Finding focus for the future
“God’s at work,” Assembly 2009 of the MB Church of Manitoba
Stories of God building
____________________________________________________________________
“God’s at work,” Assembly 2009 of the MB Church of Manitoba
Delegates to Manitoba’s Mennonite Brethren Assembly this year eagerly suggested areas to join God in his work of compassion and mission. Surrounded by farmland in Killarney, Man., they assembled at Lakeview Community Church, Mar. 6–7, to fellowship and focus under the theme “God’s at work,” from John 5:17.
The assembly began with a time of worship, sharing, learning, and communion Friday evening. Doug Heidebrecht gave a lecture, recapped Saturday morning, on foundational MB beliefs and their implications for church life.
Using diagrams, Heidebrecht demonstrated Jesus’ centrality to our convictions as MBs. Jesus is the centre from which we base our activities of developing new life, studying the Bible, participating in church, learning discipleship, and the resulting work of mission and reconciliation. After a challenge to develop better Bible literacy, Heidebrecht summed up his talk: “Who are we? We are Christ-followers; on a journey; called to live it out with each step.”
Articulating a focus
The bulk of Saturday’s general session was taken with discussion of the focus statement drafted by a vision team appointed after last year’s conference. With changes in the structure and governance model of the conference, delegates had called for a vision statement to clarify how Dream Manitoba, a Key Communities Initiative, will guide and shape church activity. Moderator Barry Dyck explained the process of prayer, fasting, input from churches, and multiple drafts that went into the statement.
The ministry focus document answered three questions: who are we, what do we do, where do we focus? The answer to the last question was: compassion ministries and church planting.
Discussion around the tables and in plenary session revealed affirmation, caution, and eagerness to go even further. Greg Wiens (Elmwood) suggested a Home Depot/Obama campaign-style slogan: “You can do it; we can help! Yes, we can, but it won’t be easy.”
Delegates soundly affirmed the shift to compassion ministries, and suggested new areas of need and ways of meeting them. Rural voices reminded that the inner city isn’t the only place to find marginalized and wounded. Others preferred the term “incarnational” to “compassion” because it encompasses not only a handout, but a holistic Christ-like approach characterized by partnership and equality. Incarnational ministry “moves us to identify with those we serve,” said Gerald Hildebrand (McIvor).
Pierre Gilbert (Fort Garry) cautioned that compassion programs often create demand for more. His challenge: “we need to do compassion ministry in a Christian framework, affirming the image of God in people we serve,” stirred spontaneous applause in the assembly.
John Unger (Fort Garry) identified First Nations, the fastest growing community in Winnipeg, as an area of opportunity. Over the next year, “if we develop two first-name relationships with Aboriginal people, it would transform our church,” he said.
Back for additions
The assembly unanimously voted to send the focus statement back for the addition of three key aspects, then approval by the leadership board, and ratification at next year’s assembly. The key revisions repeatedly raised by delegates were 1) inclusion of reconciliation and peace work, 2) language of “with and among” rather than “to and for,” 3) the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the work of the church today.
This is only the beginning, not an end, reminded Rick Koss (McIvor). Now, “we look to the conference to encourage leadership to put legs to it.”
Before the assembly turned to further business, Wayne Baerg (Winkler MB) stepped to the mic to share a vision he received four years earlier, of a giant hand, a broken dam, and new trees sprouting from freshly dug trenches. “God is beginning to work, to break the things we’ve done as churches, [asking us] to come out and do what he’s calling us to do,” said Baerg. David Wiebe, Canadian conference executive director, urged the assembly to respond to the vision with prayer.
Treasurer Carl Kauenhowen and conference administrator Dan Block tag-teamed to present the budget. There has been a change in audit style after last year’s divestiture of Family Life Network and MBCI. The conference support fund is in its second year of requesting 8 percent norms, and is going well. The year ended with an operating surplus of $9,028 after transfers. All decision points were moved and carried.
Farewell
Delegates bid farewell to Dan Block, conference administrator, who may be the longest-ever employee of the Manitoba conference with 37 years to his credit. He taught at MB Collegiate Institute, served at MB Communications (Family Life Network), Concord College (CMU), and the MB Church of Manitoba. Past coworkers shared memories and tributes, calling Block “someone who cares,” “a gift,” a master of efficiency, and an “administrator with a pastor’s heart.”
Barry Dyck was thanked for his service on conference committees over the past 10 years, the last three as moderator. Ramsy Unruh is the new moderator; Harold Froese, assistant moderator.
Though only 26 out of 39 churches were represented by the 181 delegates, there was a good turnout from the younger churches. Bethel Evangelical Christian Assembly (Ethiopian) and Église Communautaire de la Rivière Rouge both sent delegates, and Habtemicael Beraki, pastor of Philadelphia Eritrean Church (the newest church), was warmly welcomed to the family by Missions & Church Extension director Russ Toews. Fort Garry MB brought a large contingent of delegates representing the under-35 demographic. In a troubling note, there were 25 pastoral staff transitions in 2008, following 13 pastor resignations in 2007. —KB
____________________________________________________________________
Stories of God building
Throughout the Manitoba assembly, individuals gave accounts of how God is using MBs in Manitoba as they make themselves available to him.
Stories of God building
____________________________________________________________________
“God’s at work,” Assembly 2009 of the MB Church of Manitoba
Delegates to Manitoba’s Mennonite Brethren Assembly this year eagerly suggested areas to join God in his work of compassion and mission. Surrounded by farmland in Killarney, Man., they assembled at Lakeview Community Church, Mar. 6–7, to fellowship and focus under the theme “God’s at work,” from John 5:17.
 Ted Goossen, pastor at Thompson (Man.)
Christian Centre Fellowship, sports part of the table decorations for the convention theme, “God’s at Work.” |
The assembly began with a time of worship, sharing, learning, and communion Friday evening. Doug Heidebrecht gave a lecture, recapped Saturday morning, on foundational MB beliefs and their implications for church life.
Using diagrams, Heidebrecht demonstrated Jesus’ centrality to our convictions as MBs. Jesus is the centre from which we base our activities of developing new life, studying the Bible, participating in church, learning discipleship, and the resulting work of mission and reconciliation. After a challenge to develop better Bible literacy, Heidebrecht summed up his talk: “Who are we? We are Christ-followers; on a journey; called to live it out with each step.”
Articulating a focus
The bulk of Saturday’s general session was taken with discussion of the focus statement drafted by a vision team appointed after last year’s conference. With changes in the structure and governance model of the conference, delegates had called for a vision statement to clarify how Dream Manitoba, a Key Communities Initiative, will guide and shape church activity. Moderator Barry Dyck explained the process of prayer, fasting, input from churches, and multiple drafts that went into the statement.
The ministry focus document answered three questions: who are we, what do we do, where do we focus? The answer to the last question was: compassion ministries and church planting.
Discussion around the tables and in plenary session revealed affirmation, caution, and eagerness to go even further. Greg Wiens (Elmwood) suggested a Home Depot/Obama campaign-style slogan: “You can do it; we can help! Yes, we can, but it won’t be easy.”
Delegates soundly affirmed the shift to compassion ministries, and suggested new areas of need and ways of meeting them. Rural voices reminded that the inner city isn’t the only place to find marginalized and wounded. Others preferred the term “incarnational” to “compassion” because it encompasses not only a handout, but a holistic Christ-like approach characterized by partnership and equality. Incarnational ministry “moves us to identify with those we serve,” said Gerald Hildebrand (McIvor).
Pierre Gilbert (Fort Garry) cautioned that compassion programs often create demand for more. His challenge: “we need to do compassion ministry in a Christian framework, affirming the image of God in people we serve,” stirred spontaneous applause in the assembly.
John Unger (Fort Garry) identified First Nations, the fastest growing community in Winnipeg, as an area of opportunity. Over the next year, “if we develop two first-name relationships with Aboriginal people, it would transform our church,” he said.
Back for additions
The assembly unanimously voted to send the focus statement back for the addition of three key aspects, then approval by the leadership board, and ratification at next year’s assembly. The key revisions repeatedly raised by delegates were 1) inclusion of reconciliation and peace work, 2) language of “with and among” rather than “to and for,” 3) the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the work of the church today.
This is only the beginning, not an end, reminded Rick Koss (McIvor). Now, “we look to the conference to encourage leadership to put legs to it.”
Before the assembly turned to further business, Wayne Baerg (Winkler MB) stepped to the mic to share a vision he received four years earlier, of a giant hand, a broken dam, and new trees sprouting from freshly dug trenches. “God is beginning to work, to break the things we’ve done as churches, [asking us] to come out and do what he’s calling us to do,” said Baerg. David Wiebe, Canadian conference executive director, urged the assembly to respond to the vision with prayer.
Treasurer Carl Kauenhowen and conference administrator Dan Block tag-teamed to present the budget. There has been a change in audit style after last year’s divestiture of Family Life Network and MBCI. The conference support fund is in its second year of requesting 8 percent norms, and is going well. The year ended with an operating surplus of $9,028 after transfers. All decision points were moved and carried.
Farewell
 Moderator Barry Dyck offers a prayer of blessing for conference administrator Dan Block, entering retirement.
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Barry Dyck was thanked for his service on conference committees over the past 10 years, the last three as moderator. Ramsy Unruh is the new moderator; Harold Froese, assistant moderator.
Though only 26 out of 39 churches were represented by the 181 delegates, there was a good turnout from the younger churches. Bethel Evangelical Christian Assembly (Ethiopian) and Église Communautaire de la Rivière Rouge both sent delegates, and Habtemicael Beraki, pastor of Philadelphia Eritrean Church (the newest church), was warmly welcomed to the family by Missions & Church Extension director Russ Toews. Fort Garry MB brought a large contingent of delegates representing the under-35 demographic. In a troubling note, there were 25 pastoral staff transitions in 2008, following 13 pastor resignations in 2007. —KB
____________________________________________________________________
Stories of God building
Throughout the Manitoba assembly, individuals gave accounts of how God is using MBs in Manitoba as they make themselves available to him.
- Some three years after Crossroads MB Church, Winnipeg, went through ReFocusing, pastor Marvin Dyck says the process continues to bear fruit with increased giving, renewed Christian Education emphasis, a garden outreach to the community, and young people taking on leadership roles.
- Travelling against the trend, Steven Bock moved from the inner city to the slower-paced “big” life in Manitou, where he works in a lumberyard by day, as youth pastor by night. Bock had the privilege of seeing a fatherless young agnostic glorify God after God became real to him through a miraculous answer to prayer.
- Habtemicael Beraki, pastor of the newest MB church in Manitoba, has a passion for his church to ignite spiritual life in mainstream Canadian nonbelievers as well as to reach those in his ethnic community (Eritrean).
- At Simonhouse Bible Camp, Darryl Janzen has seen campers bring home their changed lives, and has made the facility a place to connect with the community all year round.
- Cynthia Frazer, pastor at Christian Family Centre, Winnipeg, and soon-to-be first graduate of SOUL (School of Urban Mission), compared her new career as a pastor to her previous one as a nurse. Both involve caring for hurting people, and treating each one as a whole person, and both require specialized training. She is studying at SOUL because “I don’t want to think out of my own mind, I want to think out of the knowledge of God.” —KB
