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Board of Faith and Life to expand toolbox, Wikipedia-style
Conference matters
Five Questions
Recession reduces relief resources
Ontario youth leaders told to slow down
Projecto Aldea Global
Coming Soon
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Board of Faith and Life to expand toolbox, Wikipedia-style
At the first of thrice-yearly meetings in Abbotsford, B.C., Jan. 23–24, the Board of Faith and Life (BFL) affirmed creation of a Wikipedia-style resource for church leaders. Daniel Beutler, CCMBC ReSource Shelf coordinator and church health associate, will collaborate with Kindred Productions on the resource, as well as make revisions to Following the Call. The BFL-approved church manual, last revised in 1995, provides guidelines for pastors, church boards, and other leaders.
The board agreed to augment another theological tool by giving permission to member conferences of the International Community of Mennonite Brethren to translate BFL’s popular pamphlet series into local languages. Once translated, the pamphlets will also be available in these languages on the Canadian conference website.
Much of the BFL’s two-day meeting was dedicated to reviewing the theme of Study Conference 2009, “Confessing Jesus in a Pluralistic World,” which will be held in Saskatoon in October. To meet the challenge of confessing Christ in Canada’s increasingly multicultural environment, this year’s event will focus on an exalted, magnified Christ as sole source of salvation for the world. Worship in many foms will be an important component.
“Our tendency is to think that we know all we need to know [about Jesus],” planning committee and board member Paul Doerksen told the Herald, “and that our task consists in ‘packaging’ or (God help us) ‘branding’ Jesus so that others will accept him. The honest and humbling truth is that we still have much to learn about Jesus.”
Other topics the BFL discussed include the role of the Board of Faith and Life in defining and shaping the Mennonite Brethren identity, the definition of a “healthy leader,” and the expression of worship through various art forms.
For more information on BFL resources, visit www.mbconf.ca/home/ministries/theology/.
—Karla Braun, from CCMBC release and reports
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Conference matters
Five Questions
Church name: Westside Gathering
Pastor: David Manafo
Location: Montreal
How would you describe your church?
We’re a simple church in approach and style, with relationship as our foundation. We’re more concerned about being the right kind of church than a being a certain size, yet we desire greatly to see our city respond to the gospel and experience transformation in Christ.
What was the defining moment for your congregation?
As a young church plant, we discovered after 3 years we were trying to do too much. This led to 2 key shifts.
1. We learned about Sabbath. We took a month’s rest from all activities, went on a retreat, and in general, scaled back activities and productions. We’re now following a healthier rhythm throughout the year.
2. We’re intentional about becoming a GO and LIVE church instead of a COME and SEE church. We started asking: what does it mean for us to be God’s living and local presence in our community?
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
Our initial core was from a mix of denominational backgrounds, none being Anabaptist, so we’re still figuring this out. Being part of the Mennonite Brethren conference has encouraged and affirmed our commitment to compassionate acts of service, a strong vision for discipleship, and the freedom to stay true to core biblical truths while expressing who we uniquely are in our own context.
What makes your church unique?
We’re flexible. When our rental location isn’t available, we set up breakfast in different homes. During the summer, instead of large gatherings on Sunday, we do church at home for 3–4 weeks. We’ve set up a 24-hour prayer initiative in a rented U-haul. And we’re oriented toward service.
If you could choose a famous Christian to come and speak, who would it be and why?
Anabaptist theologian Scot McKnight, author of several popular books (Jesus Creed, Embracing Grace). I’d love our community to learn from his keen interest in what the gospel really is, following Jesus by loving God and others, getting a better sense of the whole Christian story, and presenting an honest way to read and understand the Scriptures.
___________________________________________________________________
Recession reduces relief resources
AKRON, Pa.
Amid the global economic crisis, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is reducing its budget in the coming year while continuing to focus its resources on helping people in poverty around
the world.
The budget for MCC’s international program, which carries out relief, development, and peacemaking work in more than 50 countries, will be reduced by about $2 million (about 10 percent) and administrative expenditures are also being cut, according to Arli Klassen, MCC’s executive director.
“As we make difficult decisions, our highest concern is for the hundreds of thousands of people around the world whose lives are touched by MCC’s work,” she said.
Klassen asks for prayer for the work of MCC and renewed giving to support MCC’s mission.
“Thank you for your commitment to walking alongside people who face poverty and conflict, whether we have big resources or smaller resources,” Klassen said. “Our commitment to sharing God’s love does not change.”
—MCC
___________________________________________________________________
Ontario youth leaders told to slow down
TORONTO, Ont.
Every year, students, youth pastors, and youth leaders from MB churches across Ontario converge upon Camp Crossroads for the annual youth leadership building weekend. At last fall’s gathering, Oct. 17–19, speaker Mark Yaconelli focused on slowing down and receiving God’s love.
Yaconelli’s teaching provided an excellent complement to the passion stirred by 2007 speaker, author, and activist Shane Claiborne, who talked of living “in community” and pursuing social justice.
An author and speaker from Oregon, Yaconelli does research and ministry on teaching youth contemplative Christian traditions and practices. Busyness and doing “stuff” can easily become an idol in our fast-paced world, warned Yaconelli, and making time for God can be deceptively challenging. However, his research has shown that youth respond positively to “slowing down.”
The assembled youth ministers learned that the early teenage years are especially important in faith formation, so it’s important to give youth opportunities to connect with their Creator in deep and sustainable ways. The biggest challenge for many youth leaders may be that they are themselves not taking the necessary time to slow down. Practical application was immediate as Yaconelli opened each session with a time of silence.
Yaconelli’s message isn’t new; Jesus himself frequently stepped away from the world to be with the Father. By connecting with God in a deep way on a regular basis, God’s people will be better equipped to create the community, love, and justice we dream about and reach for.
Rory Schafer is a member of Southridge Community Church in St. Catharines, Ont.
___________________________________________________________________
Proyecto Aldea Global, a Mennonite Central Committee partner agency, provided blankets, food, and kits in Honduras, following devastating floods in October and November 2008 that affected more than 313,000 people. Proyecto Aldea Global was able to respond quickly because staff with previous experience in disaster work had requested supplies before seasonal rains began.
—MCC
___________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon
2009
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. 7 — Columbia Bible College Faculty Teach-a-Thon, Abbotsford, B.C.
Mar. 13–14 — Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, Faith River Christian Fellowship, Saskatoon.
Mar. 16–17— “Proclaiming Christ in the Public Square” lectures by Michael Coren, CMU, Winnipeg.
Mar. 27— Campus visit day, CMU, Winnipeg.
Apr. 4 — Quebec Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 4 — Mennonite Disaster Service banquet, Steinbach, Man.
Apr. 18 — Columbia Bible College graduation ceremony, Abbotsford, B.C.
Apr. 24 — Mennonite Disaster Service awareness evening, Edmonton, Alta.
Apr. 26 — Convocation, CMU, Winnipeg.
Apr. 26 — Commencement, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
May 1–2 — B.C. Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB 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.
July 14–19 — Mennonite World Conference, Asunción, Paraguay.
Oct. 15–17 — BFL Study Conference, Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.
Conference matters
Five Questions
Recession reduces relief resources
Ontario youth leaders told to slow down
Projecto Aldea Global
Coming Soon
___________________________________________________________________
Board of Faith and Life to expand toolbox, Wikipedia-style
At the first of thrice-yearly meetings in Abbotsford, B.C., Jan. 23–24, the Board of Faith and Life (BFL) affirmed creation of a Wikipedia-style resource for church leaders. Daniel Beutler, CCMBC ReSource Shelf coordinator and church health associate, will collaborate with Kindred Productions on the resource, as well as make revisions to Following the Call. The BFL-approved church manual, last revised in 1995, provides guidelines for pastors, church boards, and other leaders.
The board agreed to augment another theological tool by giving permission to member conferences of the International Community of Mennonite Brethren to translate BFL’s popular pamphlet series into local languages. Once translated, the pamphlets will also be available in these languages on the Canadian conference website.
Much of the BFL’s two-day meeting was dedicated to reviewing the theme of Study Conference 2009, “Confessing Jesus in a Pluralistic World,” which will be held in Saskatoon in October. To meet the challenge of confessing Christ in Canada’s increasingly multicultural environment, this year’s event will focus on an exalted, magnified Christ as sole source of salvation for the world. Worship in many foms will be an important component.
“Our tendency is to think that we know all we need to know [about Jesus],” planning committee and board member Paul Doerksen told the Herald, “and that our task consists in ‘packaging’ or (God help us) ‘branding’ Jesus so that others will accept him. The honest and humbling truth is that we still have much to learn about Jesus.”
Other topics the BFL discussed include the role of the Board of Faith and Life in defining and shaping the Mennonite Brethren identity, the definition of a “healthy leader,” and the expression of worship through various art forms.
For more information on BFL resources, visit www.mbconf.ca/home/ministries/theology/.
—Karla Braun, from CCMBC release and reports
___________________________________________________________________
Conference matters
- The Alberta conference held three Regional Council of Church Leaders meetings January 19-21, in Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge. Ewald Unruh, director of the national conference’s Regenerate 21-01, participated in the evenings of information, connection, conversation, and prayer.
- The Canadian conference has added two services through its financial ministries department: gifts of securities can be processed to churches or MB ministries through the conference, and individuals can open Tax-Free Savings Accounts without fees. The conference also offers payroll services to churches and a variety of savings vehicles to individuals, including deposit funds and RRSPs.
- The provincial conference ministers met in B.C. for their annual retreat, after the Board of Faith and Life meetings in February. David Wiebe of the Canadian conference facilitated the weekend of rest and reflection.
- MB-sponsored École de Théologie Évangélique de Montréal is excited to offer their first online course: Introduction to the Old Testament. Since the course was advertised on a popular French website, ETEM has been overwhelmed with requests from francophone Africa. The course is too expensive for many of these students; the school asks for prayer as they sort out this issue.
Five Questions
Church name: Westside Gathering
Pastor: David Manafo
Location: Montreal
How would you describe your church?
We’re a simple church in approach and style, with relationship as our foundation. We’re more concerned about being the right kind of church than a being a certain size, yet we desire greatly to see our city respond to the gospel and experience transformation in Christ.
What was the defining moment for your congregation?
As a young church plant, we discovered after 3 years we were trying to do too much. This led to 2 key shifts.
1. We learned about Sabbath. We took a month’s rest from all activities, went on a retreat, and in general, scaled back activities and productions. We’re now following a healthier rhythm throughout the year.
2. We’re intentional about becoming a GO and LIVE church instead of a COME and SEE church. We started asking: what does it mean for us to be God’s living and local presence in our community?
What does it mean for your church to be evangelical Anabaptist?
Our initial core was from a mix of denominational backgrounds, none being Anabaptist, so we’re still figuring this out. Being part of the Mennonite Brethren conference has encouraged and affirmed our commitment to compassionate acts of service, a strong vision for discipleship, and the freedom to stay true to core biblical truths while expressing who we uniquely are in our own context.
What makes your church unique?
We’re flexible. When our rental location isn’t available, we set up breakfast in different homes. During the summer, instead of large gatherings on Sunday, we do church at home for 3–4 weeks. We’ve set up a 24-hour prayer initiative in a rented U-haul. And we’re oriented toward service.
If you could choose a famous Christian to come and speak, who would it be and why?
Anabaptist theologian Scot McKnight, author of several popular books (Jesus Creed, Embracing Grace). I’d love our community to learn from his keen interest in what the gospel really is, following Jesus by loving God and others, getting a better sense of the whole Christian story, and presenting an honest way to read and understand the Scriptures.
___________________________________________________________________
Recession reduces relief resources
AKRON, Pa.
Amid the global economic crisis, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is reducing its budget in the coming year while continuing to focus its resources on helping people in poverty around
the world.
The budget for MCC’s international program, which carries out relief, development, and peacemaking work in more than 50 countries, will be reduced by about $2 million (about 10 percent) and administrative expenditures are also being cut, according to Arli Klassen, MCC’s executive director.
“As we make difficult decisions, our highest concern is for the hundreds of thousands of people around the world whose lives are touched by MCC’s work,” she said.
Klassen asks for prayer for the work of MCC and renewed giving to support MCC’s mission.
“Thank you for your commitment to walking alongside people who face poverty and conflict, whether we have big resources or smaller resources,” Klassen said. “Our commitment to sharing God’s love does not change.”
—MCC
___________________________________________________________________
Ontario youth leaders told to slow down
TORONTO, Ont.
Every year, students, youth pastors, and youth leaders from MB churches across Ontario converge upon Camp Crossroads for the annual youth leadership building weekend. At last fall’s gathering, Oct. 17–19, speaker Mark Yaconelli focused on slowing down and receiving God’s love.
Yaconelli’s teaching provided an excellent complement to the passion stirred by 2007 speaker, author, and activist Shane Claiborne, who talked of living “in community” and pursuing social justice.
An author and speaker from Oregon, Yaconelli does research and ministry on teaching youth contemplative Christian traditions and practices. Busyness and doing “stuff” can easily become an idol in our fast-paced world, warned Yaconelli, and making time for God can be deceptively challenging. However, his research has shown that youth respond positively to “slowing down.”
The assembled youth ministers learned that the early teenage years are especially important in faith formation, so it’s important to give youth opportunities to connect with their Creator in deep and sustainable ways. The biggest challenge for many youth leaders may be that they are themselves not taking the necessary time to slow down. Practical application was immediate as Yaconelli opened each session with a time of silence.
Yaconelli’s message isn’t new; Jesus himself frequently stepped away from the world to be with the Father. By connecting with God in a deep way on a regular basis, God’s people will be better equipped to create the community, love, and justice we dream about and reach for.
Rory Schafer is a member of Southridge Community Church in St. Catharines, Ont.
___________________________________________________________________
Proyecto Aldea Global, a Mennonite Central Committee partner agency, provided blankets, food, and kits in Honduras, following devastating floods in October and November 2008 that affected more than 313,000 people. Proyecto Aldea Global was able to respond quickly because staff with previous experience in disaster work had requested supplies before seasonal rains began.
—MCC
___________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon
2009
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. 7 — Columbia Bible College Faculty Teach-a-Thon, Abbotsford, B.C.
Mar. 13–14 — Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, Faith River Christian Fellowship, Saskatoon.
Mar. 16–17— “Proclaiming Christ in the Public Square” lectures by Michael Coren, CMU, Winnipeg.
Mar. 27— Campus visit day, CMU, Winnipeg.
Apr. 4 — Quebec Conference of MB Churches convention 2009.
Apr. 4 — Mennonite Disaster Service banquet, Steinbach, Man.
Apr. 18 — Columbia Bible College graduation ceremony, Abbotsford, B.C.
Apr. 24 — Mennonite Disaster Service awareness evening, Edmonton, Alta.
Apr. 26 — Convocation, CMU, Winnipeg.
Apr. 26 — Commencement, Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask.
May 1–2 — B.C. Conference of MB Churches convention 2009, South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB 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.
July 14–19 — Mennonite World Conference, Asunción, Paraguay.
Oct. 15–17 — BFL Study Conference, Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.
