MessengerOCT BER 2018 www.brethren.org
NATIONAL YOUTH conference 4 A LEGACY LIVES ON IN CHINA 18 A fisherman forgiven 22
Church of the Brethren
MessengerOctober 2018 Vol.167 No. 8 www.brethren.org/messenger Glenn Riegel Glenn Nevin Dulabaum
Publisher: Wendy McFadden Associate editor: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Web editor: Jan Fischer Bachman At-large editor: Walt Wiltschek Design: The Concept Mill
National Youth Conference 2018 departments Bound Together: Clothed in Christ 4 2 From the Publisher 3 In Touch 20 bible study A legacy lives on in China 24 Reflections by Jeff Bach 18 25 Newsline digest 27 Youth & Young Adults 28 Letters Can we live together? 31 Turning Points Reflection by Sandra Brubaker and 32 Potluck 22 the Living Letters Sunday school class
on the cover Four members of the National Youth Cabinet celebrate during worship on Tuesday morning. Each day had a different T-shirt theme, and Tuesday was tie-dye. Photo by Glenn Riegel. FromthePublisher
From age to age How to reach us
Messenger eeing the crowds at National Youth Conference always 1451 Dundee Avenue Elgin, IL 60120 gives me hope. How could it not? The atmosphere in Moby Arena is electric, as youth stream in from across the Church of the Brethren. This Subscriptions: S Diane Stroyeck year, folks back home could log on to see parts of the conference via [email protected] Facebook Live, which made it easy to sense the energy from afar. Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 327 Not all the participants at NYC are teenagers. Several hundred are advi- Fax: 847-742-1407 sors, volunteering a week or more to give their youth an opportunity to Advertising: encounter God in a new way. These adult participants Karen Stocking [email protected] range in age from 20s to bona-fide senior citizens. Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 308 The Church of the Brethren held its first youth Fax: 847-742-1407 conference in 1954. That means that today those youth Editorial: of yesteryear could be around 80. And their advisors [email protected] could now be around 100. It’s amazing how quickly the Phone: 800-323-8039 ext. 326 years add up. Fax: 847-742-1407 We do have centenarians in the Church of the Subscription rates: Brethren. In fact, it seems as if there are more than $17.50 individual rate - $32 for 2 years ever. That’s quite likely, since the number in the popu- $14.50 gift rate Wendy McFadden lation as a whole has been increasing. (One could argue $14.50 church club rate Publisher that the Brethren are likely to have a higher percentage - $27 for 2 years of centenarians because of all that good, clean living.) $ 1.25 student (per month) Since there are more, Messenger has decided to add a section to Turning If you move, clip address label and send with new address to Messenger Points to mark the milestones of 100th birthdays. It probably won’t be long Subscriptions, at the above address. before we prove that the Brethren are beating the national average (which is Allow at least five weeks for 2.2 per 10,000 people, according to the Pew Research Foundation). address change.
But reaching a certain age is not the goal in life, of course. Whether you are For digital Messenger go to the right age to attend this year’s NYC or were the right age to attend in 1954, www.brethren.org/accessmessenger. the aim is to be clothed in Christ. Young and old, we are bound together as Visit Messenger online at followers of Jesus. www.brethren.org/messenger. As the psalmist says: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come (Psalm 71:17-18).
Messenger is the official publication of the Church of the Brethren. Member of the Associated Church Press. Biblical quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version. Copyright © October 2018, Church of the Brethren.
Messenger (ISSN 0026-0355) is published 10 times a year by Brethren Press, Church of the Brethren. Periodicals postage paid at Elgin, Ill., and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Messenger, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694. Printed on recycled paper (20% post consumer) 2 Messenger October 2018 InTouch courtesy of Frankcourtesy Ramirez Worthington member has ‘can’-do attitude
Each year, members of Worthington (Minn.) Church of the Brethren receive creative, hand- The White Buggy debuts crafted ornaments from Lyle Adolph, and the fame for his creative juices has rethren writer Frank Ramirez and spread into the community. composer Steve Engle have penned A recent article in The Globe, a local a new musical, The White Buggy, which newspaper, chronicled Adolph’s latest Bpremiered at the Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres project: making beautiful artwork out in Nappanee, Ind., Sept. 17. of recycled cans. Ramirez and Engle have been working on the “I was sitting at the table after production for four years. The musical provides “a drinking my V-8 juice every morning, more realistic vision of who the Amish are and what and I noticed all the cans left in the their lives are like in a world they gladly share with their ‘English’ neighbors but dining room,” Adolph, 90, said in the from which they stand out in marked contrast to modern values or lack of interview. “I thought, ‘There should be them,” according to a release. something we can do with these before The action centers on the workings of an Amish-Mennonite weekly they’re recycled.’ newspaper. Various colorful characters help the story to unfold. He decided to create a tractor, and “Amish life never fails to surprise, delight, and challenge us,” Ramirez said. did so using 270 cans. He took the “The more you know the less you know. But one thing you can be sure of—the tractor to the Nobles County fair, where Amish prove that good things last.” it won a purple ribbon. Adolph, a retired farmer and lifelong member at Worthington, told the paper that he’s thinking of a miniature Mount Wilson has an ‘uplifting’ baptism windmill for his next artistic endeavor. “That’s just a dream yet,” Adolph Mount Wilson Church of the Brethren said. “It will be mostly out of used (Lebanon, Pa.) has made an intentional materials—maybe it will be next year’s effort to reach out to its surrounding community, project.” many of whom have not been part of a church. When one of those community members, Dave Dave Sollenberger Witmer, decided he wanted to join Mount Wilson this past year, members of the congregation went to
extra lengths to welcome him in. Julie Buntjer, The of Globe Worthington, Minn. Because Witmer has mobility issues stemming from an accident, climbing down into the baptistry was not possible, but he wanted to have a traditional baptism. So the congregation arranged to obtain a wheelchair that was “user-friendly in water” and rigged up a series of ropes that would allow the wheelchair to be lowered into the baptistry and lifted out again. “It was very meaningful for him and for our whole congregation,” Mount Wilson co-pastor Jim Eikenberry said. “It was the beautiful fruit of our congregation’s work.”
Do you have district or congregational stories that might be of interest to Messenger? Short items with a photo are best. Send them to Messenger, c/o In Touch, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 or [email protected].
Messenger October 2018 3 • July 21-26, 2018 • Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. National Youth Conference
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were –Colossians 3:14-15 called in the one body.”
Glenn Riegel
ream that we could carry something from here to our count “We have a d ry.” –Campinas, Brazil –California “Everyone has –Nigeria o Nevada.” been involved. The church is really serious.” border int “It was a big moment when we crossed the
Glenn Riegel
Glenn Riegel Nevin Dulabaum
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ream that we could carry something from here to our count Glenn Riegel “We have a d ry.” –Campinas, Brazil –California “Everyone has –Nigeria o Nevada.” been involved. The church is really serious.” border int
“It was a big moment when we crossed the Glenn Riegel Glenn
people attended NYC 2018: 1,246 youth, 471 advisors, and 92 staff, youth workers, and volunteers. The conference welcomed international Brethren 1,809 from India Spain, Nigeria, and Brazil.
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Chosen Christ.” Jesus through God to acceptable t
to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices sacrifices spiritual offer to priesthood, holy a be to
and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, house, spiritual a into built be yourselves let stones, living like and
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Why I ride the bus Riegel Glenn by John Reed
Attending NYC is an incredible experience for grounds. But it is amazing to watch our youth move youth and advisors alike, but I believe the Virlina District beyond differences and focus on what unites us—Jesus bus trip was an integral part of that experience. Christ. They experience the grace of God in a way that is The bus was not simply a mode of transportation, nor life changing. was it just a sightseeing trip. If it were, I would choose to fly. As we work on a compelling vision for the Church of the Rather, we spend six days in community with brothers Brethren, let us do the same; let us focus on Jesus as Lord.
and sisters from our district. We really get to know one John Reed, a member of Cloverdale Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, another while praying, having devotions, singing, and play- Va., is a youth advisor in Virlina District. ing games together. While it is wonderful meeting new people at NYC (especially in small groups), they often live in another state and it is hard to stay in touch. The people we meet on the bus are those we can continue to fellow- ship with regularly at camp or district events. I have been to NYC twice (2014 and 2018) and I can honestly say that the relationships built on the bus trips are priceless—they will last a lifetime! National Youth Conference is one of the church’s best investments in our youth. Like our denomination as a
Nevin Dulabaum whole, NYC has people with diverse theological back-
open arms and cares.” –South Carolina “Being able to talk a l like everyone has bout the sermon and abo ke me fee ut things that yo inia are. They ma u can easily overlook with all the actiivitiies.” –Virg “ ople really c Being part of a small group makes me feel like pe
Small groups were an important way for “You are beloved, you NYC participants to meet people from different places. In these small circles of conversation, they debriefed from sermons and are cherished, you are workshops and reflected on how the week was going. a treasure, and you
are held Carttightly.” –Jeff er
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Glenn Riegel Glenn small groups 120 Messenger October 2018 7 “What does it mean to be a neighbor? ... There’s inequality all around us. We have to pay attention to it because we live in a world where we will never know about it if we choose not to.” Love –Christena Cleveland extravagantly
“The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women...if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.’ But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but –Exodus 1:15-17
they let the boys live.” Glenn Riegel Glenn
he game was over we came back together. A petiitiive, but after t fter it was done, we re ps was very com alized it was just a y for small grou “Connect 4 game.” –Florida “W –Question of the da g.” –Illinois hat excites you about following Jesus?” “I n are helpin loved learning about the world . . . and how Brethre
“Our God is calling us and inviting us and compelling us and insisting that we come to know him, and knowing him we will act in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, the enslaved, and the exiled.”
– Dana Cassell Nevin Dulabaum Nevin
Glenn Riegel 5k run Superheroes rose early on Sunday for a 6 a.m. 5K run/walk around campus. Nevin Dulabaum
8 Messenger October 2018 extravagantly
Glenn Riegel he game was over we came back together. A petiitiive, but after t fter it was done, we re ps was very com alized it was just a y for small grou “Connect 4 game.” –Florida “W –Question of the da g.” –Illinois hat excites you about following Jesus?” “I n are helpin loved learning about the world . . . and how Brethre
Glenn Riegel Glenn Riegel Glenn
Brethren Block Party When a Viking, an Egyptian king, and a flamingo get together to eat ice cream, toss a chicken, and test their geography skills, National Youth Conference organizers call it a success. This all happened at the Brethren Block Party, a fun way to learn about all the different organizations in the Church of the Brethren—and to get acquainted with others at NYC. There were 14 booths to visit. Plus, more than 1,600 cups of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream and 100 popsicles were served.
m au b la u D n vi e N cups of ice cream 1,600
Messenger October 2018 9 “My prayer is that the church can be the home that you run to, and that we as your family can run to you.” Offer and –Eric Landram accept forgiveness
“But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms Riegel Glenn –Luke 15:20b around him and kissed him.”
oups Questiion of the day for small gr “Instead of instantly judging peo ok like?” – ple, take tiime to lis land n the world lo ten to them. Just sho absent.” –Mary ’s lives and i w love in general, especially in places where love is “ ce in people What would a church that is making a diffferen Witness Youth had an opportunity to take part in a public witness activity each day, including witnessing against drone war- fare, joining in a peace vigil, and planting “seeds of conver- sation.” Here they are signing a banner of support for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The ban- ner is traveling around the denomination for more signa- tures and then is being taken to Nigeria. Glenn Riegel Glenn
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Nevin Dulabaum Laura Brown Laura
l e g e Ri n n e l accept G
forgiveness Nevin Dulabaum Nevin
oups Questiion of the day for small gr “Instead of instantly judging peo ok like?” – ple, take tiime to lis land n the world lo ten to them. Just sho absent.” –Mary ’s lives and i w love in general, especially in places where love is “ ce in people What would a church that is making a diffferen
“When we offer ourselves to Jesus, warts and all, we will hear him say, ‘I see you and I love you.’”
–Laura Stone Laura Brown Laura
Workshops Learn, dis- cuss, make, move, sing: Workshop topics were as varied as love feast, hymns, Star
Nevin Dulabaum Nevin Wars and theology, mental illness, racism, workshops mission, drama, prayer journaling, autism, dance, discerning God’s call. 161
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Truepeace “Locked inside our skin we live so far apart. What I would give to hear the beating of your heart.” “And [Jesus] woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; –A stanza of one of Ken Medema’s songs they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’.” –Luke 8:24b-25a
“I...beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every–Ephesians effort to4:1-3 maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
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stion of the day for small groups “By showing your love for Christ and not the world?” –Que hiding it. Then other peop ’s lives and le will know you a nnsylvania nce in people re a Christiian and you can have a discussion about it.” –Pe “W akes a difffere hat will it take for us to be the kind of church that m
“Jesus, if you’re listening, there are storms out there.... There’s racism,fen sexism,don’t know misogyny, and we too o “To take a step closer to God what truth looks like.... There are storms means to take a step closer toey inside that say we’re not enough.... I like to each other. And to take a step think that Jesus would stand and look at us Hollenberg-Duff closer to each Tim other is to take a and and say, ‘Ah, I know you, you’re mine.’” step closer to God.” –Ted Swartz –Audrey
Nevin Dulabaum
Nevin Dulabaum
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peace “Locked inside our skin we live so far apart. What I would give to hear the beating of your heart.” –A stanza of one of Ken Medema’s songs
Glenn Riegel stion of the day for small groups “By showing your love for Christ and not the world?” –Que hiding it. Then other peop ’s lives and le will know you a nnsylvania nce in people re a Christiian and you can have a discussion about it.” –Pe “W akes a difffere hat will it take for us to be the kind of church that m<