Local Salt and Light

Precious cargo Reconciliation trip Thompson Ave Thankful Fort McMurray teachers PAGE 9 PAGES 10-11 PAGE 13 PAGE 20 PM# 40009999 R9375 A Reformed Biweekly | 72nd Year of Publication | November 14, 2016 | NO. 3044 | $2.50 News. Clues. Kingdom views. Theme: Neighbours “Rumours” by Karen Tamminga-Paton. Local salt and light Monica deRegt fundraising to work full time as a pretty remarkable stories, as shared missionary in his back yard, build- in Abma’s new book, out this “Love your neighbour” is the sec- ing intentional neighbourhoods. month. The pages of Neighbouring ond greatest commandment in the “In the context of church, I’ve for Life (Lulu Publishing) are filled New Testament. But what does this observed a tendency for some of with surprising and delightful anec- look like practically in the physi- us to become so wrapped up in cer- dotes of the joy and small miracles cal spaces where we live? What tain elements of the organization that can occur when people simply if, in the words of Rick Abma, a and the programs, that we miss start taking the time to get to know missionary in Central Alberta, our the objective of actually engaging their neighbours. traditional efforts to obey this com- with the world we are called to It seems so simple, but for many mand are carried out at the expense serve,” Abma explained, going on people the hardest part is know- “Swords into pruning hooks” by Jim Janknegt. of the person next to us? to say that he desires to see less fo- ing where and how to start, and Abma is working towards a cus on the ecclesiastical aspect of overcoming two big obstacles – solution for that question through church and more on discipleship. busyness and fear. Calling himself The moral fog of war: Neighbourhood Life (NL), a grass- a catalyst, Abma is currently work- roots initiative in Central Alberta God will orchestrate ing in over 10 neighbourhoods, Viet Nam through cracked Reformed glasses that seeks to enable Christians to Rick started by beginning to build helping people find ways to over- actively engage with their neigh- relationships with people who had come these challenges and to be Syl Gerritsma bours. After 20+ years serving as been his neighbours for 20 years, disciples in their neighbourhood. a CRC pastor in the institutional emphasizing that the goal is not “I’m operating from the as- If you have attended typical Remembrance Day ceremonies, you know church, Abma recognized a prob- to try to get people to come to sumption that most Christians want what to expect. You hear about heroes and heroic action in the face lem – a shortfall of people com- church. Rather, the purpose is to to obey the command to be salt of suffering for the sake of freedom and justice and overcoming evil. ing to the church as an institution. simply live out the commandment, and light in their community; to be Our selective memories allow us to compress some wars neatly Believing that the answer was not bloom where you are planted and disciples of Jesus,” Abma states, into that good versus bad paradigm. World War II, in which my father in adding more programs, he re- see what God will orchestrate. describing how he once used a map fought, was like that. When you were fighting a power as conspicuously signed from his position and began And God has orchestrated some Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3 PAGE 2 Christian Courier News Local salt and light continued than the first house, where they encountered a lonely older transformed, and as NL continues to grow it is starting to gentleman who was longing for company. They stayed and attract attention from outside of the denomination. Rick has visited, and a relationship grew. Another family asked their had numerous opportunities to teach and lead workshops neighbours to look after their house while they were on in churches and with local city leaders. Currently, the cit- vacation. They returned to a big “welcome home” banner ies of Red Deer, Lacombe and Sylvan Lake are actively made by the children and two meals in their freezer! promoting the work of NL. Neighbourhood Life helps neighbours start by offering Rick is excited to see where his so-called “grand experi- the free use of their “tool kit” – a number of items that can ment” will go next. “Everyone is dying to know what will facilitate large crowd gatherings, such as a commercial size happen. I am too!” he says with a laugh. At the end of his travelling barbeque grill and a meeting tent, which Rick book, he encourages the reader to dream of what his or her and his partners will set up and clean up free of charge. neighbourhoods could become, to “Be creative! Be genu- They also offer freshly roasted coffee in the form of ine! And think more of your neighbours than yourself.” a free, live event. What began as a fundraiser to bring in initial income for the ministry has turned into a full circle Monica deRegt is the features editor for Christian Courier. business whose profits now fund 20 percent of Neighbour- Neighbouring for Life by Rick Abma tells hood Life’s expenses. The high-end raw coffee beans are the stories of lives transformed through Abma’s BBQ grill comes with wheels, fuel and two coolers. purchased by a group of four people from Canada that a grass-roots movement of loving your of his town to mark off all the areas where Christians lived, support 55 farmers in honduras including the Carpenteros neighbour. The book will be released No- vember 2016. For more stories and ideas based on information from the pastors of each of the various group from ontario, that Rick met when he lived there a that spur us on to thriving neighbour- churches. “Imagine the impact we could have if every Chris- few years back. The roasted coffee (goodneighbourcoffee. hoods, follow along at rickabma.com. tian would do a little something in their neighbourhood!” ca) is sold throughout Alberta in packages that contain Believing that loving your neighbour should be no dif- stories of transformed lives in neighbourhoods across the ferent than loving your children, Abma says that there are region. As he demonstrates the roasting process at live ‘Rumours’ artist and inspiration (page 1) so many things you can do. “People will tell me ‘I’m not events, it becomes somewhat of a “mini-pulpit” for him Karen Tamminga-Paton is a painter, storyteller, teacher an extrovert. I can’t talk to other people as easily as you to share more of the stories of what is happening through and community member. She lives in the mountains of can!’ or ‘I don’t even have time for my family; how can I NL and in Honduras. the beautiful Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, where she and make time for my neighbours?’ but it doesn’t have to be “Wherever we go, and whatever we do, people ask us her husband, Dale, raised three daughter and wander the big or complicated. The key is to go out with the mindset of ‘Why are you doing this?’ and it opens the door for me to tell wilderness every chance they can (tammingapaton.com). searching for where God is already at work. observe your them about this big command that Jesus gives us in the Bible This piece graces the cover of Abma's new book. neighbourhood; discern the beauty and the brokenness.” to love our neighbours . and it just takes off from there!” “We carry stories,” Karen says, “we carry secrets. All the while, we live side-by-side in our neighbourhoods. It Opening the door New benchmarks is very possible to live our lives hidden. And yet, every- The Neighbourhood Life website outlines “steps to start” Rick receives some support through Christian Reformed one holds echoes of something greater […] how well – things like finding a willing neighbour to partner with Home Missions as well as from local churches and busi- do we recognize that in one another? […] Imagine the you, praying for your neighbours and giving of your time, nesses. The biggest challenge in finding support, he says, rumours of glory that angels whisper over these same talents or treasures. Abma shared an example of one couple is that it’s hard to measure success, since NL isn’t set up as individuals – including you – because they know what who loved to bake and decided to make five platters of an organized ministry model with stated visions and goals. God sees. how differently we would see one another!” cookies to bring to their neighbours. They didn’t get further The stories themselves, however, shout the success of lives Mike Buma, Jennifer Neutel, Derek Schuurman, Rachel Baarda, Brian Bork, Angela Reitsma Bick and Peter Schuurman Gideon Strauss and Patricia Webb of ICS chat with CC Edi- (L to R) met in late October to go through reader survey results and chart CC’s route for 2017. tor (centre) at the Eastern Day of Encouragement, Oct. 15. NovEmber 14, 2016 page 3 News The moral fog of war continued evil as Nazism everyone knows who was on the side of the on the next day as if nothing had happened. Duty – other angels. (And if you were on the other side, you are not often duty – calls. invited to write about Remembrance Day.) I am thankful that this paper is a Christian publication, Guns into garden tools not typical. I am thankful to share this brief space with you.

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