WiderChurch 6-18

In the bewildering post-September 11 climate, talking about peace might seem overly idealistic and even pointless. But to participants in the meetings entitled “Pursuing peace in such a time as this,” peace discussions had never been more appropriate.

“People often feel there’s little they can do to respond to major world events. We wanted to assure them that there are things they can do in their communities,” said Esther Epp-Tiessen, Peace Ministries coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee Canada, which sponsored the events together with provincial MCC offices.

The meetings, held in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec between April and June, with a Maritimes event in September, provided two days of presentations, discussions, and small group events which explored a world in conflict and faithful responses to such a world.

“Empathy and relationships are two important baby steps toward peace—steps I think Jesus would take,” said one presenter. Others echoed this need to express Jesus’ love by seeing through others’ eyes and building relationships with people from other cultures and worldviews.

Although many of the attendees were already committed to a peacebuilding lifestyle, Epp-Tiessen noted that “at every event there were people for whom the idea of peacemaking as central to faith in Christ was a new thing.”

Amy Peters, a Saskatchewan participant, found encouragement from the discussions.

“We need to hear those stories of when peace worked and be encouraged by them and we need to listen to stories of when peace could have worked but was not used so that we can share our frustration and sadness.”

George Epp came away from the British Columbia meetings with an appreciation for the worship experiences which included music and readings. Janet Boldt, who also attended the meetings in British Columbia, noted that the meetings provided “cross-fertilization, where new energy can be fuelled, where ideas are exchanged, where concerns can be expressed and affirmed.”

The presentations are available in print form. MCC is also promoting the 2002 Peace Sunday Packet, entitled “Peacemaking and Evangelism,” and the Second Mile training process for congregations. For more information, contact Esther Epp-Tiessen at (204) 261-6381.

Monteagudo, Bolivia

Photo: Carmelo Jimenez (left), Basilio Leon and Aaron Ausland try out a horse-drawn wagon donated to a boys’ residence in Bolivia.

Krista Hunt Ausland was killed in a bus accident on May 20, 1998, six months after coming to Bolivia to serve with Mennonite Central Committee. She never met Basilio Leon, but her spirit of hope has touched his life.

The boys’ residence he operates now owns horse-drawn agricultural equipment—the fulfillment of Basilio’s long-time dream—thanks to a fund established in Krista’s memory.

As a young man, Basilio watched a demonstration team of horses, driven by an MCC worker, open a furrow in the soil. In his region of Bolivia, the Chaco, Basilio had seldom seen horses pulling equipment. More common were large landowners’ expensive tractors while peasants used hand tools or wooden ploughs pulled by oxen.

Captivated by the idea, Basilio bought a manual MCC had published to promote the use of animal traction. He realized that horse-drawn equipment could improve production immensely for Bolivia’s small farmers.

Krista Hunt, who grew up in Spokane, Washington, had an assortment of pets, including a palomino horse, Amigo. She became a biology teacher, and with her husband Aaron, felt God’s call to serve overseas.

Krista helped support rural libraries and worked with women in the Bolivian highlands. She and Aaron were on their way to Santa Cruz when their bus missed a curve and plunged into a ravine. Aaron sustained minor injuries. Krista died at the age of 25, along with several Bolivians.

By that time, Basilio was coordinator of the San Isidro home, a residence for boys from rural areas. The boys work in the gardens and care for the animals, while attending a government school.

Two years ago, another MCC worker heard about Basilio’s efforts and contacted him to see how MCC could support his vision of “education for life.” MCC donated animal traction equipment to San Isidro’s agricultural program, using funds donated to MCC in Krista’s memory.

Basilio, the boys and their families and MCC workers gathered in the residence’s field in March 2002 to celebrate the transfer of a wagon and harnesses, an eight-disc harrow, two ploughs, a weeder and a two-row seeder to San Isidro. Basilio plans to promote the use of animal-drawn equipment throughout the area.

Carmelo Jimenez, the parish priest, compared the project to the gift of organ donation.

“By donating one’s organs one is giving the gift of life to another person,” he said. “I think that Krista, when she died, left a legacy; she is giving part of her life to this work, and it is through her that others are learning to live a better life.”

“Krista enjoyed teaching young people, and she enjoyed nature and the care of it. As I see what is happening in this residence, I am certain that which she held dear in her heart is being continued in this place,” said Aaron Ausland, who has remained in the country.

—MCC release by Rene Rojas and Rachel B. Miller

Strasbourg, France

With Africa 2003 less than one year away, Africans in several countries have their sights set on Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The 14th Mennonite World Conference Assembly Gathered will be held there August 11-17.

Administrators in the Bulawayo office, who recently took assembly registration forms to Zambia, were surprised by the excitement of the Zambians. The 500 forms were snapped up within 20 minutes.

“My prayer has always been getting at least 150” from Zambia, said Dothan Moyo, national coordinator in Bulawayo. So far, 256 Zambians have registered.

“Some have already paid,” says Bishop Shamapani of Zambia. “We can expect 500 Zambians to come to Bulawayo next year.”

The enthusiasm of the three Mennonite communities in Congo have led them to request 150 registration forms. While Mennonites from the West fly over the vast continent in relative comfort, Congolese Mennonites will spend days of gruelling travel by rail and bus through several countries to get to Bulawayo.

Business people in Tanzania are considering chartering a bus to put the long, expensive trip to Zimbabwe within the reach of at least some Tanzanian Mennonites. The idea of a chartered bus is not lost on Mennonites in Malawi, also a long way from Bulawayo.

Meanwhile, young people from the Church of the Mennonite Community in Angola are the first to submit ideas for a Youth Summit at the assembly. More than 200 youth in the Luanda area completed the survey sent to churches around the world in preparation for the summit.

“This is the first time these youth have had such an opportunity to express their own views about their life situations,” said Domingos Antonio Moreira, youth president. He added that the Angolan delegate to the Youth Summit will bring additional information from youth unable to meet due to restrictions not yet lifted although the 30-year civil war recently ended.

Many Angolan youth, by age 14, were required to be soldiers in a war that has created much hatred and suffering. The young people say that it is “important to disarm the conscience of the population, both in the church and in society.” They hope to cultivate harmony and tolerance toward neighbours and help to reintegrate youth who fled the country and now want to return.

The challenges of getting an education in a country torn by war, with an illiteracy rate of about 85 percent, and of evangelizing their peers are two other issues the youth will bring to the summit.

In Zimbabwe, the political situation, a troubled economy, drought and food shortages have created hardships, but members of Brethren in Christ churches there are finding ways to host international visitors. Many have little cash, but they are gathering “in-kind” donations—like cows for planners to sell or to slaughter for food for the assembly. Many plan to host guests in their homes.

Enthusiasm for Africa 2003 is spreading across this continent which for the first time will host the MWC assembly. Many people, for whom this will be their one opportunity to worship and fellowship with the global church family, are making exceptional efforts to be part of it.

—MWC release by Ferne Burkhardt

Akron, Pa.

Arguments over genetically modified (GM) food are complicating aid to southern Africa. Despite severe food shortages, Zambia has rejected shipments of GM corn from the United Nations food program.

Mennonite Central Committee is also wrestling with the issue and has decided to mill a shipment of corn bound for Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The shipment of 3,760 metric tons of corn comes from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and, like most commercial corn supplies in Canada, is a mix of GM and conventional corn.

Milling the corn will address concerns about GM corn being used as seed but does not speak to health concerns raised by Zambia.

Genetic modification includes inserting genes with desirable traits—such as high crop yield and resistance to pests—into seeds. The issues around modification involve governments, farmers, environmentalists, agribusinesses and humanitarian agencies, and raise questions about patenting, ethics and the natural diversity of plants.

The urgent need for food in southern Africa cannot wait for these issues to be resolved. At least 11 million Africans are at risk of starvation.

MCC is milling corn for an additional cost of $63 per metric ton. In Zambia and other countries, MCC is providing local partners with funds to purchase food within Africa.

“When people are starving, we must respond and provide appropriate food,” says Willie Reimer, director of MCC’s food programs. “At the same time, we need to listen carefully to partners....”

Of particular concern to some African governments is how the introduction of GM corn could affect small farmers, who make up the majority of Africa’s population. Most of the farmers use seeds saved from their harvests, but patents on many GM varieties require that farmers buy seeds every year from agribusinesses.

In addition, propagation of GM corn could alter natural varieties through cross pollination and hurt future trade. At least 40 percent of corn currently grown in the United States and Canada comes from GM seed.

Two years ago, MCC organized a consultation on the subject. The varying perspectives on biotechnologies are collected in Harvest in the Balance, available from MCC Canada.

As the debate plays out, Africa’s food shortage will likely worsen in upcoming months.

—MCC release by Maria Linder-Hess

A survey done by Canadian Mennonite in the summer of 2001 yielded some surprises, but it also confirmed that the magazine seems to be on the right track. The survey went to a random sample of one in five subscribers (about 3,800 people) with a return of 15%.

There was overall affirmation of the magazine (77% gave it a high rating, 3% a low rating, with the other in between). A typical comment: “I enjoy the whole magazine. It’s informative, entertaining, thought provoking, an insight into what Mennonites in Canada are up to.” Another comment: “I look through it because I get it. I probably wouldn’t subscribe to it.”

Of those who responded to the survey, 59% were female, 36% male. In age, 46% were over 60, 5% between 15 and 30 years old; 12% were pastors or lay leaders.

Most positive were mid-income, college educated, urban, conference attenders and pastors. Least positive were readers from Saskatchewan and rural areas. Returns represented fairly Mennonite Church Canada membership in each province, with slightly higher response from Ontario.

Among respondents, 58% have college or university education and 15% have done graduate studies (5 times the general population); 50% have attended Mennonite schools; 33% have participated in mission trips.

Half of respondents spend 1-2 hours reading the magazine, a third spend a half hour. At the top of the list of other reading material is Readers Digest.

What most people read first: editorials, letters and local church news. The arts, book reviews and youth issues rate lowest. As education increases, so does interest in news, arts/culture, and social issues. Middle income readers are more interested in social issues and ethics than high income readers. Readers with higher income and education are less interested in missions, conference news and local church.

Youth are ambivalent about the magazine—they are more negative on Mennonite agencies, book reviews and wider church news, and more positive on arts and culture, social issues, and Canadian news. But they like to feel included.

“Enjoy looking for pictures of people that I know,” wrote one. “I’ve been mentioned in it...so it made me feel very connected,” wrote another.

Most regions feel well represented, although 20% in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan feel under represented. Saskatchewan almost uniformly would welcome more local news; Manitoba seems least concerned about that. No one complained about too much Ontario coverage, but several Ontario readers complained about too much western coverage.

What some readers don’t like: “homosectual discussion,” “church jargon,” “unclear poems,” “too inward looking,” not enough “biblical truth,” lack of humour.

“Inspirational material fails to connect more often than not,” noted one reader. “But I’m content to be in the minority.” Another wrote: “I avoid anything that uses the word ‘missional.’”

“Some articles are very interesting to us. At other times they are not. So that balances out,” commented one reader.

Most respondents think the level of independence between Canadian Mennonite and the conferences is about right (one third have no opinion). About two thirds say Canadian Mennonite is their primary source of information about all conferences.

Readers are ambivalent about advertising, but most agree there is acceptable level of advertising. Two thirds don’t read ads much; Ontario and B.C. read them most avidly.

“Please note that I often cut out articles and advertising on ethical/biblical investing for our financial planner,” noted one. Another respondent turns to the classified ads first: “For us Menno-junkies, this is the place to look for work and to see who’s on the move!”

As for quality of production, two thirds rate the magazine at a high level on most quality issues. (The remainder have mostly no opinion.) They are least positive on photographs and use of colour (just over 50% positive).

“If you turn into a glossy magazine with colour and glitz—I will be furious!” wrote one. “I like the environmentally responsible and thrifty look. This is the church I want to belong to.” Another said: “I realize the problems. I still don’t like the quality of paper.”

“If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a fuzzy picture worth?” asked a staff member after seeing these results.

About a third of respondents regularly use electronic media (a third never do). About 14% have visited the Canadian Mennonite web site.

Among the surprises was how many respondents don’t go to Mennonite churches but feel connected through the magazine. A number of respondents said they don’t read the magazine but they filled out the survey, offered suggestions and even noted favourite sections.

A new Mennonite wrote: “I start [with] first page. No peeking! I’m elated as I continue page by page! I’m no expert in Mennonite issues yet! However I continue to learn...from your magazine. It’s very important to me.”

Another reader wrote: “What is this magazine for? Is it a pulpit for ultra-leftwing groups? Seems like it sometimes.” A third opinion: “Appreciate your controversial topics and reader response. We must have courage and openness.”

The survey gleaned a valuable harvest of opinion for Canadian Mennonite staff and board. It gives us much to ponder and will be helpful in planning for the future. Thanks to all who responded.