Homepage
Executive board reviews Regenerate 21-01 strategic plan
Churches meeting together
Five Questions
ChurchWorks to feature cross-denominational Olympic outreach
The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies
Indian MB conference celebrates 50 years of autonomy
Comming Soon
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Executive board reviews Regenerate 21-01 strategic plan
WINNIPEG
The executive board and staff of the Canadian conference met Oct. 24–25 to review and discuss the strategic plan for Regenerate 21-01 (R21-01), including actions to implement in the new year.
“Accountability is important,” said David Wiebe, executive director for the conference. “All executive staff members were there to make presentations.” Included were reports from R21-01 coordinator Ewald Unruh and the departments of communications (Cam Rowland) and finance (John Wiebe). Dave Jackson from church health led the board through a portion of ReFocusing, a two-phase revitalization process available to churches and leaders.
David Wiebe also addressed the critical success factors, including the maintenance of positive relationships between national and provincial structures, as part of the strategic plan for the conference’s overall operations. During the meeting, each province reported on the state of its relationships.
“We’ve been clarifying specifics with provincial staff this fall concerning implementation points in each province as we start Regenerate 21-01,” said Wiebe.
The conference will hire new staff to carry out the growing programs under the R21-01 umbrella. Top priority positions to be filled are coordinators for both leadership development and donor development.
Communication with pastors is another top priority, said Wiebe, since many have not had personal presentations for R21-01 like Gathering 2008 delegates did. Cluster meetings for
information-sharing and feedback will take place in 2009 with participating pastors. Staff are also working toward integrating leadership development programs with MB Biblical Seminary.
The board approved forward progress in implementing the next stages of R21-01 and asked for a revised draft of the strategic plan for its January 2009 meeting.
—CCMBC release
___________________________________________________________________
For the 25th year, a group from Community Fellowship Church in Newton, Man., travelled north to Snow Lake, Man., to take part in their sister church’s annual fall supper, Oct. 25–26. Christian Centre Fellowship Snow Lake hosts the meal for the town in the local community hall, serving up a feast followed by a program of skits, testimonies, songs, dance, and comedy, aided by the group from Newton. The northern church presented Community Fellowship Church with a cake decorated with a bus in honour of their mode of transportation for the annual trip. Pictured above, Newton members display the cake while Snow Lake children gather in front.—KB with files from Vi Siemens
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Five Questions
Church: Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship
Pastoral duties: Shared by dedicated volunteers
Location: Vancouver
What was the defining moment for your congregation?
There were 3 moments: the realization that despite being Mennonites from various conference backgrounds, we could come together and become one congregation; the realization after the departure of a pastor that we could continue to exist relying on our own members for leadership; and the insertion of “Inter-Mennonite” in our name.
How would you describe your congregation?
We have about 50 adults and youth who value rigorous inquiry, respect all Christian traditions, and seek to build bridges to others.
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
We encourage people to grow in and toward faith in Jesus and commitment to following his teachings as recorded in Scripture. We welcome all seekers and doubters who are on a journey of faith, and we are open to their participation in the life of the church. We treat conversion as both individual and communal. Salvation is not merely a private thing but should motivate us to take care of our fellow human beings and God’s creation, and to work toward reconciliation in the world.
What is the significance of your church name?
To us, Mennonite indicates the importance we give to Jesus’ teachings on love, peace, and justice. Inter means we seek to bridge differences and be open to dialogue with the larger hermeneutical community seeking to understand Scripture and God’s intention for our lives.
What makes your church unique?
Our worship service, which takes place in the chapel of a university student residence, has a built-in time of response and discussion after the sermon. We value artists among us and display their work in our worship service. We’ve also kept alive the four-part harmony hymn singing tradition, and hold an annual Christmas sing-along Messiah service.
___________________________________________________________________
ChurchWorks to feature cross-denominational Olympic outreach
ABBOTSFORD, B.C.
The B.C. MB conference’s annual ChurchWorks training day, to be held on February 25, will introduce attendees to a major evangelical outreach, first developed during the Atlanta Olympic games, and coming to B.C. in 2010 for the Vancouver Olympics.
Called “More Than Gold,” the legacy program is designed to involve athletes, visitors, and local volunteers in a broad scope of programs. These range from hospitality and home-stay functions to local events like sports camps, opportunities to minister, and printed resources that can include Scriptures and other Christian materials.
The B.C. conference has signed on to be part of the outreach, along with Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, and Seventh-day Adventist church organizations. Marilyn Hiebert, conference administrator, is the B.C. conference representative.
ChurchWorks will be held at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, and will offer practical training sessions ranging from office organization to recruitment of volunteers. —BM
___________________________________________________________________
Serving up traditional prairie Mennonite cuisine and a short program, The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies hosted 20 people Nov. 13 to thank the nine volunteers who serve the centre. “It’s one small way to show our appreciation for the tremendous work they do for us,” said director Doug Heidebrecht. At press time, the volunteers had logged approximately 1,200 hours of time at the centre, coming twice a week, twice a month, or serving “on call.” Activities include filing, sorting, scanning, research, translating, editing, mailing, and data entry. Because of the ongoing work of volunteers, the Centre is able to pursue new initiatives and deal with increased demands for resources. The volunteers cite many reasons for giving their time, but Ed Lenzmann summed it up with “I wouldn’t come if I didn’t enjoy it.” Pictured above are (back, l–r) Susan Huebert, Kathie Ewert, Lois Wedel, Abe Dueck, (front) Ed Lenzmann, and Clara Toews.
—Conrad Stoesz
___________________________________________________________________
Indian MB conference celebrates 50 years of autonomy
MAHABUBNAGAR, India
More than 7,000 people attended the golden jubilee celebration of the governing council for the MB church in India, November 7–8, making it the best-attended gathering in the history of the Indian MB conference. The anniversary marked 50 years since leadership of the conference was transferred to indigenous directors through the newly written Indian MB constitution.
The establishment of the governing council in 1958 was “a mark of maturity and identity,” said David Wiebe, executive director of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, “taking the India field from being a ‘mission station’ to an independently organized national conference.”
At a six-hour service Friday night, greetings came from officials such as the principal secretary to the government of Andhra Pradesh; the executive secretary and treasurer of the Andhra Pradesh Council of Churches; John Shankar Rao, conference evangelist; several International Community Of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) representatives; and a senior council member of the supreme court of India. Director general of police for Andhra Pradesh, Swaranjit Sen gave a message identifying the importance of the work of God through various Christian denominations in India, and calling the MB conference to unity and good resolution of conflicts.
ICOMB delegates from 16 countries were on hand to witness the ordination and commissioning of 222 people at Saturday’s ceremony, which included three sermons and a mass celebration of communion. Ninety-four men and 25 women were commissioned for service; 76 men and 27 women were ordained. These are the first women ordained by the MB conference in India.
The conference unveiled five projects for the Indian church in the coming years: raising monies for the Pastors and Evangelists Fund, developing a corpus fund for Bible college training of pastors and evangelists, constructing a governing council office in Mahabubnagar, constructing a guest house facility in Shamshabad, and establishing a historical museum.
At the close of the event, an MB faith state-ment (India MB Creed) and a jubilee oath prepared by the golden jubilee committee was read.
Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in India comprise a diverse group, worshipping in more than half a dozen languages, and spread out over four large states. The Indian MB conference currently has more than 90,000 members. —KB with files from I.P. Asheervadam
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Coming Soon
2009
Jan. 11 — 25th anniversary celebration, Dalhousie Community Church, Calgary.
Jan. 14 — “Finding leaders for tomorrow’s churches,” leadership clinic, CMU, Winnipeg.
Jan. 24 — MBMSI Celebrate Mission Night, Waterloo, Ont.
Jan. 25 — MBMSI Celebrate Mission Night, St. Catharines, Ont.
Feb. 6–8 — “Momentum,” Youth Advance, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Feb. 20–21 — Ontario Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, Port Rowan, Ont.
Mar. 6–7 — MB Church of Manitoba assembly 2009, Lakeview Church, Killarney, Man.
Mar. 6–8 — PIT (Peace, Pray, and Praise It Together) featuring Tony Campolo, CMU, Winnipeg.
Mar. 13–14 — Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 4 — Quebec Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 26 — Commencement, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Apr. 26 — Convocation, CMU, Winnipeg.
May 1–2 — B.C. Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, South Abbotsford (B.C.) Church.
May 1–2 — Alberta Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, College Drive Community Church, Lethbridge, Alta.
May 13–15 — Pastors’ Credentialing Orientation, ETEM, Montreal, Que.
May 15 — Going Barefoot II, church communicators’ conference featuring Mike Tennant, CMU, Winnipeg.
Churches meeting together
Five Questions
ChurchWorks to feature cross-denominational Olympic outreach
The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies
Indian MB conference celebrates 50 years of autonomy
Comming Soon
___________________________________________________________________
Executive board reviews Regenerate 21-01 strategic plan
WINNIPEG
The executive board and staff of the Canadian conference met Oct. 24–25 to review and discuss the strategic plan for Regenerate 21-01 (R21-01), including actions to implement in the new year.
“Accountability is important,” said David Wiebe, executive director for the conference. “All executive staff members were there to make presentations.” Included were reports from R21-01 coordinator Ewald Unruh and the departments of communications (Cam Rowland) and finance (John Wiebe). Dave Jackson from church health led the board through a portion of ReFocusing, a two-phase revitalization process available to churches and leaders.
David Wiebe also addressed the critical success factors, including the maintenance of positive relationships between national and provincial structures, as part of the strategic plan for the conference’s overall operations. During the meeting, each province reported on the state of its relationships.
“We’ve been clarifying specifics with provincial staff this fall concerning implementation points in each province as we start Regenerate 21-01,” said Wiebe.
The conference will hire new staff to carry out the growing programs under the R21-01 umbrella. Top priority positions to be filled are coordinators for both leadership development and donor development.
Communication with pastors is another top priority, said Wiebe, since many have not had personal presentations for R21-01 like Gathering 2008 delegates did. Cluster meetings for
information-sharing and feedback will take place in 2009 with participating pastors. Staff are also working toward integrating leadership development programs with MB Biblical Seminary.
The board approved forward progress in implementing the next stages of R21-01 and asked for a revised draft of the strategic plan for its January 2009 meeting.
—CCMBC release
___________________________________________________________________
For the 25th year, a group from Community Fellowship Church in Newton, Man., travelled north to Snow Lake, Man., to take part in their sister church’s annual fall supper, Oct. 25–26. Christian Centre Fellowship Snow Lake hosts the meal for the town in the local community hall, serving up a feast followed by a program of skits, testimonies, songs, dance, and comedy, aided by the group from Newton. The northern church presented Community Fellowship Church with a cake decorated with a bus in honour of their mode of transportation for the annual trip. Pictured above, Newton members display the cake while Snow Lake children gather in front.—KB with files from Vi Siemens
___________________________________________________________________
Five Questions
Church: Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship
Pastoral duties: Shared by dedicated volunteers
Location: Vancouver
What was the defining moment for your congregation?
There were 3 moments: the realization that despite being Mennonites from various conference backgrounds, we could come together and become one congregation; the realization after the departure of a pastor that we could continue to exist relying on our own members for leadership; and the insertion of “Inter-Mennonite” in our name.
How would you describe your congregation?
We have about 50 adults and youth who value rigorous inquiry, respect all Christian traditions, and seek to build bridges to others.
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
We encourage people to grow in and toward faith in Jesus and commitment to following his teachings as recorded in Scripture. We welcome all seekers and doubters who are on a journey of faith, and we are open to their participation in the life of the church. We treat conversion as both individual and communal. Salvation is not merely a private thing but should motivate us to take care of our fellow human beings and God’s creation, and to work toward reconciliation in the world.
What is the significance of your church name?
To us, Mennonite indicates the importance we give to Jesus’ teachings on love, peace, and justice. Inter means we seek to bridge differences and be open to dialogue with the larger hermeneutical community seeking to understand Scripture and God’s intention for our lives.
What makes your church unique?
Our worship service, which takes place in the chapel of a university student residence, has a built-in time of response and discussion after the sermon. We value artists among us and display their work in our worship service. We’ve also kept alive the four-part harmony hymn singing tradition, and hold an annual Christmas sing-along Messiah service.
___________________________________________________________________
ChurchWorks to feature cross-denominational Olympic outreach
ABBOTSFORD, B.C.
The B.C. MB conference’s annual ChurchWorks training day, to be held on February 25, will introduce attendees to a major evangelical outreach, first developed during the Atlanta Olympic games, and coming to B.C. in 2010 for the Vancouver Olympics.
Called “More Than Gold,” the legacy program is designed to involve athletes, visitors, and local volunteers in a broad scope of programs. These range from hospitality and home-stay functions to local events like sports camps, opportunities to minister, and printed resources that can include Scriptures and other Christian materials.
The B.C. conference has signed on to be part of the outreach, along with Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, and Seventh-day Adventist church organizations. Marilyn Hiebert, conference administrator, is the B.C. conference representative.
ChurchWorks will be held at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, and will offer practical training sessions ranging from office organization to recruitment of volunteers. —BM
___________________________________________________________________
Serving up traditional prairie Mennonite cuisine and a short program, The Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies hosted 20 people Nov. 13 to thank the nine volunteers who serve the centre. “It’s one small way to show our appreciation for the tremendous work they do for us,” said director Doug Heidebrecht. At press time, the volunteers had logged approximately 1,200 hours of time at the centre, coming twice a week, twice a month, or serving “on call.” Activities include filing, sorting, scanning, research, translating, editing, mailing, and data entry. Because of the ongoing work of volunteers, the Centre is able to pursue new initiatives and deal with increased demands for resources. The volunteers cite many reasons for giving their time, but Ed Lenzmann summed it up with “I wouldn’t come if I didn’t enjoy it.” Pictured above are (back, l–r) Susan Huebert, Kathie Ewert, Lois Wedel, Abe Dueck, (front) Ed Lenzmann, and Clara Toews.
—Conrad Stoesz
___________________________________________________________________
Indian MB conference celebrates 50 years of autonomy
MAHABUBNAGAR, India
More than 7,000 people attended the golden jubilee celebration of the governing council for the MB church in India, November 7–8, making it the best-attended gathering in the history of the Indian MB conference. The anniversary marked 50 years since leadership of the conference was transferred to indigenous directors through the newly written Indian MB constitution.
The establishment of the governing council in 1958 was “a mark of maturity and identity,” said David Wiebe, executive director of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, “taking the India field from being a ‘mission station’ to an independently organized national conference.”
At a six-hour service Friday night, greetings came from officials such as the principal secretary to the government of Andhra Pradesh; the executive secretary and treasurer of the Andhra Pradesh Council of Churches; John Shankar Rao, conference evangelist; several International Community Of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) representatives; and a senior council member of the supreme court of India. Director general of police for Andhra Pradesh, Swaranjit Sen gave a message identifying the importance of the work of God through various Christian denominations in India, and calling the MB conference to unity and good resolution of conflicts.
ICOMB delegates from 16 countries were on hand to witness the ordination and commissioning of 222 people at Saturday’s ceremony, which included three sermons and a mass celebration of communion. Ninety-four men and 25 women were commissioned for service; 76 men and 27 women were ordained. These are the first women ordained by the MB conference in India.
The conference unveiled five projects for the Indian church in the coming years: raising monies for the Pastors and Evangelists Fund, developing a corpus fund for Bible college training of pastors and evangelists, constructing a governing council office in Mahabubnagar, constructing a guest house facility in Shamshabad, and establishing a historical museum.
At the close of the event, an MB faith state-ment (India MB Creed) and a jubilee oath prepared by the golden jubilee committee was read.
Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in India comprise a diverse group, worshipping in more than half a dozen languages, and spread out over four large states. The Indian MB conference currently has more than 90,000 members. —KB with files from I.P. Asheervadam
___________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon
2009
Jan. 11 — 25th anniversary celebration, Dalhousie Community Church, Calgary.
Jan. 14 — “Finding leaders for tomorrow’s churches,” leadership clinic, CMU, Winnipeg.
Jan. 24 — MBMSI Celebrate Mission Night, Waterloo, Ont.
Jan. 25 — MBMSI Celebrate Mission Night, St. Catharines, Ont.
Feb. 6–8 — “Momentum,” Youth Advance, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Feb. 20–21 — Ontario Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, Port Rowan, Ont.
Mar. 6–7 — MB Church of Manitoba assembly 2009, Lakeview Church, Killarney, Man.
Mar. 6–8 — PIT (Peace, Pray, and Praise It Together) featuring Tony Campolo, CMU, Winnipeg.
Mar. 13–14 — Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 4 — Quebec Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 26 — Commencement, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
Apr. 26 — Convocation, CMU, Winnipeg.
May 1–2 — B.C. Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, South Abbotsford (B.C.) Church.
May 1–2 — Alberta Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, College Drive Community Church, Lethbridge, Alta.
May 13–15 — Pastors’ Credentialing Orientation, ETEM, Montreal, Que.
May 15 — Going Barefoot II, church communicators’ conference featuring Mike Tennant, CMU, Winnipeg.
