by Nancy Friesen
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
What is God’s calling for my life? This question is a source of mystery, frustration and confusion. Does God really have a detailed plan for each one of us, or is God’s call more general, with the details left up to us? Continue reading Call to Mission in Bolivia
by Tim Dyck
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” This famous paragraph from a Charles Dickens novel were the opening words of the devotional given by Andrew Dyck (Pastor at Stony Brook Fellowship) as he challenged us to consider both the good as well as the frustrations of the year 2020. He referred to the prophet Joel, who spoke words of encouragement and challenge to the nation of Judah when they faced a disastrous year. God’s intention then, as now, is to draw us to himself in all circumstances. Continue reading Churches, Conference Budget Affected by Pandemic Challenges
Thank you very much for joining us today to talk about one aspect of your work—that of risk.
Where would you place your country of service between the range of “slight caution” to “dangerous”?
Closer to “dangerous.” While it’s not an active warzone, and the streets are fine to use, there are pockets of places that are not safe to move through. Continue reading Risk and Sensitivity in International Work
by Ed Peters
In a world of instant news, it is all too easy to be jaded by stories of international political unrest and natural calamities. But when news of the February 1, military coup in Myanmar was broadcasted, my ears perked up and my heart sank. For me, this news is personal. Continue reading Myanmar: A Land of Contrasts
Myanmar has been in the news in a disturbing way since Feb 1, when the military responded to the declining voice of the party representing their views, and the growing voice of democracy among the people. Demonstrations this past weekend started with hundreds, and then thousands, peacefully walking the streets demanding return of elected officials. Continue reading Please Do Not Worry Too Much
by Erica Fehr
Just over a week ago, Myanmar’s military took over the government it already largely controlled. It’s a puzzling move, and not welcome to Myanmar citizens, but what does it have to do with us? That’s a fair question—we have plenty to deal with here and little to offer there. Still, if a family member has a bad thing happen to them, we stop what we’re doing for a while to hear them—to find out what happened and how they’re coping. We find some way to express concern if we can, and spend a few moments in prayer on their behalf. Continue reading Does a Coup in Myanmar Matter in the EMC?
by Layton Friesen
On November 26 and 27, 2020, the EMC Ministerial gathered to talk about sex. The irony was not lost on us that a discussion about our bodies was held entirely on Zoom. But though this was not what we first planned, the format allowed people across the world to join in on an equal standing. It was a rich and thought-provoking time together. Continue reading Same-Sex Attraction, Pastoring and the Church
by Gordon T. Smith
When you take the CTrain from downtown Calgary to Ambrose University, the last building you see before the train heads to its underground stop is a mosque. When I was an undergraduate student in the 1970s, I knew there was a mosque somewhere in Canada, but I had no idea where. Now, many of us have a mosque in our neighbourhood. Continue reading Being Christian in a Secular Society: Moving beyond culture wars and toward love
by Rebecca Roman
In this issue, Darryl Klassen describes some ways Christians can abuse scripture in his article, “Hermeneutical Fallacies and Sexuality.” One way, he says, is that “scripture can be used ungraciously, as a weapon, to ‘beat down’ the other.”
This is an aspect of scripture’s use that has often concerned me. There are descriptions in the Bible of God’s word as a weapon—not against people, but against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Continue reading Scripture on the Proper Use of Scripture
by Pastor Darrel Guenther
WINNIPEG, Man.—Things I miss:
What I really miss is my favorite ice cream place that is shut down for the winter.
I miss that people are not as connected as they used to be. People are more cautious, more timid, less care-free and interact less with each other. Continue reading Finding Gratituge in the Midst of Turmoil
