Canadian Mennonite
Volume 10, No. 19
October 2, 2006
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Mennonite Church Canada
Mennonite Church British Columbia
Mennonite Church Alberta
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Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
From our leaders
Mennonite Church Canada
Prayer and praise requests
In the midst of busy autumn schedules, remember to create quiet moments to pray for:
- The situation in the Middle East. Glenn Witmer, Witness Worker in Israel, requests prayer for Nazareth Village and for other organizations or institutions that rely heavily on visitors who travel to Israel. Many people’s livelihoods are affected as the area suffers the economic repercussions of decreased tourist travel.
- The family of Anastasia De Sousa, who died in Montreal’s Dawson College shooting, and for families of those injured. Remember also the family of Kimveer Gill, as they cope with his death, with the aftermath of the shooting, and with the shocking realization of violence committed by a family member.
- Government leaders as they consider Canada’s role among the poor of the world, especially Bill C-293, which calls for accountability in development assistance abroad. The bill highlights poverty reduction, sustainable development, the perspective of the poor, and human rights. Pray also for those around the world who struggle daily due to the harsh reality of extreme poverty.
Witness workers ‘doing fine’
Mennonite Church Canada Witness worker Pat Houmphan, together with his wife, Rad, report that they are “doing fine” in the wake of a military coup in Thailand on Sept. 19. The Houmphans minister to the Isaan people in rural northeastern Thailand.
In a Sept. 20 e-mail, Houmphan wrote, “We want to let you know that we are doing fine, and things are calm and life is going on as normal in Borabu and in the Isaan land.” He reported that the Thai military issued several decrees, including the ban on public gatherings of more than five people, although religious gatherings are still allowed.
Houmphan asks supporters of their ministry to “pray for our safety as we continue to live and serve in Thailand. Pray for reconciliation between groups, and that peace and democracy will be restored soon.”
Gordon Janzen, Mission Partnership facilitator for Asia, said, “At this point it appears that these political developments will not have any direct impact on our ministry.”
Mennonite Church British Columbia
Worship brings churches together
It was a special day of worship on Aug. 6 when two local Mennonite congregations came together for Sunday services. Members of Olivet Mennonite Church joined Clearbrook Mennonite Church for a joint worship service which some called Nach Haus Kommen or homecoming.
Desiring an all-English-speaking congregation for their families, some members of the predominantly German-speaking Clearbrook Mennonite had left that church in 1960 to start the then-named Olivet Mennonite Mission Church.
The worship service on Aug. 6 utilized both languages, with Clearbrook pastor Siegbert Zukowski preaching in German, Randy Thompson of Olivet giving the English message, and singing in both languages. Testimonies of thanksgiving highlighted the service with glimpses into the past together with best wishes for the future.
“We all sensed the Holy Spirit bringing unity to us on this Sunday morning,” said Zukowski.
Mennonite Church Alberta
Quilt highlights new Trinity sanctuary
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More than 140 vehicles crowded the parking lot at Trinity Mennonite Church, Calgary, on Sept. 17, where, after 23 years of prayer and planning, the congregation gathered to worship and celebrate its new church building.
The pulpit, behind which pastor Erv Wiens is pictured speaking at the dedication service (see photo at left), was designed and built by Trinity member Kevin Neufeld.
A striking quilt, hanging on the wall at the front of the sanctuary, features the Calgary skyline set into a mountain background and grain field foreground, similar to the view people have when they look at the building from the outside.
When Trinity members began talking about a banner, Doug and Anne Marie Boyse contacted a quilter friend at a Presbyterian church. Someone there had designed a banner portraying the church from sea to sea for the 100th anni-versary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
A group from Trinity visited St. Andrews Presbyterian Church to view its collection of banners. Then Heidi Friesen drew a modified version of the sea-to-sea banner, adding side banners with a Bible verse. Bev Patkau of Foothills Mennonite offered her expertise with fabric selection and quilting.
Mennonite Church Saskatchewan
Pastoral vacancies now filled
Several MC Saskatchewan churches that have been looking for new pastoral staff, some for quite awhile, have filled the positions they were seeking.
- Wilmer and Barb Froese, who served at Laird Mennonite Church for 15 years, have accepted a one-year term to work at Rosthern Mennonite Church beginning Nov. 15. “The congregation there is still actively looking for a full-time youth pastor,” says conference minister Jerry Buhler.
- North Star Mennonite in Drake said goodbye to Harold Peters Fransen, the two-year intentional interim leader, and now welcomes Audrey Mierau Bechtel as a pastor. “I’m excited about it,” says Bechtel, who was to begin her interim position on Oct. 1. She has served in one church before this and earned her master of divinity degree at Goshen College.
- Henry Block has agreed to serve in a half-time interim capacity at Zoar Mennonite in Langham.
- Bill and Helen Kruger are sharing a full-time position at Zion Mennonite in Swift Current.
- Superb Mennonite and Laird Mennonite are continuing to finalize arrangements, notes Buhler.
Mennonite Church Manitoba
Campus ministry underway
Mennonite chaplain Mark von Kampen has opened his office on the University of Manitoba campus for another season.
The Inter-Mennonite Campus Ministry (IMCA) is a partnership of three Manitoba Mennonite conferences— Mennonite Church Manitoba, Evangelical Mennonite and Evangelical Mennonite Mission. It also depends on generous support from congregations and individuals. The ministry functions under the direction of a board composed of representatives from each of these three conferences.
“Young adulthood is one of the most exciting and potentially terrifying times of life,” says von Kampen. “The IMCA ministry is committed to standing alongside students as they experience the wonder and struggles of this time of life. We are excited about offering a warm, welcoming and encouraging Christian setting where young adults can connect with fellow travellers on their journey of faith and find guidance and spiritual direction.”
To contact the ministry, call 204-474-9691 or e-mail mvonkamp@shaw.ca.
Celebration banquets honour CwM ministry
The summer program of Camps with Meaning has given Manitoba Mennonites many things to be thankful for, says Bob Wiebe, camping ministries director. To that end, a series of celebration banquets, thanking and praising God for the summer camp program, will be held in late October and early November. The theme planned for the banquets is represented by Psalm 33:3: “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”
“Camps with Meaning has been blessed with creative young people who write home-grown songs representing our faith,” says Wiebe, noting that some of these songs will be shared during the banquets. A video of summer programs and a brief update will also be part of the events.
The banquets will take place at Whitewater Mennonite Church, Boissevain, on Oct, 28 at 6 p.m.; Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.; and at Douglas Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, on Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Releasing gifts for ministry
How might a community of congregations best engage all personality types in the life of a conference whose goal is “making disciples, growing congregations and forming leaders”?
Each of the 14,000 people within MC Eastern Canada is gifted in a unique way. How might the conference be more attuned to empower all individuals so that their special God?]given gifts are released for ministry? How might the conference and congregations create spaces of safety so that all voices can be heard?
In light of recent restructuring and a newly configured staff model, the conference staff set apart a day to focus on the role that personality types play in how they approach their work and team relationships. Under the leadership of Sue Steiner and Betty Pries, of Associates Resourcing the Church (ARC), staff worked with Myers Briggs personality types as well as conflict management models. Time was spent examining how to approach conflict so that the outcome produces creativity, energy and productivity, as opposed to diminishing relationship and undermining effective ministry.
Staff members were eager to deepen their understanding of working relationships and conflict management, so that they could maintain and enrich a vibrant and healthy staff environment that will result in effective ministry to the wider church.
The day was well spent as staff openly explored their personal work and interaction styles. By better understanding how different personality types relate and perceive their environment, new perspectives were gained on individual approaches to ministry and functioning as a team.
From Our Leaders
Raising children in a dangerous world
The horror that erupted in Dawson College in Montreal on Sept. 13 has grabbed the attention of many, but it has especially gripped the hearts of parents and students.
As a former elementary teacher, I know schools as a place where teachers are trusted and legally bound to take the place of parents as guardians of their children while they are on the school grounds. The violent rampage at Dawson College showed parents and children how vulnerable students can be—even in school.
How can parents and educators protect and prepare children for life in a world where evil can erupt and lash out at them? How do followers of Jesus respond? Do we succumb to fear and build ever-higher security walls around our children?
Lindor Reynolds, Winnipeg Free Press columnist, responded to the horror at Dawson College from a parent’s perspective in her Sept, 14 column, “I feel terror yet again.” She concluded by saying, “There are limited resources in our schools and we need to spend them on education and on programs that teach children not to bully and teachers to recognize those who have become disconnected to their peers. We need to reinforce gun control. Last night, I wept for all the dead children. I suspect many of you did the same.”
Weeping for all the dead children. It echoes back to the slaughter of infants during the early childhood of Jesus, which, in turn, harkens back to the time of Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s Rachel is still weeping for her children. Parents across Canada joined her lamentation as they were reminded of the vulnerability of our children by this tragic event in Montreal. Will we respond with silent rage and a desire for revenge as some have responded to 9/11?
Or will we respond, like Reynolds suggests in her column, by doing what we can to build an alternative and safer society? Jesus called us—from the dangerous and vulnerable context of first century Palestinian society—to remember that the kingdom of God is at hand and is among us. He also challenged us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Fortunately, parents and teachers who, like Reynolds, are “feeling terror once again,” can find sources of wisdom and signs of the kingdom of God among us.
The Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre’s KidsPak issue entitled “Peace Roots and Fruits” begins with an encouraging true story called “Bully No More.” It includes anti-bullying role-plays and a list of resources on this topic.
As followers of Jesus, we have additional resources for combatting terror. Jesus knows all about becoming vulnerable and living in a dangerous world. But Jesus also knows and shows us that the kingdom is among us. Jesus is among us, shares his peace with us, equips and sends us to be peacemakers even as terror disrupts and threatens the lives of our children.
Unless otherwise credited, the articles in TheChurches pages were written by Canadian Mennonite’s regional correspondents.