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Edmonton, Alta.
Edmonton MB congregation seeks restoration, healing


A Mennonite Brethren congregation in Edmonton held a “Restoration Celebration” on June 4, 2000, the result of several meetings that sought to bring reconciliation and healing.

For more than a year, Sunrise Community Church had been experiencing tension from within. Disagreements between individuals in the church escalated into divisiveness, and some members left the church to begin a new church. That culminated in the birth of Summerside Community Church, a new church plant.

However, reconciliation and healing were still needed. With the help of facilitators, 21 participants from both congregations met together April 26 and May 3 at Lendrum MB Church for “Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness”.

People prayed together and recognized how they had added to the divisiveness. Openness to listen to each other in a spirit of humility and acceptance of ownership for contributing to the disunity within the church were the first steps to healing and reconciliation. There were tears, smiles, handshakes and hugs, indicating to those on hand that God was present.

Facilitating the process of healing were Len Fehr of Sunrise Community Church; Tod Martens of Summerside Community Church; Abe Konrad, Alberta MB Conference minister; and Willy Reimer, chair of the Alberta Conference Church Extension Commission. Participants made the following statement:

“We as the participants of the ‘Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness’ event who have together experienced forgiveness and restoration and are committed to forgive as God forgives, commit ourselves in unity to express the following aspirations for all who call Sunrise home:

That the Holy Spirit would be at work in our midst, resulting in people coming to Christ and growing in faith; That each person experience forgiveness and restoration as we have; That each person feel free from past hurt and discouragement; That each of us feel loved by one another; That each of us be used by God for His glory; That each person find God’s place for worship and fellowship; and We desire to have the larger group experience forgiveness, restoration and healing as we have. In recognition of the power and impact of the spoken word we commit ourselves to “Not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). In light of this biblical command, we commit ourselves to speak to one another rather than about one another and we challenge others to do the same (Matthew 18:15-19). In light of God’s calling for us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received, we desire to “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

Participants at the “Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness” event also agreed to affirm both congregations “as works of God for His honour and glory”.

 – adapted from a report by Abe Konrad; Alberta MB Conference news release

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Last modified January 31, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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