Oct/Nov 2012

13 15 17 Are Mormons BFL study Coaching Christians? conference pastors CHRISTIAN LEADER T H E M A G A Z I N E O F U . S . M E N N O N I T E B R E T H R E N OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2012 hroughout the 2012 election campaign we have heard politicians say over and over again that they want a more civil political dis- Tcourse. But too often calls for civility and acts of incivility show up in the same speech. Associated Press reporter Allen G. Breed describes it this way: “The fundamental narrative of American politics in recent years con- tains two powerful threads: First, demand a better discourse among the people who run the country. Second, do everything you can to make sure that better discourse doesn’t take root.” And it seems to me that civility—and the lack of it—begins at home. I came to that conclusion 12 years ago when our daughter was prevented from using the slipper slide during recess because of her vote in the elementary school mock presidential election. As parents, we communicate our political beliefs to our children whether we do so intentionally or not. Politics isn’t the only arena in which what we say isn’t necessarily supported by our actions—or the other side of our mouths. Con- sider what we say about our money and what we do with our money. Writing in this issue, Jon Wiebe, president and CEO of MB Foundation, argues that teaching our children about giving, tithing and generosity requires both words and actions. Wiebe suggests that parents teach and model firstfruits living, and by firstfruits we “ mean giving our first and our best to God. Read Wiebe’s article, As parents, we “Get Generous,” on page 10 and check out the resources on the 2 MB Foundation website designed to help congregations teach these communicate our principles. So it seems that if we want to create civil and generous children, we can’t just tell our kids to share with others and to be nice to some- political beliefs to one who voted for a different presidential candidate than they did. We have to be openhanded and bighearted ourselves. our children The rightness of practicing godly virtues like civility and generosity extends beyond the doors of our homes. For example, a firstfruits CHRISTIAN LEADER • WWW.USMB.ORG lifestyle is good for us as individuals and families, and it’s good for us whether we do so corporately. So MB Foundation is encouraging and resourcing congregations that want to rework their budgets and stewardship strate- intentionally or not. gies to follow the biblical firstfruits approach. And now the new USMB funding strategy asks churches to em- “ ploy firstfruits giving and to tithe corporately to USMB—to give 2.5 percent of the annual church income to the national budget. But the principle of firstfruits doesn’t stop there. We as U.S. Mennonite Brethren belong to a global family that includes the International Community of Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite World Confer- ence, and these global fellowships ask us to tithe to their ministries. It is no easy thing as followers of Jesus Christ to act with honor and integrity when it comes to things like civility and generosity. If we’re honest, we admit that we find it too easy to attack another person’s political opinions or to care for our own needs before we tithe. But I encourage us to continue striving to be people who mirror God in our words and our deeds. Connie Faber Editor CONNECTING ONE Family 2 From the editor 6 First Person By Paul Bartel 5 Conference Call 28 Church Notes By Ed Boschman Words are necessary SERVING ONE 13 Are Mormons Lord Christians? 2012 / NOVEMBER OCTOBER By Cory Anderson 4 By the Book Mormons sound like Christians, but do their By Brian Allen beliefs line up? 10 Get generous A family talk 3 By Jon Wiebe 15 Three leaders discuss the Watch generosity grow when upcoming study you integrate firstfruits conference on USMB giving into family life. peace position. PURSUING ONE 24 Mission USA: Mission Connection 26 Home Page By Duane Ruth-Heffelbower 7 News Briefs Planning for a disabled adult child’s life 17 Body Life 27 On My Mind I Coaching pastors By Tim Neufeld Grateful to God Spinning through Books bless twice Vertigo Center insert — MB Mission Partnering as one family to serve one Lord on one mission, for the transformation of individuals, families and communities. www.usmb.org byTheBook Brian Allen CHRISTIAN LEADER efore life is over, all of us will face our share of “impossible situations.” In my own life, impossible has come in the October / November 2012 Bform of addiction, of health concerns for my wife during Volume 75 • Number 5 the pregnancy of one of our children, a dream for a sports out- reach ministry that just seems to require more resources than is Connie Faber possible and in the salvation of a family member that I desperately EDITOR desire to see come to know Christ. With some of these, God has Myra Holmes already done miracles; others still loom larger than life at times. ASSISTANT EDITOR “The impossible” in life is just one of the reasons why it is so Shelley Plett important to continue to read and meditate on God’s Word. GRAPHIC DESIGNER All through the Bible we are reminded that God is the God of Kimberlee Jost the impossible. One of those reminders comes from Luke COVER PHOTO 1:40-45. We’re told that a man came to Jesus facing the impos- The Christian Leader (ISSN 0009-5149) is a gathering sible situation of leprosy. Not only would that have included a place for the people, passions and mission of U.S disease that ravaged his body physically, it would have ravaged Mennonite Brethren. The Christian Leader is published him socially and religiously as well. So “impossible” was this bimonthly by the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. However, the opinions expressed situation that healing or curing leprosy was compared in diffi- here are not necessarily those of the church as a culty to raising the dead (2 Kings 5:7). whole. However, despite the impossible situation this leper faced, COPYRIGHT The articles printed in the Christian he learned some powerful realities concerning Jesus. First, he Leader are owned by the CL or by the author and may not be reprinted without permission. Unless noted, learned that nothing is impossible for God’s love. When he Scripture quotations are from the New International begged Jesus to make him clean if he was willing, it says in Version. 4 Mark 1:41, “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his READER PARTICIPATION Letters to the editor should hand and touched the man.” be 300 words or less and on one subject. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s city and state. Let- In other words, no matter how unclean his state, whether ters will be edited for clarity, appropriateness and due to his own failures or sins or just the cards that he had been length. Letters will be published, as space allows, un- dealt, Jesus loved him, would touch him and be there with him less marked, “Not for publication.” Readers interested in contributing essays for In My Humble Opinion and no matter what. Nothing could make him an outcast to Jesus. First Person should contact the editor. Freelance arti- Second, he learned that no problem was impossible for Jesus cle submissions are welcome; a SASE must accom- to solve. Leprosy was viewed to be as difficult as raising the pany articles. CHRISTIAN LEADER • WWW.USMB.ORG dead and yet in response to his request for cleaning we read, “‘I SUBSCRIPTIONS $10 for six issues and $20 for 12 is- am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left sues ($15, $30 in Canada; all other countries $25 for six issues); $1.50 per copy him and he was cured.” Apparently, not even death is too difficult for Jesus. CORRESPONDENCE: All correspondence, including subscription questions and address updates, should What impossible situation do you face today? Like the be addressed to leper, do you feel unlovable? Do you feel like the situation you Christian Leader face is impossible, like not even God can handle this one? Box 155, 107 N. Main, Hillsboro, KS 67063-0155 God put the story of Jesus healing a leper in the Bible to en- Phone: 620.947.5543 courage us that nothing is impossible for Him. He put that E-mail: [email protected] story in the Bible so we will trust him and turn to him and so his Word will change the way we think and change the way we MEMBERSHIP The Christian Leader is a member of the pray. That as Mark Batterson says, “The transcript of your Evangelical Press Association and Meetinghouse, an prayers would become the script of your life.” May your script association of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ edi- be one that overcomes the impossible through the love and tors. power of Jesus. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Christian Brian Allen is lead pastor at Hillsboro (Kan.) MB Church. Leader, Box 155, Hillsboro, KS 67063. Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, Kansas. The Christian Leader is published by “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.” Mark 1:41a U.S. Conference of MB Churches conferenceCall Ed Boschman USMB executive director [email protected] Words are necessary any of us have used this quote attributed to story and thereby invite, exhort and persuade peo- Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all ple to believe and pursue obedient followership.

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