July 24, 2017 Volume 21 Number 15 Immersive experience Tavistock pastor gets into the spirit of church’s 75th- anniversary celebration pg. 15 inside Going further together (Pt. 2) 4 Constants in the context of change 14 ‘Your joy becomes my joy’ 18 PM40063104 R09613 2 Canadian Mennonite July 24, 2017 Editorial fact, Mennonites have been accused of being “allergic to missions!” Hippolyto Tshimanga, one of the speakers at the Mennonite World Conference 2015 as- sembly, challenged the crowd to get over Is there a future that uneasiness around mission. “There is no such thing as a church without mis- sion; mission is the DNA of the church,” for missions? he declared. Virginia A. Hostetler In recent years, we have been aware of Executive Editor the ugly legacy colonialism has left in many parts of the world. And we have seen how ately I’ve been thinking a lot about Thiessen, whose January 2015 obitu- Christian missions—however well inten- missions. The feature in this issue is ary states simply that she had a “lifetime tioned—have played a part in that legacy of LPt. 2 in a series focussing on of service,” serving mostly with paternalism and exploitation. Some suggest partnerships between congrega- Mennonite Central Committee in that the era of foreign missionaries is over, tions and Witness workers. These Canada and abroad. and that North Americans should concen- workers were sent by Mennonite I learned about a recent survey trate our efforts here “at home.” Church Canada on our behalf, to conducted by the Evangelical Yet there’s something winsome about use their skills and their passions Fellowship of Canada and the the stories of our current overseas alongside local Christians for the Canadian Missions Research workers, and of those who dedicated work of God in those unique settings. Forum. The Canadian Evangelical their entire work lives, sometimes even I encourage you to read this feature, and Missions Engagement Study looked at their retirement years, to some form of the one in the July 3 issue, if you haven’t people’s attitudes and involvement in mission. Hearing their stories—and the already done so. You’ll learn about some “mission” or “missions.” Researchers stories of those they served with—we unique ways Witness workers are sharing polled more than 3,400 Canadians and can see how God worked through these the good news, and how people here in conducted interviews with 56 individ- imperfect human beings to carry out the Canada are a part of that ministry. uals, examining why Canadians engage work of healing and hope. Then there are the accounts of what in missions, what the priorities are and Now is a good time to consider what might be called career missionaries, stories how they promote missions. Two sec- we mean when we, as a Mennonite we have told on these pages and online. tions of the research studied people’s church, talk about and engage in missions Mary and Peter Derksen served for 45 involvement in long-term and short-term in today’s reality. Do we want to continue years in Japan and made lasting connec- mission work. (Note: MC Canada belongs affirming—and supporting—the calling tions that continue until today. There’s the to the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, individuals feel toward overseas work? tribute to Florence Kreider, who, along with and a category of survey respondents As the structure of MC Canada embarks her husband Roy, spent 32 years in Israel was labelled “Anabaptist.” Our national on new directions, we need to consider working in peacemaking and interfaith rec- church also connects with the Canadian carefully what role we want the Witness onciliation. Last fall, we carried a tribute to Council of Churches.) program to play. And whether our con- my father, Kenneth Schwartzentruber, who, The researchers wrote “mission” and gregations are seriously committed to along with my mother Grace, served for “missions” intentionally in quotation mission work in the future. 32 years in Brazil, primarily with Christian marks, because they found that people’s literature. We carried the obituary of Peter definitions varied as to what this activity Summer publishing schedule Kehler, who served for 16 years in Taiwan, entails. That ambiguity is also present in The next print issue of Canadian worked in pastorates and conference Mennonite circles. Mennnonite will be published on Aug. 28. leadership in North America, and, in later For some of us, the attitude toward After that, we will return to our regular years, served in Ukraine. And Marianne missions goes beyond ambiguity. In two-week schedule throughout the fall. About the cover: Jim Brown, Tavistock (Ont.) Mennonite Church’s intentional interim pastor, emerges from the dunk tank during the congregation’s 75th-anniversary celebration on June 25. See story on page 15. PHOTO: DAVE ROGALSKY, CANADIAN MENNONITE ISSN 1480-042X July 24, 2017 / Vol. 21, No. 15 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Going further together (Pt. 2) 4 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO : contentsWe conclude our two-part Missional Partnerships feature CANADIAN MENNONITE, with stories from Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba: ‘I 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5, thought this type of support was normal,’ ‘Building relation- WATERLOO, ON, N2L 6H7 ships with diverse people,’ and ‘ Two churches, one Witness Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 family. Web site: canadianmennonite.org Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno Immersive experience 15 Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Tavistock Mennonite Church celebrates 75 years of being ‘rooted in the General submission address: [email protected] past, grounded in faith, growing in discipleship’ with food, stories, song Readers Write: [email protected] . and a dunk tank,’ reports . Milestones announcements: [email protected] Dave Rogalsky Paid obituaries: [email protected] Calendar announcements: [email protected] Creating a we-centred world 16 Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/ Donna Shulz profiles the successful first year of Rosthern Junior Obituaries/Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. College’s Imagine program for Grade 10 students. Similar programs for Reprint requests: [email protected] students in grades 11 and 12 will follow. Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing Mennonites in Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ Audience finds CO play deeply moving 21 from an Anabaptist perspective. We do this through an independent publi- Barb Draper reviews a Theatre of the Beat production of Yellow Bellies cation and other media, working with our church partners. at Floradale (Ont.) Mennonite Church. Guiding values: Hebrews 10:23-25 • Accuracy, fairness, balance • Editorial freedom • 27-29 Seeking and speaking the truth in love • Open hearts and minds in discerning Young Voices God’s will • Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability In ‘Breaking the silence,’ Jaymie Friesen speaks out about her role as MCC Manitoba’s abuse response and prevention coordinator. Jonas Area churches and MC Canada financially support 38 percent of Canadian Cornelsen reflects on his year spent living with his 98-year-old grand- Mennonite’s annual budget. father, in ‘The odd couple.’ Board of Directors (by appointing body): MC Canada: Doreen Martens, Henry Krause, Rod Wiens, Elmer Hildebrand; MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: Arthur Koop; MC Saskatchewan: Larry Epp; MC Manitoba: Ken Reddig; Regular features: MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; CMPS: Lois Epp, Ally Siebert, Bryce Miller For discussion 7 Readers write 8 Milestones 11 Board Chair: Henry Krause, [email protected], 604-888-3192 A moment from yesterday 12 Online NOW! 25 Head Office Staff: Yellow Page 26 Calendar 30 Classifieds 30 Tobi Thiessen, Publisher, [email protected] Virginia A. Hostetler, Executive Editor, [email protected] Is there a future for missions? 2 Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] Virginia A. Hostetler Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Aaron Epp, Young Voices Editor, [email protected] Serving up your inner scapegoat 8 Advertising Manager: D. Michael Hostetler, [email protected], Coreena Stewart toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 A spacious year 9 Correspondents: Will Braun, Senior Writer, [email protected] Melissa Miller Amy Dueckman, B.C. Correspondent, [email protected] Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected] Continuous pruning 10 Donna Schulz, Saskatchewan Correspondent, [email protected] Harold Penner Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada Correspondent, [email protected] One-Year Subscription Rates Canada: $46 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) U.S.: $68 International (outside U.S.): $91.10 Subscriptions/address changes: (e-mail) [email protected] (web) canadianmennonite.org (phone) 1-800-378-2524 ext. 221 Printed in Canada Award-winning member of the CMCA Canadian Church Press AUDITED Missional Partnership Feature: Pt. 2 of 2 Going further together In our last issue, we introduced readers to the idea of missional partnerships between local congregations and Mennonite Church Canada Witness workers around the world, and profiled two examples from B.C. and