BFC Task Force gets mandate for next steps -Dan Dyck

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1 Winnipeg 2014 Assembly the BFC Task Force gets mandate for next steps -Dan Dyck Delegates engaged in rich but short discussions on whether the next three questions proposed by the Being a Faithful Task Force should be the questions congregations take back for processing. They voted 263 to 30 in favour of moving to the next steps - in principle - giving the Task Force room to work with the phrasing of the questions over concerns raised by some of the language used. The word compassionate, for example, was viewed by several to be condescending rather than gracious. The three questions proposed by the BFC Task Force were: God s gift of unity in Christ is not invalidated by our disagreement. How shall we maintain our unity in Christ as congregations, Area Church/National Church while understanding matters of same-sex relationships differently? Most responses indicated a desire to be more compassionate and welcoming of those individuals who are same-sex attracted. Describe how your congregation hopes to reflect this desire. In reviewing the trends, what counsel do you have for the Area/National Church in light of the different understandings of compassionate responses towards persons that are in same sex relationships? Vol.4 Sunday July 6 Readers are encouraged to access Mennonite Church Canada s Resource Centre for books and DVDs on the topic of same sex attraction and biblical understandings (resources.mennonitechurch.ca/home). In addition, Loren Johns, professor of New Testament at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary has tracked this matter for several decades. His wisdom will make its way to a video scheduled for release in fall. In the meantime, the live streamed video of the BFC Task Force s presentations and delegate commentary can be found (in two parts) at home.mennonitechurch.ca/ events/winnipeg2014/video. Cancer Buddies Connect - Donita Wiebe-Neufeld Alberta Correspondent, Canadian Mennonite They walked together through a valley of shadows for two years, yet Assembly 2014 is the first time Elizabeth Wall and Lorraine Reimer have met face to face. Reimer is a member of Whitewater Mennonite Church in Boissevain, MB and a breast cancer survivor. A mutual friend in Edmonton connected her with Wall in November 2012, right after Wall, a member of First MC in Edmonton, AB was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. In the next two years, a warm friendship formed over Facebook as they supported each other through words and prayer. At the time, Wall knew very few Mennonite women who had experienced breast cancer. In addition to her own illness, Wall s husband was also being treated for cancer. Speaking of her experience, Reimer said; social media was a lifeline for me. I could access it when I Elizabeth Wall (left) and Lorraine Reimer, cancer survivors, were brought together by a mutual friend on Facebook. They met faceto-face for the first time at Assembly photo by Donita Wiebe-Neufeld had the energy. I could access the support I needed. Wall agrees. The responses were so fast you know people are caring, she said. Wall and Reimer are open with their stories and encourage others to connect. While in treatment, Reimer continued her job as a driving instructor to keep her own connections going. Wall found that her experience gives her a way to connect meaningfully with others who need an understanding ear. The story of their meeting provides a great contemporary, ecumenical twist on the Mennonite Game (making connections according to family ties). Both Wall and Reimer grew up in the United Church. The friend who introduced them is Anglican. Finally, they meet face to face at a Mennonite Assembly. Both Wall and Reimer are currently studying theology and have interest in ministry. We are truly sisters! Reimer said.

2 A man who cares -Dan Dyck Marv Baergen retires from his service with Mennonite Men this year. Marv has been a steady presence for Mennonite Men, particularly in the leadership transition the last three years. He is able to affirm the rich history of the organization and think creatively about the future, said Don Yoder, Mennonite Men Coordinator. Baergen can best be described as a man who cares. Arlen Godshall, Moderator on the Mennonite Men board, said, I have served alongside Marv for many years. He will be greatly missed. His experience, wisdom and innovative thoughts were always helpful. Marv's passion, service and caring for the program are evident in the time given to his presentations and written communications. Baergen had a 30 year career with community corrections in the federal and Alberta governments and a lifetime of congregational involvement when he began a national ministry career with a term on Mennonite Church Canada s Witness Council. From there, Baergen s service blossomed into an assignment as Congregational Partnerships Facilitator with Mennonite Church Canada in Soon he became involved in Join Hands, a bi-national church building ministry of Mennonite Men. He also served on the Executive of Mennonite Church Alberta. The last several years of my time with Mennonite Men have been particularly rewarding to me as we have begun to do workshops across the country on issues relating to men s spirituality, Baergen says. But Baergen still has several brands in the fire. He will continue to play a Marv Baergen receives a certificate of appreciation from Tim Froese, Executive Minister of Witness for Mennonite Church Canada. photo by Ryan Roth Bartel supportive and organizing role for several planned men s gatherings. Beyond that, Baergen simply and humbly adds that, I am looking forward to a little bit more retirement in the next phase of my life though I will continue to be involved in my local congregation. Baergen s contribution was acknowledged during the Mennonite Men s dinner on Friday evening at Assembly From the Archives Indigenous Relations in Mennonite History The history of Mennonite Church Canada s relationships with Indigenous peoples dates back several decades. This 1956 photo by long-time Native ministry worker Henry Neufeld, was taken in Paungassi at Christmas time and includes a Hudson's Bay Company wall calendar in the background. (The names of the students are available on request.) Native ministry matters surfaced at numerous Mennonite gatherings over the years. A selection of documented decisions and recommendations included: a prayer focus on Native ministry (1978, Gretna, Man.); ensuring Native representation on boards and committees involving Native ministry (1979, Calgary, Alta); increasing attention to the fragmented witness of denominationalism and working more intentionally with ecumenical partners (1985, Regina, Sask.); seeking justice for Indigenous and Métis peoples and encouraging individuals and congregations to build relationships with Aboriginal people (several instances); raising concerns about the Meech Lake Accord (1987, Clearbrook, B.C.); -compiled by Dan Dyck, research by Conrad Stoesz 2 Vol.4 Sunday July 6

3 Dream boldly, fearlessly for the church of the future -Evelyn Rempel Petkau The Future Directions Task Force members used Saturday afternoon s plenary session to share some bold dreams for the church of the future. Tasked with discerning what God s Spirit is calling us to in the 21 st Century and what are the best ways for the church to thrive and grow, members wanted to hear from the Assembly about re-thinking strategies and re-imagining the local congregation and the wider church. Task Force member Aldred Neufeldt told the Assembly, For more than a thousand years the church was the moral force but that is no longer the case. In their research the Task Force has learned that most of today s church related structures emerged in the past 50 years and that our structures have changed many times, so of itself change should not be intimidating. With that fearless approach to change, task force members Chad Miller and Rebecca Steiner shared some of their dreams. I imagine a church that acknowledges and embraces the pluralism of today, seeing it as a part of God s greater plan. I imagine a church open to learning from the other and finding common ground with those who claim different beliefs than our own. I imagine a church that has a broader vision of who the body of Christ is, said Steiner. I believe in a church that fosters transformational encounters with Jesus. Miller described how, in one church, 20 Junior High youth were invited to journey to the cross and there experienced the transforming power of the Gospel. Steiner and Miller both imagined ways the church can take itself out of the four walls and from behind closed doors. One Mennonite church shares worship space in a nonprofit seniors village started by a Brethren in Christ church. I imagine a church that gathers under the acacia tree. The edges of our faith community become Future Directions Task Force, back, l-r: Ken Warkentin, Gerald Gerbrandt, Terry Keller, Rebecca Steiner, Aldred Neufeldt, Willard Metzger, Chad Miller; Front, l-r: Anita Retzlaff, April Yamasaki, Hilda Hildebrand. photo by Moses Falco more porous, letting people come only as close as they want or watch from the edges until they are ready to join the community, said Miller. In the seminar that followed, task force members, Terry Keller and Neufeldt, gave opportunity for delegates to share their dreams and hopes for the wider church. The Interim Report of October 2013 stated, That a more integrated, simpler, yet sounder structure is needed for the wider church. Although this was very well received across the nation, said Keller, we need to discern what this means. What does this look like? In small group discussion, participants responded to this question. They resoundingly affirmed the Resource Centre and the task of resourcing congregations. Several proposed de-centralizing decision-making power for people to have a sense of ownership, being less top-down and more grass-roots, moving away from standing groups to more ad hoc, temporary groups for jobs that need to be done. The vast majority of people have no idea what our conference is about and that number is growing, expressed one group. The Task Force has done a lot of listening and will now work through the thick pile of notes they received from delegates. It s a complex task, said Keller. But we have clearly heard a longing to belong to a larger body, to be part of something bigger than just the local congregation. The Assembled is the daily news sheet for the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly 2014 in Wpg. Man. Full colour editions of Assembled will be available in PDF format at home.mennonitechurch.ca/events/winnipeg2014. We will print an ecologically friendly quantity of hard copies for distribution on site please share. Comments, questions, and affirmations can be sent to ddyck@mennonitechurch.ca. Editors: Dan Dyck, Deb Froese; Design by Ryan Roth Bartel Vol.4 Sunday July 6 3

4 Burkina Wedding -Brandi Friesen Thorpe the Newlyweds Ebenezer Ouedraogo and Lassina Traoré met at the Mennonite university student hostel in Ouagadougou, a ministry supported and nurtured by Mennonite Church Canada. In a society offering multiple faiths and forms of marriage, they chose a Christian approach to married life by placing Jesus at the centre. In a country that permits men to choose between monogamy and polygamy, polygamy is not uncommon. As in Canada, couples can choose between joint, shared or separate assets, but typically, property rights and guardianship of children are given to the groom. A Christian marriage invites less commonly chosen options. At the first of two ceremonies on their wedding day a civil service in the mayor s office for legal purposes Ouedraogo and Traoré vowed to live in monogamy, sharing assets and the guardianship of any children they might have. But those commitments weren t the only ones that made Ouedraogo and Traoré s marriage atypical. The mayor wondered aloud if they should be getting married at all. They are both students; Ouedraogo is finishing her fourth year of medical school, while Traoré has completed a masters degree and is moving on to PhD studies in chemistry and biology. Ordinarily in Burkina Faso, where education is highly valued and employment is tough to find, young people complete their studies and find jobs before taking on the responsibility of marriage. Legal proceedings were followed by a church ceremony celebrating the couple s covenantal commitment to God and to God s people. Before it began, introductions took place first, the couple and their witnesses, followed by family members and close friends. Several pastors and the Imam Muslim spiritual leader from Traoré s village were also introduced, along with local business leaders, and finally, the members of Traoré s congregation, who Pay it forward with a bequest to Mennonite Church Canada Future generations will thank you. Daniel Horne Director, Partnership Development Mennonite Church Canada dhorne@mennonitechurch.ca Ebenezer Ouedraogo and Lassina Traoré who met at the Mennonite university student hostel in Ouagadougou, chose a Christian marriage, focusing on Jesus, in a society offering multiple faiths and forms of marriage. travelled to Ouedraogo s village for the wedding. Mennonite Church Canada s partner in Burkina Faso, Nancy Frey, attended. The extensive introductions at the church ceremony highlights one of the key differences between marriages in North America and marriage in West Africa, she wrote in a prayer letter update. When a couple marries here [West Africa] it is not just an individual choice of two people. It is the bringing together of two extended families who are now united through this marriage. If the couple has difficulties in their marriage, the two families and the churches they represent can work to help resolve it. So the marriage is the coming together of two communities as well as the joining of two individuals. The importance of healthy, forgiving relationships was evident during the ceremony too. Traoré s pastor, Pastor Jérémie, presented a sermon and then invited Ouedraogo and Traoré to offer apologies to their parents for any hurtful actions they expressed as children. After they apologized, their parents were invited to offer forgiveness and blessing Everyone in the crowd was moved, wrote Frey, and I saw more than one person wiping eyes! The couple were married by Ouedraogo s pastor, Abdias Coulibaly, Vice President of the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso. Nancy Frey and her husband Bruce Yoder live in Ouagadougou with their children Deborah and Jeremiah. They are partners of Mennonite Church Canada through Mennonite Mission Network, with the leadership of the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso. They also connect with the associated Mennonite university student hostel in Ouagadougou. Hope Lines Spending time with adolescents gives me hope. It is incredibly easy to be dismissive of a generation that has access to so much, yet so many of the teenagers I've met are passionate and conscientious and not at all the apathetic, self-centered stereotype. They care just as much about the environment and the church and human rights as adults do, and at the same time, they juggle school and friends and part-time jobs. -Elayna Bergen, teacher, U of W Class of 2014, First Mennonite Church, Wpg. 4 Vol.4 Sunday July 6

5 Seminar Jesus in Technicolor -Rachel Bergen Young Voices Co-Editor, Canadian Mennonite Many churches have an inherent aversion to change, says Vic Thiessen. The same is true for the characters of the film Pleasantville (1998). Thiessen, the Executive Minister of Church Engagement, Chief Administrative Officer and resident film buff used Pleasantville to talk about how liberating change can be in film and in the church. The film concerns two teenagers who are transported into a TV show called Pleasantville by a TV repairman, who Thiessen sees as a Jesus figure. There, everything is black and white -- literally. Pleasantville is set in idyllic small town 1958 America where no change takes place. Everything is perfect and everyone knows their roles. But then change is introduced, as is the gradual adoption of colour and liberation. Thiessen thinks there are some strong parallels between the Holy Land during the life of Christ and Pleasantville -- not in terms of its pleasantness, of course. In a culture resistant to change with sharp social boundaries, there was little room for compassion. Enter Jesus. Jesus introduced change and colour... He spent much of his time with the poor and oppressed, Thiessen says. Just like in Pleasantville, the 2000 film Chocolat addresses issues of change in a Vic Thiessen draws a relationship between the films Pleasantville and Chocolat, and how God is working in Mennonite Church Canada today. Photo by Rachel Bergen. stagnant community, but more specifically about a Christian community. The main character, Vianne, is the agent of change in the film. She opens a chocolate shop during Lent in a small French town, associates with the outsiders in the community, and challenges dominant ideas in many ways. The mayor of the town sees her as a threat to the stability of the town. Though many of the people in the community reject her, Vianne exemplifies love and acceptance, so many townspeople are drawn to her, even when urged not to associate with her. Thiessen sees these two films as indicative of how Christ interacted with leaders in his lifetime and how God is working in Mennonite Church Canada today. Many people believe the church has lost its relevance, but Jesus is still relevant, he says. We can catch a glimpse of what it would be like if Jesus, friend to the poor and marginalized, came into our villages today. Thiessen says a recent survey of young Mennonites in North America found that most young people want their church to be a safe place where all questions can be asked, where deepest emotional needs can be met, and where all people are welcome. Our young adults want to live in colour and eat chocolate -- fair trade, of course, he says. Correction: In Thursday s edition, the tribute to Ron Sawatsky said he is survived by two daughters. In fact, he is survived by three children: son Bevan, daughter Laresa, husband Arbi Arzoumani and daughter Alina. We regret the error. Vol.4 Sunday July 6 5

6 Seminar Sister Care: Equipping Women for Caring Ministry -Rachel Bergen Young Voices Co-Editor, Canadian Mennonite What are the needs of women, and how are we working to meet those needs? Rhoda Keener, the co-director of Mennonite Women USA and presenter at the Sister Care workshop, led a presentation and discussion surrounding these needs. Keener explained how Sister Care seminars, which are given all over the world, are made up of four units including: Claiming Our Identity as God s Beloved Daughters, Caring for Self and Others, Compassionate Listening, and Transforming Grief and Loss. The units recognize the need for selfactualization in women. They need to understand their power as caregivers before they can learn to listen and provide care to their sisters. Though Sister Care is a ministry of Mennonite Women USA, Keener says the need for women to address their self worth and provide care for others is universal, whether the seminars are given in India, Colombia, Kenya, or Canada. Mennonite Women USA is training people to be Sister Care leaders and have translated their manual into Spanish and Kekchi, a Mayan language. Some Brazilian women are currently translating it into Portuguese, so it will be more accessible to women worldwide. And in January of 2015, a DVD with twelve lessons will be available to equip even more Sister Care leaders. Finally, Keener says that for the first time, a Sister Care seminar will be offered for a college-aged audience at Goshen College. Rhoda Keener, Co-Director of Mennonite Women, the women s organization of Mennonite Church USA. addresses those who attended her Sister Care seminar. Liz Koop, President of Mennonite Woman Canada, writes notes on the blackboard. Photo by Rachel Bergen. The next seminar in Canada will be held at Mennonite Church Canada s Native Assembly in Winnipeg from July and in Cambridge, Ontario from October 3-4, Nearly 3,000 women have attended Sister Care seminars since it was established, Keener says. Seminar At least there is hope for a tree! -Virginia A. Hostetler Web Editor, Canadian Mennonite At a corner of Ellice Avenue and Maryland Street in Winnipeg, the inner-city neighbourhood association erected four sheets of plywood and painted them with chalkboard paint. The phrase, Before I die I want to invited passersby to fill in the blank with their own wishes. Many responses expressed deep desires for meaning and purpose. Seminar leader Doug Klassen, pastor at Foothills Mennonite Church (Calgary) and a member of the Faith and Life Committee of Mennonite Church Canada, reminded participants that we don t often stop at the corner of Ellice and Maryland to ponder the profound things, the things that deeply touch people s lives. Klassen suggested that--while we need to take time to create denominational statements and plan structures and programs we can t make the mistake of thinking that those things are enough. Referring to a popular TED talk, on the importance of why questions, Klassen said that people are not motivated to caring action by having data and asking what and how questions. Few organizations, including the church, talk about the why. Having data and facts doesn t inspire action. When you get to the why questions, everything can spin out of there." Klassen invited participants to answer the question, Where is God at work in your church? Stories were told of connections with the local community and with causes that matter to people in the church. God gives a passion and a vision to every congregation! he asserted. Listeners had to wait until the end of the session and Klassens s last story to hear the reason for the seminar title. At a funeral he conducted for a young person, people questioned God about the accident that had caused the death. They sought hope in a dark time. At a loss for words, Pastor Doug recalled Job, who in the midst of his questioning could affirm, For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease (Job 14:7). Our churches will find comfort and strength as they ask hard questions of meaning and purpose. 6 Vol.4 Sunday July 6

7 Seminar Creation Care: Testing our resolve -Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Manitoba Correspondent, Canadian Mennonite Last year Mennonite Church USA passed a resolution on Creation Care at the Phoenix Assembly. Is it time for Mennonite Church Canada to have a resolution as well and if so, what should it look like? Joanne Moyer asked those attending her seminar. Moyer is a member of Mennonite Creation Care Network, a ministry of MC USA and Mennonite Church Canada, which provides resources and leadership to help churches. Their website contains a copy of the MC USA resolution. www. mennocreationcare.org. That resolution led to the creation of a curriculum, Every Creature Singing, which is available on the website. A climate change resolution, presented by Mark Bigland Pritchard, did come to the Assembly, said Moyer. It was a lengthy paper that the Board felt needed more time to study before bringing to the delegate body. Earlier in the year, Fossil Free Mennos called for Mennonite Church Canada to do a study of divestment from fossil fuel. This has been folded into the climate change resolution which the General Board will be studying, explained Moyer. Moyer gave a brief history of the steps Mennonite Church Canada has taken in regard to creation care. The earliest resolution was Christian Stewardship of Energy Resources adopted by the General Conference Mennonite Church in In 1984 a Seminar statement on The Christian and The Environment was adopted. In 1989 the Stewardship of the Earth Resolution on Environment and Faith Issue led to the creation of the Mennonite Environmental Task Force which was the forerunner of the Mennonite Creation Care Network. In 1995 the Confession of Faith was adopted containing several articles that speak to creation care issues. In 2007 Mennonite Church Canada Faith and Life Committee presented an affirmation statement stating Mennonite Church Canada believes that God longs for the wellbeing of the whole world, for all of creation belongs to God who created and preserves all things. Our concern for faithfulness and discipleship should also lead us to care for creation. Mennonite Church Canada believes that God is calling us to commit ourselves to discern a path of faithfulness to be good stewards of the earth. At that same assembly a Green Assembly Resolution to make our gatherings as green as possible was passed. In response to that Mennonite Creation Care Network council put together a set of green guidelines. In Calgary (2012) a motion to reaffirm the Green Exploring Hope with People of Other Faiths -Dick Benner, Editor and Publisher, Canadian Mennonite The biggest obstacle to working with people of other faiths is to deconstruct all the stereotypes and myths that the media have created and perpetrated, especially about Islam. That s what Donna Entz told a full room on Friday when sharing her experiences in the seminar Experiencing Hope with People of Other Faiths. Utilizing her 20 years experience of living with her husband Loren in a Muslim village in Burkina Faso, she has established a North Edmonton ministry that attempts to build relationships with some of the thousands of immigrants making Alberta their home. To counter the Western stereotypes of Muslims, for instance she makes hers a relational ministry that addresses the problems of isolation and loneliness that so often plagues these newcomers. This past Christmas Entz served four Christmas dinners in her home for her Muslim friends, having wonderful parties that not only filled a social need but got Muslim neighbours connected with other Muslim families. It is a ministry that works both ways giving new insights to Mennonites about the Joanne Moyer of Mennonite Creation Care Network challenged Mennonite Church Canada to develop a resolution on creation care. photo by Evelyn Rempel Petkau Assembly Resolution was passed because some of those guidelines were not followed. Participants in the workshop were not short on creation care ideas for congregations and the wider church, from recycling to education, advocating for better practices and life style choices, to looking at how churches can use their own facilities more responsibly. The church needs to take this issue as seriously as the issue of homosexuality, said one discussion group. In consultation with Assembly planners, Moyer completes a creation care audit after each Assembly. Without having completed the audit yet, Moyer said the planners worked hard at reducing paper and encouraged the use of electronics such as tablets. It does however raise the question of electricity use. People were encouraged to bring their own water bottles and coffee cups and Assembly provided recyclable coffee cups but the paper dishes and plastic cutlery were not separated and so I can only assume they will be going into the landfill site. newly-settled and giving immigrants new appreciation for the hospitality and acceptance of themuslims living among them. They have much to teach us about taking our faith seriously, she said, observing that while we Mennonites assume that our culture is becoming less religious, especially with the loss of our young people, Muslim communities live out their faith with very strict adherence to the Quran. They take their religion very seriously. She encouraged attendeess to acquaint themselves with another faith, not only by reading books about it, but to first of all to get to know them personally and then to ask their new friends what they should read to inform themselves. While her new initiative is supported by the missions committee of Mennnonite Church Alberta, they struggle as a small area church to keep funding her work. They are looking to form partnerships with Mennonite Central Committee and perhaps Mennonite Church Canada Witness to use her ministry as a model for congregations across Canada in working with others faiths. Vol.4 Sunday July 6 7

8 What to take home the -Dan Dyck The volunteer leaders, planners, and staff working to make this assembly happen hope that you will take home good memories and helpful spiritual wisdom. They also hope you will share your experience with your congregation, and that your enthusiasm will encourage fellow congregants to attend an assembly in the future. You will find many tools on the Assembly 2014 web page to help you pass on the energy of our national church family: An Assembly Sunday worship resource has been developed especially to help your congregation animate the theme, Wild Hope: Faith for an unknown season. Pass it on to your worship planners. Each day s edition of The Assembled is available in full colour PDF format. Extract and excerpt what you need, and share these generously with your congregation. All worship and plenary sessions that were live streamed have been video recorded and made available online. Read the Twitter buzz on the live Twitter wall The Wild Hope Assembly logos are available in colour and in black and white All of the above is accessible via the Assembly 2014 web page at In addition, selected photos from each day have been posted to the Mennonite Church Canada Facebook page at To all who attended, thank you so much for coming and engaging in the wider church. Let us remember each other in our prayers. Seminar Supporting Mennonite entrepreneurs in the global south -Virginia A. Hostetler There any so many possibilities [for sustainable agriculture] in third world countries! With an obvious passion, seminar leader Hippolyto Tshimanga shared the call he heard to a unique opportunity to support Mennonite brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. In visits to Mennonites in the global south, he saw many young university graduates without jobs and with few opportunities to support their families. They also had little to give their congregations. He and Mennonite Church Canada became involved in an effort to develop and support Mennonite entrepreneurs in Congo, Burkina Faso and Colombia, among other places. Tshimanga is the national church Director for Africa, Europe, and Latin American Ministry. Mennonite Church Canada collaborates with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, Mennonite Mission Network, and the Evangelical Mennonite Church to offer seminars teaching entrepreneurial skills to young people in the global south, particularly in sustainable agriculture and raising fish and small animals like rabbits. The goal is to help local people move beyond subsistence farming to achieve economic independence. The program teaches practical skills, offers micro-credit and other resources needed by entrepreneurs. As people are able to support themselves and their families, they are better able to support their churches financially as well. Tshimanga and his wife Miriam, learned and practice the techniques that he promotes to budding entrepreneurs. They grow their own organic vegetables and raise rabbits, and are considering cultivating mushrooms so that he can be knowledgeable when he engages with the new entrepreneurs. Tshimanga showed photos of some of the graduates of the program, along with their cabbages, pigs, goats and fish projects. And he gave one example of the generosity that has flowed from the successful entrepreneurs. One photo shows a man giving back to MC Canada executive director Willard Metzler. As a thank-you, he handed Willard a chicken he that he raised! 8 Vol.4 Sunday July 6

9 NAVIGATORS NEEDED nav i gate: {năvʹĭ-găt} tr. v. shine the light, discern the path, engage the journey together God s compass guides Navigators as they offer wisdom and encouragement along the journey Short to medium term assignments Assignments include teaching, mentoring and service ministries in an international setting. These opportunities are in partnership with our local and global church family. Applications accepted immediately. Contact us as soon as possible at or visit us online. Vol.4 Sunday July 6 9

10 10 Vol.4 Sunday July 6 the The blessings of dependency -Tim Froese, Executive Minister, Witness An aging parent firmly but with appreciation rejects her adult child s invitation to come live with their family, saying I don t want to be a burden on anyone, and continues to live independently and alone. A local pastor confesses to feeling low and apologizes, since pastors shouldn t feel down or be in need of support should they? National and Area Church leaders are challenged by concerns about the future sustainability of shared ministry programs. And our congregations are asking themselves, whether anything beyond their local church be it another congregation in their province or a wider church structure is needed to help them fulfill their mission. Independence, privacy, sustainability, viability, and do-it-yourself capacity are all values North Americans hold high. At the 2014 Toronto Theological Centre Graduate Student Conference, Jason Greig, a recent Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary graduate, confirmed this in his presentation by saying Few things appear as self-evident and unquestionable for the moral life in western late modernity than the absolute good of independence and autonomy. And it appears our hyper individualism is aided and abetted by numerous supports. We enjoy dual income comforts, a country with a multitude of freedoms plus accessible health care, the cushion of investments and pensions when needed, do it yourself books and websites, and of course an app for everything else. Our perceived independence really belies the fact that we humans are remarkably dependent beings. Consider the easily recognizable dependencies illustrated by our transportation habits, internet usage, and personal spending practices for example. Then there are those dependencies that we struggle to acknowledge such as racial or class privilege; a natural environment that provides healthy food, safe water and clean air; and treaties and trade arrangements that unfortunately benefit us at the significant expense of others. We are dependent persons and, as every funeral reminds us, finite beings too. Greig continues in his paper to say that our understanding of faithfulness to Christ centers human identity in dependence, primarily on God, and secondarily on others and the natural world. How do we as Christians choose our dependencies? Do the challenges of unprecedented societal, environmental and global change tempt us towards embracing supports that are inconsistent with our faith? To what extent do our practices of dependency reflect the One who created us, the earth we live in, and the families and communities that nurture us? Hope Lines What is hope? Hope is saying yet and singing at midnight. Habakkuk faced difficult realities with wide open eyes and was still able to say, yet I will rejoice (Hab. 3:17-19); Paul and Silas stared at their feet in the stocks and sang at midnight. (Acts 16:25) Hope, saying yet and singing at midnight is rooted in that which is beyond our senses and experience - that God has come among us and will not leave us alone no matter what. -John H Neufeld, Professor Emeritus and retired President of Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now Canadian Mennonite University). It is instructive that in Scripture, the wilderness, exile, and life in the diaspora are important theatres for training God s servants and God s people in faithfulness. Often stripped of comforts, entitlements, physical security, food preferences, and even community, these future leaders including Jesus were tested and tempted in how they met their needs and dependencies. The early church was similarly challenged with food distribution, insider/outsider language, divisions and persecution. Greig suggests that the believing community might repeatedly emphasize the priority of God s initiative in our congregational practices. We are not choosers or makers, but receiver s of God s grace, whether that be through conversion, baptism or foot washing. Further, the church community reminds us that we comprise the Body of Christ, not as a group of individuals with intellects, but persons with soul, mind, body and spirit in communion with one another. In this dependent community, prayer and fasting can give voice and vehicle to remind God of our needs and our thanks. Mutual submission to one another, especially the weak, serves to remind us of who we are: the family village in which we are raised. Embracing our own individual and collective weakness allows us to reclaim the power of the cross and activity of God s Spirit among us. And being obedient to God allows us to worship God daily by not only transforming our minds but also making our bodies into living sacrifices. God s story is ultimately woven from those who are dependent on God. MEDA CONVENTION 2014 humandignity through entrepreneurship Nov. 6 9 The Fairmont Winnipeg Winnipeg, Manitoba Home of the new Canadian Museum of Human Rights Join us for four days of inspiring plenary sessions, seminars full of information, fun tours, opportunities for networking, and more. Featuring ART DEFEHR Well-known business and humanitarian leader; CEO of Palliser Furniture LAURA LING Author, journalist and survivor of 140 days of detainment in North Korea JIM MILLER Pastor and founder of e-commerce company JMX international IMPACT INVESTING IN FRONTIER MARKETS (INFRONT) MEDA s new project to support sustainable development in frontier and emerging markets Visit our website for more information or call (800)

11 W.R. CAREY CORPORATION Vol.4 Sunday July 6 11

12 First Aid If you or someone else needs First Aid assistance, please approach one of our ushers. the This is Your Faith -Elayna Bergen Reading Matt Epp s bio on his website during the van ride from Canadian Mennonite University in Wpg. to Sam s Place led one young adult passenger to declare, If even 10% of this is true, that d be awesome. Whether we experienced the unbridled passion the bio described is anyone s guess, but I can certainly speak to César García the warmth and honesty Matt exuded from the intimate stage at Sam s Place. He won my heart over when he immediately identified the youngest member of the crowd and sent her shout-outs throughout the evening. It was hard to tell for sure what she thought about it, being just a year old or so, but she seemed tickled pink to hear her name from the microphone. Matt s earthy style and easy-going personality meshed seamlessly with the homey café atmosphere, where steaming mugs of tea were the beverage of choice for both concert-goer and performer. (Nachos were the favoured foodstuff, if anyone is wondering.) The small space resonated with his soulful voice and compelling guitar that he described as folky, with the exception of one guitar solo, which was indisputably rock n roll. Even though a stimulating day of seminars and plenary sessions subdued the crowd it wasn t a throbbing mosh pit by any means waves of enthusiasm sparked clapping and cheering. A highlight for me was Matt s surprise duet with Kerri Stephens, with whom he co-wrote The Mom Song. Matt explained that he wanted to write a real love song, not like those Bryan Adams songs. The chorus described an ordinary but life-giving phone call at the toughest moment of a stay-at-home parent s day: Baby, how re you doing? How s your afternoon? I m going by the store can I bring you something? I ll be home soon. It is easy to forget how much melodic power words have to energize and comfort us, and something as simple as a brief phone call from a loved one can be enough to turn a tough day around. In a similar spirit of affirming everyday beauty, Willard Metzger offered a reminder to the assembled young adults to own our faith as just that: our own faith, no one else s. This is your faith, he told us emphatically, not your parents or grandparents faith. Yours. I felt a stirring of wild hope as Willard extended an invitation to young adults to be part of a new quiet revolution, one that would bring new influences and new expressions into the church body. Faith-filled Community Dynamic University CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY cmu.ca César García, General Secretary of Mennonite World Conference, extended an equally heart-felt invitation for young people to join conversations that are making a difference in the church around the world. The evening ended as in had begun: with a prayer and a feeling of belonging for the young adults of the Mennonite church, who have a faith that is all their own and continue to be energized by opportunities for fellowship and worship. Offset Digital Large Format Quality printing for over 65 years! 1320 Taylor Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 3Y info@cpprintingsolutions.com Matt Epp. Photos by Matt Veith. 12 Vol.4 Sunday July 6