraine. Many fathers are either alcoholics, absent, or both; family breakups are prevalent.
The staff members at Shelter-Plus are sometimes the only role models these kids have. All the programs run through Shelter-Plus have one goal: to reach the youth of Krivoy Rog to give them hope in Jesus and to teach them to become young men and women of God.
This past September 2009 my daughter Mandy and
I had opportunity to return to Ukraine for a wedding.
It was during this visit that we were able to visit my father’s birthplace: the village of Kronstal.
This is what drew me to Ukraine initially. Not only did we find my father’s home, we were able to walk through it. Walking the streets that my father walked, where all the stories took place, was amazing.
However, the past is not what pulls me to return.
What draws me back are the people I have met and grown to love and admire—young men and women who have heard the call of God and obeyed, and who serve
Him passionately.
I trust I will have opportunity to minister with them again. It would be a privilege.
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Campers with camp theme poster
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009
Janine Parkinson (Morris), Providence College, B.N., has twice traveled to Ukraine: July 2–23, 2008, and September
2–9, 2009.
5

6
S everal years ago my husband Ron and I had the opportunity to spend time in Ukraine, the home of our cultural and spiritual ancestry.
We were led by capable and knowledgeable historian Delbert
Plett and were shown places of interest and history as it related to our families.
We were impressed with the beauty of the countryside, the lovely scenery, and moderate climate.
There are, however, several moving vivid and sombre experiences relating to Mennonites and their sojourn in that land.
During the time we were in Ukraine, the bicentennial of the Mennonite settlement was remembered in specific celebrations. A large worship service was held in Halbstadt where dignitaries from Canada and Europe participated.
A particularly moving experience
was our service of worship at the
Eichenfeld village memorial, erected for this bicentennial. The village was completely destroyed by revolution and civil war. In October 1919, men, boys, and women were murdered in a single night.
The memorial was shaped like a coffin and had the many names of those who died etched into it. One of our group had researched this event with a man whose family members were among the victims of this massacre. We reflected on the event with sharing and prayer.
Another memorable occasion was the gathering at the station where many German Mennonite people
Tour group at Eichenfeld village memorial
had boarded the train as they left the country of persecution and death.
In Poland we gathered in a wheat field at Tiegenhagen, which was the location from which our Kleine
Gemeinde (small church) group left to immigrate to Ukraine. There we raised our voices in the song our forebears had sung many years before: So Nimm den Meine Haende (Take Thou my Hand,
O Father).
Several other significant memories were of stops in villages that historically were the birth places of many families in south-eastern Manitoba.
Because of Delbert Plett’s depth of knowledge of
Dutch-German Mennonite history we were shown many historic homes as well as factories of people from southern Manitoba.
The village of Petershagen was notable for those of us in the EMC. Here the Kleine Gemeinde church, under the leadership of Klaas Reimer, was located. Since many in our tour group had EMC connections, we held a service of worship and thanksgiving and were given a historical review of that particular era. Interestingly, the church is still in use as a Mennonite meeting place.
There were many occasions of emotion and thanksgiving to God for guiding our spiritual ancestors and bringing us to a land of peace where the values we and our forebears held dear can be practised.
It was an emotional trip as we reflected on the hardships that others have endured that we might have freedom and a better life. Our gratitude was first of all to God, who has led in our lives, in the lives of those who went before us, and who continues to guide his people today.
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Petershagen church
Ruth Penner, teacher’s college, BRS, MA, is a part of
Braeside EMC.
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

I n January 1991 the couple entered the FSU (former
Soviet Union). The purpose was to investigate the potential of organizing camps.
Dave and Elfrieda Loewen
2008) in the past five years to help train camp leaders.
My previous involvement in this work was in 1993 when I was the camp speaker at Anapa, a Russian city on the Black Sea. of Winnipeg, Man., had been involved in camping ministry for approximately 25 years. With encouragement and support from organizations such as
Logos Germany, CCI (Christian
Camping International) Canada, and CCI USA, they entered Russia.
After spending three months they discovered that the vast communistic Pioneer Camp organization consisting of 25,000 camps was about to collapse. To
This model camp, operated by
KVI, became the anchor point for quality camping in the FSU.
My ministry in Ukraine has
Students primarily been teaching, with a focus on teacher training. Camp leaders who are also church leaders come for a week of intense training. Along with these sessions KVI has developed resources. In the next year, my plan is to complete a teacher training manual.
This movement has had a profound impact on hold summer camps was familiar to people and so the decision was made to establish Christian youth camps, a concept inconceivable to many who remembered the Cold War.
That summer saw three camps established: in south Russia, in
Kyrgyzstan, and in Kazakhstan.
Over 1,200 teens attended with 350
Ukraine and other FSU republics. Thousands of youth have become followers of Jesus Christ through these
camps. Lives have been changed as campers and workers experienced
God’s power and grace.
Christian families have been established as hundreds of marriages had their beginnings at a Christian conversions. The Christian camping movement in the FSU had begun.
Kingdom Ventures Inc. (KVI), a registered Canadian charitable organization, was established. Today, this movement has spread to 13 of the 15 former republics.
In 1996, Ukraine became an official member of CCI, a worldwide organization whose purpose is to train camp leaders. I have had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine four times (January 2005, May 2006, January and May camp. One camp logged 69 weddings in ten years.
Denominational barriers have also broken down as training events are attended by leaders from dozens of denominations. The atmosphere of acceptance and fellowship has contributed to this.
Sunday Schools have been established. During the
Soviet regime, children under 18 were prohibited from church attendance. Churches had no Sunday Schools, but Christian youth camps changed that.
Camp counselors invited their campers to church and used the training and Bible lesson material received at camping seminars to organize S.S. and youth programs.
House Bible studies began, which eventually led to the establishment of churches. Today, there are approximately 6,000 evangelical churches in Ukraine, many of which grew out of the camping ministry.
This ministry in Ukraine and across the FSU was birthed through prayer and continues because God’s people have faithfully prayed. May God be praised!
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Stan Hamm, Ph.D., is a minister at Ridgewood EMC and a professor at Providence Theological Seminary.
Stan Hamm teaches camp leaders
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 7

Dori Zerbe Cornelsen
M
uch of my energies this summer went toward moving from one house to another.
It’s something I’ve done a fair bit of in my life, having been a missionary/pastor kid.
“Take nothing” sounds outrageous. This instruction of Jesus, though, may have freed up the twelve to make their mission possible. Possessions can literally weigh us down. Pondering this as I packed yet another box of
In an article called Traveling
Light , Pastor Sharron R. Lucas tunics.”
8 will continue to ponder as I eventually
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THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

Here are some fundamental facts about Alto Refugio (High Refuge) Ministry, presently operating an AIDS drop-in centre located in Asuncion, Paraguay.
Alto Refugio grew out of an experience we had with Alicia, a very dear member of our church who was diagnosed with
AIDS in May 1997. As we accompanied her through those difficult months until she died in September 1998, we learned much about the reality of HIV/AIDS in Paraguay.
Seeing the growing needs in this area led to the formation of a ministry: Alto
Refugio.
We are a non-government organization that unites people dedicated to working on behalf of those affected by HIV/AIDS in Paraguay, teaching positive values that combat discrimination and promote sexual purity.
We want to see lives transformed by the love of God, as we accompany people
David and Judy Schmidt (Rosenort) direct
Alto Refugio.
in Paraguay who are affected by HIV/
AIDS, and work toward a society that values a healthy lifestyle and respects the dignity of each person.
Taking a closer look, our statistics for
July 2009 showed that 1,754 people came to AR, 15 new people with AIDS came,
80 people saw the dentist, 1,444 people had lunch, 625 received a food hamper, and two educational talks were given to a total of 315 people. In August 2009,
1,632 people came, seven new people with AIDS, 68 saw the dentist, 1,365 ate lunch, 591 got a food hamper, and two educational talks were given to a total of
320 people.
Dulce Refugio (Sweet Refuge) is a new ministry that is formed to assist children that are affected by HIV/AIDS. As of right now, we have more than 400 children registered, and we try to meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in as many ways as possible.
It is our desire to provide a place of refuge where children can find hope and joy in spite of the challenges and fears they face daily with an often very insecure future staring them in the face.
This ministry is being directed by Wendy
Schmidt with the help of several teachers, a psychologist, and other volunteers.
The children’s department, Dulce
Refugio, has organized several special events to celebrate birthdays, and
Children’s Day. Each time the place fills
Wendy Schmidt is director of Dulce Refugio, a ministry that assists children affected by HIV/AIDS.
up with children and their parents; it is a great opportunity to bless them and to give a moment of joy to people who may have forgotten what joy is. This is done with the help of clowns, puppets, and special presentations. And always we point to the Source of any lasting joy:
Jesus Christ.
Projects that have been approved and are receiptable by Board of Missions are for purchases of medication (an ongoing project) and of computers.
David Schmidt
Kola, Man.: We are doing well here in
Kola. Members of our youth group are busy promoting cookbooks for our fundraiser to South America.
The title of the cookbook is: Kola
Community Cook Book: celebrating 50 years 1959–2009 . The book is filled with recipes from those living in the community now and those who have lived in the past and have either gone to be with the Lord or have moved on.
It is a great collection of recipes from all around the globe. There are many recipes from Paraguay, the U.S., Mexico,
Belize, and England, along with many traditional German Mennonite recipes.
Our youth group is selling the cookbooks as a fundraiser for our outreach. We are planning to go to Brazil and Paraguay in early spring of 2010 for about two weeks.
A group of grade 11 and 12 students along with chaperones will serve in
Brazil with Child Evangelism Fellowship for about four days. We are planning to be a part of a disadvantaged children’s camp in one of the slums of Sao Paulo.
After our four days in Brazil, we will meet some people from our church who will join us. We will then serve in Paraguay for nine to 10 days. We are planning on serving with Joanne Martens and other
EMC missionaries in Paraguay, blessing them in various ways and helping out in any ways that we are able to.
We are hoping and praying to have some time serving in Alto Refugio, the
HIV-AIDS ministry in Asuncion, for a day or so, as well as the radio ministry in Tres
Palmas. It will be a great experience to serve the Lord and be an encouragement to those who serve Him in Paraguay.
The cookbooks are $15 each (plus shipping) and all of the proceeds of the cookbook go to the outreach. Interested people can contact Kola EMC (204-556-
2635).
May the Lord continue to strengthen you as you serve Him and seek Christ’s best in your life!
Pastor Will Rose
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 9

Mount Salem, Ont.: For the past several years our church has been in the process of re-evaluating and restructuring. This process has often been slow, frustrating, and painful.
Fortunately struggles also provide opportunities; opportunities to grow, number of our regular programs. Our youth leaders are busy with about 60 youth coming out for our junior and senior youth programs, now held on two separate nights of the week. They are also planning a monthly missions work day to allow the youth to put their faith into action.
to define and defend what we truly believe, and rejoice in each victory.
While the process is ever ongoing, we want to focus on some of our victories.
On August 23 we rejoiced at the baptism of seven young people in our church. During the morning service they vulnerably shared their faith stories with us, allowing us a little glimpse of the journey they are on.
After the service we enjoyed a potluck
Baptismal service participants (back) Paul Dyck, Jim Froese
(minister), Albert Loewen (associate pastor), (middle) Susie
Peters, Dwayne Froese, Mike Wall, Josh Wiebe, (front) Amanda
Loewen, Connie Froese.
lunch together, before driving out to Lake
Whitaker for the baptism. The beach was crowded as family and friends came to share in the event. Ironically, as soon as the baptism began, so did the rain that had been threatening all day.
Umbrellas came out, but some of those attending got almost as wet as the baptism candidates, especially when the baptism candidates offered hugs to those around them!
With the arrival of fall and the new school year, we are also returning to a
Our Ladies Fellowship group invests their time by making beautiful blankets to donate to MCC, while our
MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers)
Steering Team is busy preparing for their first meeting in mid-October.
There is also much excitement among the leadership for a new project that our Missions Team is working on. Details on that project will be released at a future date, but we are so excited that we are throwing a
Thanksgiving/launch party on November
1 to celebrate.
When we focus on what God is doing, we have much to celebrate everyday.
May we do so to the glory of God!
Netti Wall
Braeside/Steinbach EFC (Man.): Some years ago, believers from Steinbach started to visit Braeside’s Spanish service. This is where I met David and
Lupe Peters, of the EFC in Steinbach, to whom I offered to go to Steinbach and preach in Spanish.
At the same time, at EFC there had been a desire to have a Spanish service, and the first Spanish service was held at the end of 2007. Since then, services were held sporadically and now once a month, starting in March 2009.
Currently, Spanish services in
Steinbach are held on the second
Saturday of the month. There are other people involved in putting the services together. Different people or groups have served, leading the worship singing, and speakers bring the message for the
Hispanic community.
The attendance at the services range from 20 to 70 people. The majority come because it is a program in Spanish and they worship God. This is a potential mission field for the church in Steinbach.
Now people from other countries have come to live in this community, and without leaving the community we can do mission work.
This year 2009, for the second consecutive year, the EFC Spanish ministry organized the Hispanic
Festival, an event that attracts the
Hispanic community from Steinbach and surrounding area. This outdoor service took place at the A.D. Penner Park.
We had games for kids, sports for adults, barbecue, and handed out New
Testaments to the attendees. This event was held with the support of Braeside
Evangelical Mennonite Church and
Iglesia Jehova Shama of Winnipeg, and was sponsored by EFC and Braeside.
At this event, just like the monthly services, I see people attending regularly.
Some have made the decision to follow
Christ, others are excited to join the services.
What is the next step? I know God has the answer. Join us in prayer and if you have a desire to do mission work, now you know, here you have an opportunity. You don’t need to have a current passport.
Pastor Angel Infantes
Translated by David Peters
The Hispanic community gathered for an outdoor service at A.D. Penner Park./La comunidad hispana se juntó por un servicio al aire libre en el A.D. Penner Park.
10 THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

Años atrás creyentes deSteinbach empezaron a visitar el servicio Hispano de Braeside. Ahí conocí a David y Lupe
Peters de EFC en Steinbach, a quienes les propuse ir a Steinbach a predicar en
Español. Al mismo tiempo, en EFC ya había el deseo de tener un servicio en
Español, y el primer servicio Hispano se realizó a finales del 2007. Desde esa fecha se tenían los servicios esporádicamente hasta ahora una vez al mes comenzando en Marzo del 2009.
Ahora, cada segundo sábado del mes se realizan los servicios hispanos en
Steinbach. También son más las personas involucradas en la realización del servicio, diferentes personas o grupos que traen la alabanza así como predicadores que traen el mensaje para la comunidad hispana.
La asistencia a los servicios oscila entre 20 a 70 personas. La mayoría llega porque es un programa en español y se encuentran con Dios. Este es un potencial campo misionero para la iglesia en
Steinbach. Ahora personas de otros países han llegado a vivir a esta comunidad, y sin salir de la comunidad podemos hacer misiones.
Este 2009 por segundo año consecutivo el ministerio hispano de la EFC realizó el Festival Hispano, un evento que atrae a la comunidad hispana de Steinbach y alrededores. El servicio al aire libre fue
Activities for adults and children were held./Habián actividades para adultoes y niños.
en el A.D. Penner Park, hubo juegos para niños, deportes para adultos, BBQ, y se repartieron Nuevos Testamentos a los asistentes. Este evento fue apoyado por
Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church y la Iglesia Jehova Shama de Winnipeg y fué patrocinado por EFC y la EMC.
En este evento como en los servicios mensuales veo a personas asistiendo regularmente. Algunos han tomado su decisión de seguir a Cristo, otros están muy animados apoyando los servicios.
¿Cuál será el siguiente paso que dar?
Sé que Dios tiene la respuesta. Únase en oración y si desea hacer misiones ya sabe que aquí tiene una oportunidad. No necesita tener su pasaporte al día.
Pastor Angel Infantes
Morweena, Man.: The phrase “serving here and there” suggests haphazard, impulsive service. But “here” and “there” are also places, and whether we are here
(at home), or there (outside of community), we have gifts to use in God’s service.
Our baptismal candidates this year have a variety of gifts, such as music, encouragement, culinary skills, working with children, life-guarding and leadership. Many of them have used their gifts here in our church and school, as well as there at summer camps.
Over the years, we have had many people go out from here to there for terms of service. We’ve also had many faithful people stay and serve the local body. I asked five people to write about their recent service for this article.
This summer Brittany Abrahamson went there (the Democratic Republic of
Congo) to serve with Mennonite Brethren
Mission and Service International on a six-member Action team for four weeks.
She writes: “We focused on encouraging the Congolese Christians and serving through work projects. Our host pastor’s faith in God challenged me; he had little materially, but was filled with joy and faith in God. The house he was renting had been sold and he had only days to find a new one. He trusted God, and the day before he needed to move out he found a house.”
Brittany Abrahamson served in the Democratic
Republic of Congo for four weeks with MBMSI.
Janessa Plett served with REACH
Missions (out of Rosedale, Ohio) there in Thailand over the past year. After a three-month training period in the U.S., she spent nine months overseas with a six-member team.
She writes: “My purpose in going was to teach English and spread God’s love through relationships with Thais. There is a lot of spiritual darkness in Thailand, but God is working and showing Himself there. This became evident after hearing stories from Thai believers and how they met God. God is so big and it’s obvious
He’s so in love with us!”
Closer to home, Scott Reimer spent the summer serving at Inner City Youth Alive.
He writes: “I led backcountry adventure trips, taking youth from Winnipeg’s North
End out of their difficult lives and into creation, to experience God as some of them had never done before.
“ICYA has offered me a full-time position as Out-trip Leader during the
(continued on p. 12)
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 11

(continued from p. 11) summers and Leadership Development
Coordinator throughout the regular school year. I am currently raising support for this position and would really appreciate your prayers.”
Donovan and Cathy Dueck serve here as our faithful youth leaders, taking charge of events for both junior and senior youth.
They write: “We feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to be a part of the
Morweena youth as they grow and are challenged in their walks with God.
“Though our role is not without its challenges, we are learning, along with our youth, to never give up and to focus on pursuing God through all life’s circumstances. Thank you to the Morweena
Church for your continuous support!”
May we all be encouraged to serve God wherever we are!
Janet Hamm
An evening service was held January 18, 2009, to hear testimonies and receive these young people into membership: (back) Keith Kornelsen (transfer), Jake Unger (transfer), Brett Barkman (baptism); (front, all by baptism): Christine Sutyla (now Kornelsen), Becki Petkau, Jessica Plett, Andrea Reimer, Lisa Reimer.
MacGregor, Man.: Summer came and went, or did it? We continue on in our various ministries. We chose to have our Sunday Picnic early this year, which turned out to be a wise choice weatherwise. We had a beautiful day filled with lots of activities: kite flying, wagon rides, races and more.
The Boys Brigade guys had their (now annual) overnight campout. And by all reports it was a success.
The seniors seem to be having a grand time as well with potlucks, bowling trips, choir, and other activities too exciting to mention.
The Family Celebration Day was a day to give thanks to God. Two young couples dedicated their children to the
Lord: Kevin and Erin Lowe (son Logan) and Scott and Larissa Stuart (son
Dominic). Three people transferred their membership: Helen Klassen and Gord and Jenn Giesbrecht. Four young people made the choice of baptism: Henry
Rempel, Michelle Rempel, Russell Unrau, and Ryan Wiebe.
The Ladies group had a pajama party and watched a comedic movie for their end of the year celebration as well as a game of charades.
The summer series of messages was entitled Sweet Words with the theme verse of Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” We were given an opportunity to submit our favourite scripture and what it meant to us.
Other events of special note included two evenings of “Munchies with the
McCaskell’s,” visiting at the home of our pastoral couple Bill and Bev McCaskell.
A joint service was held with Bagot
Community Chapel. DVBS was held in our church together with Westend
Community Church.
A special report was given from
Menno and Elvina Hamm who traveled to the Dominican Republic to visit with their Compassion children. The first was a young man who had finished the program and had saved every letter that the Hamms had sent him. He was extremely grateful for all that they had done to help him succeed. The second was a young boy whom they recently began supporting.
A golf tournament was held. Everyone had a great time. People cooked and served at Valley View Bible Camp. A board and ministerial barbeque was held. Other events items: a concert, new babies, weddings, banquets, involvement with MCC, and a new junior youth program.
Pray that through all our busyness that we will remember to keep God’s
Word in our hearts so that we can share it and his love to those around us.
Elizabeth Sawatzky
( with our churches continued on p. 14)
Parent-child dedication: Scott and Larissa Stuart with son Dominic, Logan with parents Erin and Kevin Lowe.
Baptized were Henry Rempel, Michelle Rempel, Ryan Wiebe, and Russell Unrau.
Members by transfer: Gord and Jenn Giesbrecht, Helen Klassen.
12 THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

EMC
The Board of Leadership and Outreach has invited EMC pastors and other leaders to refl ect 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 .
10. LAWSUITS
We believe Christians should take seriously what the Scriptures teach about lawsuits and strive to deal redemptively with victims and offenders, working for restitution and reconciliation. We believe Christians are not to initiate any lawsuits which would violate the principle of love (Matthew 5:38–48; Romans
12:17–21; 1 Corinthians 6:1–11; 1 Peter 2:19–21).
B ased on the scriptures in this statement the understanding of the Mennonite community, by and large, has been that disputes need to be settled within the context of the church in a spirit of Christian love. This links the discussion to our doctrine of non-resistance and our belief in the
There was a time when a Mennonite lawyer would have been an oxymoron.
Those times have changed. As we have moved into businesses and professions and urban settings, we are no longer able to deal primarily with each other. We rely on the system to help settle estates, transfer and give separation of church and state.
The important questions that surface are: what does the New Testament mean when it says, “If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?” “It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.”
How are we to actually practice these principles in the complexities of being Christian Canadian citizens?
There was a time when we lived in primarily insulated agricultural communities and it was possible to avoid contact with the law. Mennonite groups have sought promises from the government to protect them from lawsuits because going into court and defending themselves would violate their religious teachings.
title to property, provide safety, security and personal freedom. Even our own charitable and mutual aid organizations require the engagements of law fi rms.
We have generally accepted that church and state are not always easily separable. We have also accepted that the legal system has a positive role in society. This shift has made us less uncomfortable with having courts settle our disputes.
We need to accept the fact that our legal system is not very good at making things right between parties; it most often creates winners and losers. Litigation implies an adversarial approach to solving disputes. The New
Testament approach is to seek reconciliation rather than winning a case.
The apostle Paul would say that “a legal victory might in fact be a spiritual defeat.” Paul’s big concern is the reputation of the church. David
Ewert agrees that “in our day where everyone insists on rights,
Christians need to relearn what it means to suffer wrongs.”
These teachings stand in stark contrast to our society’s hurry to seek personal rights and protection. If we think “rights” then we are at odds with the
New Testament and our Church
Practices .
M
Peter Janzen has previously served as pastor of
Hillside Christian
Fellowship.

Kleefeld, Man.: “It’s good to be home,” began Jon Bonk, guest speaker at the 135 anniversary celebration of the Kleefeld
Evangelical Mennonite Church, October
13, 2009.
People are defined by their shared memory, said Jon Bonk. Memory is essential to a healthy identity, and there is no meaningful identity apart from memory. When a loved one loses their memory, we suddenly become aware of how precious memory is.
As Christians we need to remember where we came from, the struggles our forebears had, and the lessons to
Malachi Kamstra prepares to eat his meal at the 135 th anniversary celebration Thanksgiving Sunday, October 11.
be drawn from their story. We need to remember who we are as participants in a moral universe. We need to remember that we are not here to stay, and to remember where we are going.
Jon Bonk went on to remind us that it is important to remember proportionality. It is possible to go off the rails. Prosperity is not just for ourselves; it is our obligation to share.
The message ended with the reminder that the person in front of us determines our agenda. As followers of Jesus, we need to act as he did and allow ourselves to be interrupted. Remember that the servant is not greater than his Lord.
Jon and Jean Bonk moved to Kleefeld in the early 80s, choosing a lot on
Rosewood Drive and moving in an older house from St. Jean Baptiste, Man.
There they grew a garden, raised their two children, and practised their gift of hospitality by regularly inviting the neighbours for soup-and-bread lunches.
Jon joked that when they joined the KEMC, they had “climbed into the sheepfold some other way” because they didn’t have a good German Mennonite name. But it wasn’t long before the congregation unanimously voted Jon in as a lay minister.
In 1994, Jon and Jean moved to
Winnipeg and attended St. Vital EMC.
They were there only four years before
Jon was called to become the director of the Overseas Ministry Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Jon and
Jean found this was a good fit for their gifts and skills, particularly the gift of hospitality which they had honed in
Kleefeld and elsewhere.
At the Overseas Ministry Study Center, missionaries from about 20 different countries have an opportunity to focus on resting, studying, and publishing their stories. In particular, Jon has an interest in recording for posterity the stories of the African Church.
Perhaps Jon’s interest in Africa stems from his early experiences in Ethiopia as the son of missionary parents. Or it could even stem from Jon and Jean’s experiences as a young married couple going back to Ethiopia. It was there that they adopted their daughter Susie.
The Sunday School hour featured a review of KEMC history via power point presentation, which Louella Friesen and Irene Ascough put together using pictures brought by church members.
Henry Fast, historian, reminded the church of their journey through the years, of their struggles and joys. In the late 1890s, there was a plan to build three church buildings, one in Steinbach, one in Blumenort, and one in Kleefeld.
The first two were built, but the Kleefeld church continued to meet in homes until the 1930s. The Pioneers Dueck had a significant influence in the Kleine
Gemeinde, as three of them became ministers. More information about
Kleefeld can be found in Henry Fast’s book, Gruenfeld: First Mennonite Village
(continued on p. 15)
14
Bruce Peters looks at the message board with personal notes posted by thankful church members.
Many people who have past links to Kleefeld visited on Thanksgiving Sunday to help celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Kleefeld EMC.
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

(continued from p. 14) in Western Canada (2006), available in libraries and from Schellenberg’s
Hardware.
Kleefeld EMCers were invited to write messages and post them on the bulletin board decorated for that purpose. Many wrote about how the KEMC had been a positive infl uence in their lives, and how thankful they were for the Sunday School teachers they had had.
The feast for the ears was topped off by a feast for the palate. A meal of ham and potatoes, corn and coleslaw, peppered with friendly greetings and conversation, topped off the day.
Elaine Peters
Jean and Jon Bonk, now living in New Haven,
Connecticut, were invited as special guests for the celebration. Jon was a lay minister in the Kleefeld EMC from the mid-80s until 1994.
Meetiing MCC 2009
Eden High School
St. Catherines, Ont.
mcc.org/ontario
905-646-3161
519-745-8458
November 20–22
IMPACT: Youth discipleship weekend
Finding Your Identity
Speaker: Kent Martens
Steinbach Bible College
Steinbach, Man.
800-230-8478 www.sbcollege.ca
Bobbi was born on July 21, 1984, in High Level, Alta., to Sara and Bill
Neudorf. She had a happy childhood in
Lethbridge for four years and later in La
Crete. She got her Kindergarten to grade
8 education in La Crete, and then grades
9 to 11 at the Grande Prairie Christian
School.
The fi rst semester of grade 12 was spent at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Grande Prairie, and then she fi nished high school in La Crete, graduating from
La Crete Public School in 2002. She attended Grande Prairie Regional College for two years and then transferred to the University of Alberta, fi nished her
Bachelor of Science in Occupational
Therapy degree in 2006.
Bobbi married Justin David
Schlarbaum in 2005 in Grande Prairie, and they lived in Edmonton until 2006 to fi nish university, after which they settled down in Sexsmith.
She worked at the Queen Elizabeth
II hospital in the Occupational Therapy
Department for three years. Bobbi was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her second year of college. She succumbed to complications from treatments received for the disease at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2009, at the ICU in the hospital where she worked.
Bobbi took special joy in her nieces and nephews, friends, family, scrapbooking, and vacationing with Justin and their best friends in Mexico.
Bobbi leaves to mourn her passing her husband Justin, her parents Sara and
Bill Neudorf, her in-laws Helen and David
Schlarbaum; her sister Bev and Norman
Loewen and their children Jordan,
Derek, Brittney and Brady; her brother
Lynden Neudorf; her sister Melanie and Jake Friesen and their children
Kobi and Ellie; sister-in-law Jennifer
Schlarbaum and Brad Morgan; Grandma
Bueckert; Grandparents Schlarbaum and Christiansen, and aunts and uncles, cousins and numerous friends.
Bobbi Renee was part of the La Crete
Christian Fellowship for a large part of her growing up years. Bobbi was baptised upon confession of her faith in
Christ as her personal saviour in March of 2006 at McKernnan Baptist Church in Edmonton. Her perspective of 1 John
2:12-17 was found on her computer after her passing:
I am FORGIVEN
I am a CHILD OF GOD
I am an OVERCOMER
I am STRONG
I am KNOWN by God
And LOVED by God
November 27–28
Doc’s Holiday
SBC Major Drama Production
Steinbach Bible College Chapel
Steinbach, Man.
No cost, rush seating
204-326-6451 or www.sbcollege.ca
to reserve tickets
November 27
EMC Ministerial Meeting
Pleasant Valley EMC near Rosenort, Man.
204-326-6401 info@emconf.ca
November 28
EMC Conference Council Meeting
Kleefeld EMC
Kleefeld, Man.
204-326-6401 info@emconf.ca
December 1
Being Evangelical in a Complex
World: Stats, Facts, and Trends
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Christian Leaders Connection
Redeemer University College
Ancaster, Ont.
866-302-3362 ext. 236 www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/clc
In lieu of fl owers, donations can be made to the Crohn’s and Colitis
Foundation of Canada.
Thank you to Dr. Bertozzi and the ICU staff at the QEII Hospital, and a special thank you to Lindsey, who was with Bobbi during the onset of her fi nal struggle.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at 2 p.m. at
Grace Bible Fellowship in Sexsmith, Alta.
Her Family
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 15

16
C arrying a guitar, Randy Dyck arrives early for practice before the service starts at Saturday
Night Church.
It is shortly after 6 p.m. on September
27, 2009, when I enter the gymnasium of
Landmark Elementary School, located in the town of Landmark in southern
Manitoba.
There is a compromise in renting:
SNC’s not having a mortgage is offset by the tasks of setting up chairs, sound system, and PowerPoint. People chatter and laugh, though, as they visit and work together, checking cords and making chords.
When he fi nds I’m not speaking, a sound person approaches Cyndy Warkentin, SNC’s gregarious church coordinator, about who is. Bill Rambo, an SNC elder, hands me a question sheet for later.
After a delay caused by a hum within the sound system, Cyndy Warkentin welcomes SNCers. Sharon
Hildebrand introduces the opening song and the
The musical team leads the congregation in current and older songs.
Cyndy Warkentin musical team leads in current and older songs.
SNCers stand or sit to sing; some also clap. Randy Dyck introduces the “ninth version” of Amazing Grace (a “blues” styling).
The sanctuary has become fuller with a mixture of ages. Cyndy Warkentin goes forward, joking that people have to behave because I am here. She says one fellow had talked of taking off his shirt.
“It’s a drummer thing!” she explains, saying she had counseled him against it.
She mentions upcoming events: a service with Teen Challenge and the start of Alpha Youth.
Warkentin then reads two portions of Scripture, introducing part of Isaiah 42 as a prophecy of the
Messiah, speaking of his concern for the nations, and part of Matthew 12 as the fulfi llment shown in Jesus, who gently loves those on the margins of society.
She calls children and leaders forward for prayer before they attend children’s church elsewhere in the building.
Then Bill Rambo and Rev. Milton Fast, the teaching/ speaking coordinator, come up front during the sermon time to answer questions e-mailed by SNCers in spring.
They tackle:
• “Why is it Paul who made the rules for the church and not Jesus?”
• “With over 700 rules in the Bible and an estimated
3000 English versions of the Bible, how do we know if we got it right?”
• “Why do good people suffer?”
• “What does it mean when the Bible speaks about visiting the sins of the fathers on many generations of children?”
• “Where you think heaven will be…here on earth, up beyond the clouds, somewhere else?”
Bill speaks both from prepared notes and spontaneously; Rev. Fast offers his thoughts. They pause for SNCers to comment or to raise questions.
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

Discussion continues until Cyndy suggests it is time to move on. Rev. Fast protests gently that the best questions are yet to come.
Bill leads in closing prayer. He explains that there are no goodies or coffee. He wants everyone to know— especially “those taking notes”—that this is unusual.
“Go in peace,” he says. It is shortly before eight o’clock.
Almost immediately people begin talking and visiting. Al Thiessen comes by, stacking chairs. The gym becomes progressively emptier.
Cyndy Warkentin, elder chair Mark
Hildebrand and his wife Tish, and elder
James Smith stay for an interview, supporting each other as questions are answered.
SNC’s fi rst service was held in October, a potluck planning party, Cyndy says.
Why start SNC? There was concern about people
“falling through the cracks” who were uncomfortable with a large church structure, Cyndy said.
They met fi rst in the west wing of Prairie Rose’s building, then in the library of Landmark Elementary
School, and (as SNC quickly grew) moved
to the gym. SNC joined the EMC in 2007. Its service attendance fl uctuates during the year, but it averages 75 to 80 people.
History
On September 13, 2005, a meeting was held with
Prairie Rose EMC leaders about starting another group.
Structure
SNC is led largely by consensus within the church community; the elders seek to give direction to ensure SNC is led by vision and values, Mark says.
SNC’s role is to meet people where they are, Mark says. It’s to put a “neighbourly” face to church, Tish adds. SNC seeks to reach “unchurched and dechurched” people and anyone seeking a church home, says Cyndy.
They highlight that many youth come to SNC, some without their parents, and line the back wall during
Bill Rambo and Milton Fast answer questions from SNCers.
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009
Cyndy Warkentin, elder chair Mark Hildebrand and his wife Tish, and elder James
Smith stayed for an interview after the service.
(photos by editor)
17

services. Youth are involved on committees. SNC seeks to get people involved on a rotating basis on committees to avoid staleness, Mark says, and through their involvement, youth develop in their church participation.
SNC does not have Sunday School. It provides children’s ministry during the teaching time of the service service, youth gathers for functions and for
Bible study during the school year, and there are small groups.
Mark says SNC isn’t big enough or “sophisticated enough” for lots of programs. Nor is that SNC’s mandate, Cyndy adds—it is relationships. SNC desires to be a “real part” of the community in Landmark and
Winnipeg, Mark says.
SNCers assist within the House of Hesed (for people with HIV/AIDS), youths have handed out sandwiches and visited with people outside Siloam Mission, and others volunteer locally.
Strengths
What are SNC’s strengths? We have fun, Tish says.
“And…we love each other,” adds Cyndy. Though it sounds “glib,” it is real, Mark responds. People are attracted because SNC is a “non-judgmental” community. People can belong before they believe, though the level of responsibility depends on a discerning committee.
A yearly covenanting service is held in January; there is no formal membership. Baptism occurs after discernment, with a mentor arrangement following (a process is developing). Those baptised have input on who baptizes and who mentors.
An SNC strength is its willingness to move into the community to help, says Cyndy. Young people feel connected to adults, Mark says.
Challenges
SNC has challenges. It needs a new meeting location; its current arrangement ends in June. A second is, while being inclusive, to present “the truth of the gospel of
Jesus without any compromise or apology,” says Cyndy.
Another is to not worry about numerical growth, James
Smith says. A “huge” challenge is to nurture youth, especially when they move to university, Cyndy adds.
Wider EMC
What do they want the wider EMC to know about
SNC? “Well, we love God and we want to draw people to
Jesus,” Cyndy says.
When people come and say the congregation is friendly but not “churchy” enough, SNC wishes them
God’s blessings and knows they have options in town,
Cyndy says.
Mark mentions his attending a church planting congress in Ottawa, Ont. With declining church attendance in North America, there is a need to relate to people who don’t want a traditional setting, he says.
There is a need to go where people are, they say.
That’s what SNC does, Mark says, though there are many “right answers.” This means, as he explains in a later phone interview, there is one message, but many ways to reach various groups of people.
By now the rest of the congregation has left the school and the elders are leaving. Cyndy speaks briefly to the school’s custodian.
The gym is where the congregation meets for now on Saturday night, but for
SNC much of the action is elsewhere.
M
Terry M. Smith
People visit and mingle after the service.
November 13, 2009, 1:30 p.m.
Canadian Mennonite
University
Winnipeg, Man.
Theme: Caring for our service and mission workers
For inquiries contact MCC
Manitoba (204-261-6381 or manitoba@mennonitecc.ca)
November 20, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Mennonite Heritage
Village Museum
Steinbach, Man.
Guest speaker: Wilma Derksen
Entertainment: Rock Ridge
Pickers
For tickets call Rosemarie at
204-326-1050 ext. 3
18 THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009

Full text of ads available at www.emconf.ca/service.htm
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).
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.
Th e 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 refl ected 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.
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 306-
595-2074. E-mail pastor@pellyfellowship.com.
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.
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.
Th ompson. Experience in working with Aboriginal people is an asset.
Send your resume to the chairman of the board:
Ruben Goertzen, Box 57, Ashern, MB R0C 0E0, e-mail rgoertz@mts.net, phone 204-768-2455. Or call the interim director, Bill Penner, at 204-778-
8771 for information.
MENNONITE FOUNDATION, a donor-advised charitable foundation (est. 1973) with 17 employees and an operating budget of $1.9 million, seeks an
executive director. Th e director is responsible to the board and will provide strategic leadership, directing and managing the overall operation.
Th e candidate must be a church member in one of
MFC’s six supporting conferences.
MFC promotes fi nancial stewardship from a Christian perspective, creates opportunities for people to be generous with their fi nancial 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 offi ce is in Winnipeg, Man., with four other offi ces across Canada.
MFC off ers a competitive salary and benefi ts 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 a principal.
RCS is a growing K–8 Christian professional learning community and has been in operation for 20 years. It is a classifi ed 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 certifi cate, statement of faith, philosophy of
Christian education.
Th e 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.
GRUTHAL BERGTHALER Mennonite Church is prayerfully seeking a senior pastor who has a heart for people and is community outreach minded.
We are an evangelical church located in
Grunthal, Man., 45 minutes southeast of Winnipeg, and 20 minutes southwest of Steinbach. The town consists of about 1,000 people and is supported by a strong farming community. The church is multigenerational, with a core of middle-aged families, a strong youth program run by a full-time youth pastor, and a strong Sunday School program.
We seek a pastor who has the heart of a shepherd and a desire to see our church grow through reaching the lost and investing in the church’s people. He should have strong preaching and teaching skills. The candidate must have a
Bible college degree. Some pastoral experience is preferred. He must be in agreement with our constitution and statement of faith.
Anyone who possesses these qualifi cations and is interested in this position can forward their resume, along with references, to the following address: Grunthal Bergthaler Church, Box 70,
Grunthal, MB R0A 0R0, Attn: Elder Board; or e-mail gbmcleadelder@mts.net.
MACGREGOR YOUTH for Christ seeks a satellite
director. Job description involves giving overall leadership to YFC ministries in Macgregor and
Gladstone, Man., its staff and its ministry; vision craft ing, ministry development, staff /volunteer care and development, community/church relations, fundraising, evaluation. Please contact yfcmacgregor@mts.net.
MACGREGOR YOUTH for Christ seeks a campus
life youth worker. Job description involves spending time in the local High School off ering student support to the local youth, as well as connecting with the local youth through the
Drop-in Centre and various programs. Please contact yfcmacgregor@mts.net.
ARBORG YOUTH for Christ seeks an executive
director to help launch and run a youth centre in
Arborg, Man. Th is exciting opportunity is revving up and will soon be ready to go with a committed team there to support and back you up.
Reporting to and supported by a committed steering committee, this person will promote the ministry throughout the community, develop the drop-in program, and supervise team members.
Applicants must be able to embrace and sign the
YFC Statement of Faith and Conduct. Th e ability to handle administrative and fi nancial duties will be required. Qualifi cations include a love for youth, drive and determination, creativity and an ability to work independently.
E-mail resume to Keith Tarry at keith@ yfcwinnipeg.ca or 325 Talbot Ave, Winnipeg, MB
R2L 0P9 or 204-669 4205 ext 224.
CONTINENTAL MISSION in Th ompson, Man., needs a general director. Th is is an executive position. Qualifi cations for this position includes ministry experience, and an ability to lead and challenge missionaries in various ministries. A knowledge of the Word and a walk with the Lord are essential.
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. Th e director will need to live in
th
November 13–15, 2009
THE MESSENGER November 4, 2009 19

W e are people of God’s peace as a new creation…love unites and strengthens us at this celebration are the words to one of the songs in the international songbook used at Mennonite World Conference in July.
Worship in music was one of the highlights at the assembly held in Asuncion, Paraguay, attended by almost 6,000 Christians from around the world.
Many of the songs sung during the opening of each session focused on the strength there is in the fellowship of believers. “We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load,” say the beautiful lyrics of The Servant Song , while in the well-known piece We Are One in the Spirit the songwriter finds solace and courage in the to
concept of “walking hand in hand” and “working side by side” with others who are intent on following God’s way.
Indeed, the theme of the conference was on
MWC general secretary Larry Miller introduces Lutheran World Federation general secretary
Ishmael Noko.
(photos: Lowell Brown/Meetinghouse) service and unity as outlined in Philippians 2:1–
11, which, when practiced as Jesus exemplified, serve as a powerful witness and magnet to the world.
The possibility that MWC might not be convening as often in a massive assembly, as it has 15 times on various continents since 1925, led me to assess what value “assembly gathered” has for the global Mennonite body.
Although there are huge costs and an enormous amount of planning and organizing by the host churches involved, there are significant reasons why the global assembly should not be discontinued. And one of the main ones is the importance of unity in the church.
“We will never be credible as peacemakers in the world if we are crippled with conflict within the church,” said one of the speakers at the
Paraguay conference in a morning Bible study.
There is no greater tool in building unity than worshipping with members
of God’s family who represent various nationalities, language groups, and classes.
Participants in the conference came from hundreds of churches with many different styles of worship, and yet here we were singing, praying, and taking communion together. And why not?
We all accept the Bible as the authority for faith and life, believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and trust God for power to renounce violence, love our enemies and seek justice, and yet far too often trivialities keep us apart.
I believe the conference was a powerful witness to non-believers. In addition, it re-emphasized Mennonites are not people from any specific cultural group, but those who are of one faith.
Another reason that could be cited why global assembles should continue are it gives the host country an opportunity to showcase its culture including food, art, music, and worship style, and visitors to learn about
Christians in another country.
The “assembly scattered” encourages conference participants to visit churches and Mennonite-run schools, colleges, hospitals, daycare centres, and the like. This gives tremendous insight and again, helps to strengthen bonds.
M
Doris Penner (Prairie Rose) serves on the
Board of Church Ministries.
The sound of Paraguayan harps graced the worship services.
PAGE 20 THE MESSENGER
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