Alberta tackles camp question

Nelson Senft

A sense of hope pervaded the Alberta MB Conference convention held March 18–19 in River West Christian Church, Edmonton. The theme, “Nothing to fear,” was illustrated most clearly through the church stories that were told. Nelson Senft, pastor of one of Alberta’s oldest congregations, La Glace MB Church (begun in 1928), stated there were three signs of spring in their community: new members were being added to the church and the building is full; new ministry is happening and seven people have gone into full-time ministry or training; and there is a dream for a church plant for the Peace River area.

Other stories by Kerry Dyck of River West Church, Barry Breker and Tim Doerksen of Gem, and Ray Wiens of Sunrise Community Church, Edmonton, continued this theme of hope for the future. Breker and Doerksen stated that although Gem is the same size as Calgary, it is not as densely populated. And although it is 40 minutes to the nearest Tim Hortons, the church is a healthy, multi-generational church.

Four fears

Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson, Ontario conference minister, gave two messages, focusing on four cultural memories or fears, and the antidotes to these fears. In the first message on Friday evening, he recounted Anabaptist/Mennonite history, stating that Mennonite Brethren fear authority and power. Authorities abused Anabaptists in the 16th century and therefore the church developed a congregational style of leadership, so that power could no longer be used against it. However, authority must be seen as a gift from God, he said, and, reading 1 Peter 5:1–7, must be based on love – leaders loving their congregations and congregations loving their leaders deeply and creatively.

A second cultural memory is that of being conditioned not to proselytize. When Catherine the Great invited Mennonites to settle Ukraine, they agreed not to evangelize. They were then caught between their promise to Jesus to go into all the world, and their promise to the rulers. Out of that came a great foreign mission program, but a fear of reaching to neighbours and allowing them to become friends.

The antidote to this, said Johnson, was Matthew 13:33, the yeast that intentionally gets worked into the dough called the world.

In Johnson’s second message Saturday afternoon, he likened the next cultural fear to the recent tsunami and the desire for survival. Mennonites came to North America because of the revolution and persecution in Russia in order to survive. This is still a concern, he said, but now it is survival as a denomination. Denominational loyalty and giving is dwindling. However, the principle of John 12:24 stands: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

“Survival is about saving our corporate life,” Johnson said, but we are called to die, and in giving ourselves away we discover our corporate life. The antidote to this is to “mix it up” with neighbours and the community, engaging them in the life of faith.

The fourth fear is not unique to MB culture, but is a human condition – the need for control. Jesus asked everyone He met to surrender control of everything they considered essential for happiness or even life. It becomes an ongoing lifestyle to surrender those things to His control.

These four fears will continue to surface, Johnson said, and will need to be dealt with on a continuous basis.

Church health

Donna and Kelly Steffen

Kelly and Donna Steffen and members of The Gathering Place, Airdrie, were welcomed into the conference Friday evening. Charter membership stood at 28. Gratitude was expressed for the help given by neighbouring churches.

Other new churches also told stories of their growth:

SunWest, Calgary, which started in 1995, now has 700 attendees and is thinking of starting a number of satellite churches with the dream that no one should live more than a 15-minute drive from church.

Curt and Sharon Snell of The River Christian Fellowship in Calgary shared that a youth worker has come to them; this is energizing their youth ministry.

Saddle Ridge Community Church, Calgary, has had a year of stability. They have been off subsidy for a year and their budget was met. They are working at setting up fellowship circles for discipling new members.

Konrad Loewen

Konrad Loewen, chair of the Board of Church Extension, spoke of possible new initiatives in church planting, in Peace Country and in Edmonton. A committee has been struck from the current 4 Edmonton churches to look at the possibilities in that city. New models of church planting, which may fit the current needs better than previous models, are being investigated.

John Block, chair of the Board of Faith and Life, also indicated church health in the announcement that Murray and Diane Schmidt, former pastor couple of Crestwood Church in Medicine Hat, were to be ordained prior to leaving for missionary service in Africa. He also noted that although Vauxhall church is looking for a pastor, Harry Heidebrecht has been ministering there on a part-time basis.

However, he also mentioned churches that are not as healthy. Tofield Gospel Church is still struggling; it has a large building but a small congregation, and the recently formed Grace Road Church in Tofield has closed. The Ethiopian Evangelical Church is no longer meeting in Highland MB Church, Calgary, and the pastor, Workneh Mogesse, has resigned. Mountainview Grace, Calgary, is also looking for a pastor.

Camp ministry

The most intense discussion of the weekend concerned Camp Evergreen. A round table discussion centred around the opportunities the camp presents and the vision and direction it needs to have for the future. One of the major questions was whether the camp should extend its facilities to also be appropriate for adult gatherings; currently it is geared to children and youth. Opinion on this question was divided. The camp is operating at a deficit and will need an infusion of money to continue the upgrading that has begun. Moderator Mark Jantzen stated, “we must together own Camp Evergreen.” This would mean also embracing the financial challenge.

The task force that had been struck to review the overall ministry of Camp Evergreen suggested that better communication with the churches was needed. Also, the price structure for the camp needed adjustment and the long and short-range goals of the camp need to be reviewed and implemented.

The bright spot in the camping report was the award presented on behalf of the Alberta Camp Association for “outstanding contributions of an individual” given to Jake Doerksen by camp director Rick Arkell. It honoured Doerksen’s 50 years of camp work in Alberta. A standing ovation followed.

A recommendation that Camp Evergreen continue to be owned and operated as a ministry of the MB Conference of Alberta was carried. A second recommendation that an informal “Friends of Camp Evergreen society be formed to communicate the needs of the camp and provide assistance as requested” was also accepted.

Jake Doerksen (left) is honoured for 50 years of camp work by Rick Arkell (right).

Other business

Budgets are always concerns at conventions and this was no exception. The executive had intended to come with a budget of $221,450 but after some consideration, reduced it to $187,700. This budget was passed. However, churches and individuals were invited to “fill the gap” and pledge to raise enough funds to meet the expected expenses. Budget lines that suffered the most in this reduced budget were Camp Evergreen, whose grant was reduced from $55,000 to $45,000; Mission Alberta, and office expenses for the executive minister, with a reduction of $10,000 each.

Mark Jantzen and Gary Giesbrecht were affirmed as moderator and assistant moderator respectively, while Ralph Dickau will continue as secretary.

—Susan Brandt