Will we weep?

“The Holy Spirit changed our agenda!” declared John Unger of Winnipeg. These words rang true for many of the 477 delegates, guests, and exhibitors at Gathering 2006, the 88th convention of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, which met on the campus of the University of Calgary July 6–8.

Danielle Strickland

Although the question of women in ministry leadership had threatened a one-issue convention, guest speaker Danielle Strickland’s message unexpectedly became the highlight for many. The young, unassuming Salvation Army captain delivered a prophetic word during her keynote address Friday night, powerfully encapsulating the convention theme, “Let your kingdom come.”

Using Ezekiel 8–9, Strickland urged the church to wake up; to weep over sin, poverty, and injustice in the world. She spoke with freedom, humility, and humour. “When God grabs us by the hair of the head,” she asserted, “he really wants us to listen!”

Strickland warned against the apathy commonplace in the church today. The church must face uncomfortable situations, she said; it must “grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in [the city]” (Ezekiel 9:4).

And so, delegates wept. Emcee David Balzer invited the audience to take time to pray quietly around tables after Strickland’s address. Many openly shed tears.

Some 80 people then responded to Strickland’s message by intentionally experiencing discomfort on an “urban plunge” organized by MBMSI. They went to four locations in Calgary’s inner city as compassionate observers. For those who took part, it was a moment of awakening. “This experience opened my eyes to areas and people in need inside my own city,” said Elenore Doerksen.

A troupe of young performers from Summerside Community Church in Edmonton called QUEST wowed Gathering delegates with their energy, tightly-choreographed moves, and powerful spiritual messages. The 13-member group shares testimonies, dance, and drama in a variety of ministry settings locally and nationally. Members commit to 4 hours of practice a week plus performances and frequent travel. They also sign a “lifestyle covenant” so they aren’t “saying one thing and living something else.” QUEST is ministry, said leader Natalie Dyck, who launched the group with her husband Jeff 8 years ago, but “it’s also a way of discipling these kids.” Speaking for the performers, Rachel Bolton simply declared, “I love it!”

Celebrating a vision

Opening the convention, executive director David Wiebe summarized the conference’s national ministries and shared its vision statement: to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ through the development of godly character in every member and a mindset of multiplication in every congregation.

This vision, along with addresses from other keynote speakers, helped participants focus on God’s work in their communities and the world.

Tim Geddert

Bob Roberts, pastor of NorthWood Church in Texas, focused on the idea of building a multiplication mindset in every congregation. In order to grow and multiply, he explained, Christians must live out the Sermon on the Mount. “The life of the believer is to be lived within society, not just a force to be visited on society.”

Mark Burch

Tim Geddert, professor at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Cal., guided listeners through a study of the convention theme, the kingdom of God, in two early morning “encounters.” Geddert explained how entering the kingdom means participating ever more fully in the mission of God on earth.

Mark Burch, speaker at Saturday evening’s celebration banquet, reiterated the conference vision and preached from the book of Acts on how to build the church in a time of peace and prosperity. “Prosperity is a greater test than persecution,” said Burch, senior pastor of Willow Park (MB) Church in Kelowna, B.C.

Ending an era

Between guest speakers, leaders of the conference’s six strategic services presented overviews of their national ministries, and invited delegates to dialogue and provide feedback around tables.

In a surprising announcement from the leadership development team, John Neufeld reported that the National Youth Convention (NYC) will end after 34 years of existence. Neufeld thanked past organizers and participants, and presented a video featuring highlights from NYCs in Banff, Calgary, and Toronto.

Neufeld cited factors that contributed to the program’s discontinuation, such as the prevalence of other non-denominational youth conferences, youth pastors’ preference for taking teens on short-term mission projects, and NYC’s deficit budget since 1995. The Canadian Conference and MBMSI are now partnering to develop a new kind of event focused on leadership and evangelism training, he said. “People are asking for regional events with a strong call to commitment. They’ve told us, ‘Raise the bar and we’ll send our best.’ ”

“I’m glad to be the fruit of your labour.” Maria, a woman who came to Christ through the work of MB missionaries in India, shared her story and a song. Assistant moderator Paul Loewen at left.

Gazing globally

MB Mission and Service International (MBMSI) announced that 40 new missionaries are moving into long-term mission service, a number unprecedented in recent years. Director Randy Friesen also reported that MBMSI’s new relational funding method is experiencing success with 93% of field missionaries at full-funding levels. Total donations to the organization have increased 15%.

Something new bubbling up

“Life journalling” bubbled up as a popular discussion topic in presentations and workshops over the three-day event, as concern over biblical literacy permeated the convention.

Life journalling is a devotional trend that uses the acronym SOAP (Scripture, Observations, Application, Prayer) and reclaims the value of daily Bible reading and personal journalling. The goal is to re-pattern thinking and to transform lives by asking, “God, what are you saying to me through your Word today?”

Reaching Out director Ewald Unruh (l) interviewed a panel of church planters during his ministry presentation. Each panel member spoke about a different model of church planting, such as partnerships with other denominations, ethnic churches, daughter churches, pioneer churches, and house churches. Panelists (l–r) Kevin Moore, Terry Wiseman, Patrick Fung, Christopher Stevens, Patrice Nagant, and Konrad Loewen told riveting stories of life-transformation from churches across Canada. “Seems we released a best-kept secret at this convention: 614 St. Jamestown!” said Unruh, responding to delegates’ response after learning about Evangelism Canada’s partnership church plant with the Salvation Army in one of Toronto’s most densely populated inner city neighbourhoods.

Getting down to business

The much-anticipated Saturday business meetings were marked by courteous language and subdued, yet optimistic, emotion. Besides the vote on the BFL’s resolution on women in ministry leadership (see following article), delegates addressed a number of items.

• Key Cities Initiative (KCI) became the Key Communities Initiative, as delegates affirmed Manitoba and Saskatchewan as the final two provinces to receive funding for church planting efforts under Evangelism Canada’s 10-year project. The co-KCI provinces will focus on planting churches in both cities and rural communities. “We’re wide open to different expressions of church multiplication, but we want to limit pioneer plants [where the new congregation has no connection with an existing church],” said director Ewald Unruh.
• Delegates approved new operating bylaws for the Canadian conference, MBBS, and MBMSI. The documents now reflect the new relational governance model of leadership and current organizational practice.
• Meetings of the Canadian Conference will now occur yearly. Since the Council of Boards no longer exists, the Executive Board proposed linking an annual general meeting with a BFL study conference in order to fulfill legal requirements. Gathering will take place as usual during even-numbered years, and an AGM/study conference will occur during alternate years. The BFL announced its next study conference on the topic of “Gospel, church, and culture” for Oct. 1–3, 2007, in B.C.

Financial ministries experience negative trend

Delegates approved a $4.2 million budget for 2006–2007.

Financial support from churches declined by more than $20,000 last year, and individual donations fell by 10%. At the close of the year, the stewardship division was able to cover a national conference shortfall of $50,000. CFO John Wiebe addressed this trend and said that although the conference has been able to create some alternate funding sources, “it is absolutely necessary to size our organizational activities to a level that churches are willing to support.”

Financial ministries announced an upcoming change in its system of calculating funding from churches. The Canadian conference will move to a levy based on a percentage of a church’s budget, rather than a per member amount, following a similar move by several provincial conferences. “In future, if and when a provincial conference votes to enact a new approach, the national conference will follow suit, so churches don’t have two systems of calculation,” said Wiebe.

Closing with joy

The three-day convention ended on a high note. David Wiebe received a standing ovation and affirmation to complete his second term as executive director to 2008.

Delegates also affirmed a slate of board members that sees Jascha Boge take over the role of conference moderator. He replaces Willy Reimer, who decided not to let his name stand for another term. Boge served two previous terms as moderator from 2000–2004.

At the close of the business session, delegates shared communion and received a call to go into the world to help plant seeds of God’s kingdom. Moderator Willy Reimer enthusiastically invited delegates to Gathering 2008 in Montreal.

—Laura Kalmar

Note: More Gathering 2006 photos and info in Gathering 2006 glimpses.

Gathering photos: Lorie Mayer.