News
Montreal English community strives for “incarnational” approach
Herald receives publishing honours
Service sometimes hurts, CMU student finds
MCC launches $500,000 Myanmar cyclone appeal
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Montreal English community strives for “incarnational” approach
Whether it’s making sure a senior’s square dance event is planned properly, or mowing lawns for strangers, members of Montreal’s Westside Gathering MB church are out there working for the Man.
In Montreal, it’s a little harder to define who that is.
“When we do nice things for them, neighbours obviously don’t knock the fact that we’re followers of Christ,” says pastor David Manafo. “I think they choose not to talk about the fact that Christ is important to us.”
For five years, Manafo has led what is now the only English MB church on the island, which has a specifically “incarnational” approach to ministry. Montreal is 40 percent English. To get to know their neighours and cultivate authenticity, they advertise free labour in the local paper, host discussions at local cafés, and meet in small groups spread across the city.
“It’s definitely sowing seed and shapes what kind of community we want to be,” says Manafo. Recently a Muslim woman decided to join their community outreach projects because she was interested in the core of what they do.
“It took us a couple years to find out it wasn’t going to be easy to do conventional church – Sunday morning wasn’t going to be our focus.” The average age of their 40 or so members is 32, and they rent a school building for church services.
“God’s building us into this spiritual house and it could take longer than we might think. It’s not a house but a presence,” says Manafo, who comes from a Pentecostal background, and is known for his relaxed style and practical sermons.
That presence is certainly real for one of their new members, Cindy David, a TD Bank employee.
“Last year, I was the girl who threw the Bible across the hallway,” she says. An angry, promiscuous person who drank $300 a week, Cindy says she was “the queen of the dark side.” One day Christine, who is Cindy’s co-worker and also a Westside member, was at a party where one of her friends asked Cindy, “Do you believe in God?” Like most Montreal population, she said “yes.” It was an impersonal god.
The next Monday, every single one of Cindy’s clients said “God bless.” “I haven’t heard that in six years of banking,” she says. She broke down crying after she heard others talking about what Jesus meant in their lives, and later received a Bible. Starting out reading Genesis, the name Matthew kept running through her head. Next Sunday, she knew she had to go to church with Christine. Sure enough, Manafo’s message was entitled “Matthew, restoration, brand new.” A year later, Cindy’s life is totally transformed.
“Westside is a very big part of my walk – it’s my family,” she says. Now Cindy invites her friends to café talks about Jesus, the God-Man.
Even with new members like Cindy, kids at Westside outnumber adults two to one.
So far, they have 13 volunteers who rotate leading a community kid’s camp. “We went through a burnout two years ago and now we’re trying to do something more sustainable,” says Manafo. “We actually need 20 volunteers, which seems impossible.”
Westside’s “incarnational” approach is a leading example. Small group leader and McGill University computer science instructor Joseph Vibyhal says many evangelical churches are attracted to the method, but slow to change. “It’s like riding an elephant, you have to turn them, and they’re in the process of turning.”
Currently Westside Gathering, a church of 40 members, is reaching out to a community of 500 people. Not bad in a day’s work for the Man.—AS
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Herald receives publishing honours
The MB Herald received three separate honours at the 2008 Canadian Church Press (CCP) awards banquet May 2 in Cambridge, Ontario. Hats off to Laura Kalmar for her first place editorial, “Don’t be afraid” (Nov. 2007), Kyla Steinkraus for her first place poem, “In the womb” (Dec. 2007), Wally Kroeker for his second place narrative, “The Pie auction” (June 2007), and Angeline Schellenberg for her honourable mention in the personal experience category for “A fragile strength” (April 2007).
“We’re grateful to be working with such gifted writers and contributors as we seek to share the life and story of our church!” says Kalmar. The annual CCP event recognizes excellence in Christian media and brings together some 70 publications from across the country. —Eds
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Service sometimes hurts, CMU student finds
Patrick Nickel receives 2007–08 Spirit of Generosity Award
Sometimes, serving others hurts. Just ask Patrick Nickel – he knows.
Nickel, a second year student at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, injured his ankle trying some new tricks while skateboarding. But it was all for a good cause; Nickel was hurt at The Edge, a Youth For Christ skateboard park where he volunteers five hours each week with inner city youth.
“Some of the kids I work with are phenomenal on skateboards,” says Nickel, who was hobbling around the university on crutches during the last month of school. “I, on the other hand, am pretty horrible.”
For his service, Nickel, of Delta, B.C., is CMU’s 2007-08 recipient of the Mennonite Foundation of Canada Spirit of Generosity Award, which is given annually to students at Mennonite schools in Canada who have demonstrated a spirit of generosity in their personal lives.
Each Spirit of Generosity award winner receives $400 from the Foundation, $200 of which is given to a charity of the recipient’s choice.
While at The Edge, Nickel does more than skateboard – he also seeks to develop friendships with the kids and take interest in their lives. “It’s about relationships as much as it is about skate boarding,” he says, adding that The Edge seeks to provide youth with a safe space to hang out, develop friendships and be mentored.
Many of the youth also lack good role models in their lives, says Nickel, a member of Delta’s Cedar Park Mennonite Brethren Church. “They aren’t bad kids. They just have had some bad modelling when it comes to discipline, school, alcohol, and drugs.”
Nickel, who is studying youth ministry at CMU, says his time at The Edge has shown him why “some kids struggle so much and get in trouble with the law. It’s not because they don’t care, it’s often that they aren’t taught any better.”
“Patrick is committed to shaping future generations of young adults through a Christian model,” says Marilyn Peters Kliewer, dean of students at CMU. “Through laughter, encouragement, and a lot of love he is breaking down the barriers that prohibit youth from redefining their own future, as well as the future of the city of Winnipeg.”
Mennonite Foundation of Canada is an organization that encourages stewardship education and service from a Mennonite perspective. Its head office is in Winnipeg.
____________________________________________________________________
MCC launches $500,000 Myanmar cyclone appeal
Cyclone Nargis made landfall May 2 and devastated southern Myanmar’s (also known as Burma) delta region. According to news reports, it drove a
wall of water over coastal communities before many residents could escape. The U.S. government estimates that the death toll could reach 100,000.
Mennonite Central Committee now seeks $500,000 in relief funds, half of which have already been allocated. While they don’t currently have workers or programs in Myanmar, MCC will support the work of partner organizations. MCC has committed funds to Metta, a Burmese development organization which will distribute rice and medicine, Hope International which will provide medical care, Church World Service which will provided water purification, and IDE-Myanmar which will distribute water containers, pumps, and plastic sheeting.
Tom Wenger, MCC associate director for Asia, notes that Myanmar will need long-term assistance to recover from the cyclone’s devastation. While the full magnitude of the disaster has yet to emerge, the cyclone reportedly caused widespread destruction in Myanmar’s main rice-growing region, endangering the country’s food supplies.
“For many of these rural families, three quarters of their income goes toward purchasing food,” Wenger said. “So, they were already vulnerable economically, even before the cyclone hit.”
Wenger visited Myanmar in April, less than a month before the cyclone made landfall. He said that Myanmar is a predominantly agricultural nation that is less connected to the West, politically and economically, than many other parts of Asia. Buddhism is the predominant religion, but there are active Christian and Muslim minorities.
Ron Flaming, MCC director of international programs, said the cyclone may provide the opportunity for MCC to be more involved in Myanmar in the future. “We know there are going to be massive needs for rebuilding,” he said. “We plan to be engaged in that.”
Herald receives publishing honours
Service sometimes hurts, CMU student finds
MCC launches $500,000 Myanmar cyclone appeal
____________________________________________________________________
Montreal English community strives for “incarnational” approach
Whether it’s making sure a senior’s square dance event is planned properly, or mowing lawns for strangers, members of Montreal’s Westside Gathering MB church are out there working for the Man.In Montreal, it’s a little harder to define who that is.
“When we do nice things for them, neighbours obviously don’t knock the fact that we’re followers of Christ,” says pastor David Manafo. “I think they choose not to talk about the fact that Christ is important to us.”
For five years, Manafo has led what is now the only English MB church on the island, which has a specifically “incarnational” approach to ministry. Montreal is 40 percent English. To get to know their neighours and cultivate authenticity, they advertise free labour in the local paper, host discussions at local cafés, and meet in small groups spread across the city.
“It’s definitely sowing seed and shapes what kind of community we want to be,” says Manafo. Recently a Muslim woman decided to join their community outreach projects because she was interested in the core of what they do.
“It took us a couple years to find out it wasn’t going to be easy to do conventional church – Sunday morning wasn’t going to be our focus.” The average age of their 40 or so members is 32, and they rent a school building for church services.
“God’s building us into this spiritual house and it could take longer than we might think. It’s not a house but a presence,” says Manafo, who comes from a Pentecostal background, and is known for his relaxed style and practical sermons.
That presence is certainly real for one of their new members, Cindy David, a TD Bank employee.
“Last year, I was the girl who threw the Bible across the hallway,” she says. An angry, promiscuous person who drank $300 a week, Cindy says she was “the queen of the dark side.” One day Christine, who is Cindy’s co-worker and also a Westside member, was at a party where one of her friends asked Cindy, “Do you believe in God?” Like most Montreal population, she said “yes.” It was an impersonal god.
The next Monday, every single one of Cindy’s clients said “God bless.” “I haven’t heard that in six years of banking,” she says. She broke down crying after she heard others talking about what Jesus meant in their lives, and later received a Bible. Starting out reading Genesis, the name Matthew kept running through her head. Next Sunday, she knew she had to go to church with Christine. Sure enough, Manafo’s message was entitled “Matthew, restoration, brand new.” A year later, Cindy’s life is totally transformed.
“Westside is a very big part of my walk – it’s my family,” she says. Now Cindy invites her friends to café talks about Jesus, the God-Man.
Even with new members like Cindy, kids at Westside outnumber adults two to one.
So far, they have 13 volunteers who rotate leading a community kid’s camp. “We went through a burnout two years ago and now we’re trying to do something more sustainable,” says Manafo. “We actually need 20 volunteers, which seems impossible.”
Westside’s “incarnational” approach is a leading example. Small group leader and McGill University computer science instructor Joseph Vibyhal says many evangelical churches are attracted to the method, but slow to change. “It’s like riding an elephant, you have to turn them, and they’re in the process of turning.”
Currently Westside Gathering, a church of 40 members, is reaching out to a community of 500 people. Not bad in a day’s work for the Man.—AS
____________________________________________________________________
Herald receives publishing honours
The MB Herald received three separate honours at the 2008 Canadian Church Press (CCP) awards banquet May 2 in Cambridge, Ontario. Hats off to Laura Kalmar for her first place editorial, “Don’t be afraid” (Nov. 2007), Kyla Steinkraus for her first place poem, “In the womb” (Dec. 2007), Wally Kroeker for his second place narrative, “The Pie auction” (June 2007), and Angeline Schellenberg for her honourable mention in the personal experience category for “A fragile strength” (April 2007). “We’re grateful to be working with such gifted writers and contributors as we seek to share the life and story of our church!” says Kalmar. The annual CCP event recognizes excellence in Christian media and brings together some 70 publications from across the country. —Eds
____________________________________________________________________
Service sometimes hurts, CMU student finds
Patrick Nickel receives 2007–08 Spirit of Generosity Award
Sometimes, serving others hurts. Just ask Patrick Nickel – he knows.
Nickel, a second year student at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, injured his ankle trying some new tricks while skateboarding. But it was all for a good cause; Nickel was hurt at The Edge, a Youth For Christ skateboard park where he volunteers five hours each week with inner city youth.
“Some of the kids I work with are phenomenal on skateboards,” says Nickel, who was hobbling around the university on crutches during the last month of school. “I, on the other hand, am pretty horrible.”
For his service, Nickel, of Delta, B.C., is CMU’s 2007-08 recipient of the Mennonite Foundation of Canada Spirit of Generosity Award, which is given annually to students at Mennonite schools in Canada who have demonstrated a spirit of generosity in their personal lives.
Each Spirit of Generosity award winner receives $400 from the Foundation, $200 of which is given to a charity of the recipient’s choice.
While at The Edge, Nickel does more than skateboard – he also seeks to develop friendships with the kids and take interest in their lives. “It’s about relationships as much as it is about skate boarding,” he says, adding that The Edge seeks to provide youth with a safe space to hang out, develop friendships and be mentored.
Many of the youth also lack good role models in their lives, says Nickel, a member of Delta’s Cedar Park Mennonite Brethren Church. “They aren’t bad kids. They just have had some bad modelling when it comes to discipline, school, alcohol, and drugs.”
Nickel, who is studying youth ministry at CMU, says his time at The Edge has shown him why “some kids struggle so much and get in trouble with the law. It’s not because they don’t care, it’s often that they aren’t taught any better.”
“Patrick is committed to shaping future generations of young adults through a Christian model,” says Marilyn Peters Kliewer, dean of students at CMU. “Through laughter, encouragement, and a lot of love he is breaking down the barriers that prohibit youth from redefining their own future, as well as the future of the city of Winnipeg.”
Mennonite Foundation of Canada is an organization that encourages stewardship education and service from a Mennonite perspective. Its head office is in Winnipeg.
____________________________________________________________________
MCC launches $500,000 Myanmar cyclone appeal
Cyclone Nargis made landfall May 2 and devastated southern Myanmar’s (also known as Burma) delta region. According to news reports, it drove a
wall of water over coastal communities before many residents could escape. The U.S. government estimates that the death toll could reach 100,000.Mennonite Central Committee now seeks $500,000 in relief funds, half of which have already been allocated. While they don’t currently have workers or programs in Myanmar, MCC will support the work of partner organizations. MCC has committed funds to Metta, a Burmese development organization which will distribute rice and medicine, Hope International which will provide medical care, Church World Service which will provided water purification, and IDE-Myanmar which will distribute water containers, pumps, and plastic sheeting.
Tom Wenger, MCC associate director for Asia, notes that Myanmar will need long-term assistance to recover from the cyclone’s devastation. While the full magnitude of the disaster has yet to emerge, the cyclone reportedly caused widespread destruction in Myanmar’s main rice-growing region, endangering the country’s food supplies.
“For many of these rural families, three quarters of their income goes toward purchasing food,” Wenger said. “So, they were already vulnerable economically, even before the cyclone hit.”
Wenger visited Myanmar in April, less than a month before the cyclone made landfall. He said that Myanmar is a predominantly agricultural nation that is less connected to the West, politically and economically, than many other parts of Asia. Buddhism is the predominant religion, but there are active Christian and Muslim minorities.
Ron Flaming, MCC director of international programs, said the cyclone may provide the opportunity for MCC to be more involved in Myanmar in the future. “We know there are going to be massive needs for rebuilding,” he said. “We plan to be engaged in that.”
