February Equipping
packet on its way
The February “Equipping Canada” package from Mennonite Church Canada includes: an update from the general secretary, Dan Nighswander, for the church bulletin board and for leaders; a report to congregations for use at congregational annual meetings; prayer requests for use in church bulletins; information on revised clergy residence deduction (for treasurers); sample copy of 2003 at home Lent resource, “God’s love is always following you”; Second Mile brochure and sample lesson; poster promoting the CD “God’s Love is for Everyone”; “Your invitation to become Witness partners” (for your mission or congregational meeting); information about Evangelism and Church Planting Sunday; resources from beyond MC Canada (for example: Spring Jubilee update; communion worship resources for four seasons; Vacation Bible School 2003).
Volunteer chaplains
honoured
The volunteers of Mennonite Church Manitoba Chaplaincy Program were recognized at a Christmas banquet in Winnipeg on December 13.
“Twice a year we host a gathering as a way of saying thank you for their generosity and service,” said John Klassen, director of Leadership Ministries. Willy Guenther, director of chaplaincy, together with seven volunteers, regularly visits Mennonite patients in the Winnipeg hospitals.
Linda Wiebe, a retired nurse from Homewood, has been visiting patients in the Health Sciences Centre every week for seven years. She is disappointed that MC Manitoba is discontinuing this program because of budget cuts. She enjoyed the opportunity for ministry and the support of the conference in this work.
“With the hospitals tightening confidentiality, they have become much more stringent in releasing patients’ names. At many of the hospitals we can see only those who specifically request visits. Without conference support it will be impossible,” said Wiebe. “Hospital staff are disappointed we won’t be able to come. They have said: ‘Don’t stop, just keep coming.’”
Although the chaplaincy program will be discontinued, Klassen said, “We are in the process of making arrangements so that the volunteers who are interested in continuing will have new avenues to serve in this ministry.”
First bird count
at Assiniboia
The first Camp Assiniboia Christmas Bird Count was held December 30. The event was organized by Bob Wiebe and led by Adolf Ens. Thirteen people took part. The participants were divided into five parties, each assigned to a portion of the 160 acres of the camp.
The parties identified 8 species and over 100 individual birds in approximately three hours. The numbers of birds which could be located was affected by the wind, which made birds “lie low” and hard to hear above the sounds made by the wind.
The bird count concluded with bag lunches and Christmas baking in the Camp Lodge. It is hoped that the Christmas Bird Count will become an annual event.
New project to focus
on rural churches
Recently approved funding for a new project means the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan Ministries Commission will have more resources to help with long-standing concerns of rural churches.
The Vibrant Rural Churches Project will, according to commission chair Florence Driedger, focus on “vibrancy, awareness and support of people.” There has been some discussion about what defines the word “rural.” Is it the size of the congregation or the location? Some rural churches, like Fiske Mennonite, are growing; others are not.
Naomi Unger and Eric Olfert have been hired for a one-year term to manage and give direction to the new venture. Unger has been a member of a rural church for about 20 years. Her husband Don pastors three small Hoffnungsfelder congregations in the Rabbit Lake, Mayfair and Glenbush areas. Olfert is a former instructor at Rosthern Junior College and is currently serving as missional formation and partnership facilitator within MC Saskatchewan.
The project will involve gathering information, sharing with rural churches what others have learned, and encouraging connections between rural and urban churches.
“God still has something for rural churches to do,” said Unger, reflecting on why she accepted the role. “Even if they’re small, they can still shine for Christ.”
Driedger made the point that much-needed resources continue to be moved away from rural communities as individuals, who have gained wealth from the land, relocate to urban centres. The project will, hopefully, bring fresh energy and encouragement to those areas with depleted resources.
Volunteer fund raiser
for world conference
Tom Frank, a business developer and professor from West Simsbury, Connecticut, is volunteering his time to raise support for the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Zimbabwe next August. He will work half-time through 2003 in fund raising and advocacy, along with Werner Kroeker and Larry Miller. Frank recently described his life as “a journey from Multinational Corporation to Multinational Church.” Since becoming a Christian six years ago, he has developed a passion for the global Anabaptist-Mennonite church. His executive experience with companies such as Procter & Gamble and Kentucky Fried Chicken is in global marketing and business development. He and his wife Anneliese were baptized at Toledo Mennonite Church in 1996. Since becoming Mennonite, Tom has worked with Mennonite Disaster Service, lectured at Goshen and Hesston colleges; and preached in Mennonite churches. The Franks have five children and nine grandchildren.
—From MWC release
Unless otherwise credited, the articles in TheChurches pages were written by: Leona Dueck Penner (Mennonite Church Canada), Maurice Martin (Eastern Canada), Evelyn Rempel Petkau (Manitoba), Karin Fehderau (Saskatchewan), Donita Wiebe-Neufeld (Alberta), Angelika Dawson (B.C.). See page 2 for contact information.
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