The ancient global treasure of EMC faith [Jan/Feb 2024 issue]

When I opened my copy of the January\February issue of The Messenger I was looking forward to reading Layton Friesen’s commentary on the treasure we have in our Anabaptist faith tradition. Since I identify strongly with this historical stream of the church which emphasizes “following Jesus daily in life,” I was pleased to see a focus on this topic and described as a “treasure.” Because “evangelicalism” is a much more recent term to describe details of faith, and currently comes with some baggage, I prefer to describe myself as simply Anabaptist because in my mind this term, which traces its beginnings to the sixteenth century Reformation, includes many of the tenets that we appreciate in evangelicalism.

But I was taken aback by Layton’s analysis and description of Anabaptist at both ends of the theological spectrum, whether conservative or liberal. To talk of Anabaptism by itself to be “unstable and deficient” ending up “in dead ends of moralistic legalism” or “secular left-wing ideology” currently popular in the world is a comment that causes me pain and indicts people and institutions that I regard deeply. Also, the list of secular trends listed, which these Anabaptists wrestle with, are such that we as Christ’s followers need to address very sensitively and with much compassion since many people in our world, neighbourhoods, families, and churches are dealing with exactly those realities in personal ways.

Since my primary identity is not “Evangelical,” I will not address those deficiencies listed but I found those strong as well.

Having seen the global Anabaptist church in the context of Mennonite World Conference, both those on the conservative end and the more progressive expression, I was gratified that the closing section of the article described some of our faith tradition in a very positive tone, mentioning terms like the forgiveness of sins, Christian ethics and the anointing of the Spirit, lived out in the context of the church. I liked that description of the Anabaptist church a lot.

Together in the Kingdom,

– Ron Penner
Winnipeg, Man.

Spiritual direction: the new ancient practice [Mar/Apr 2024 issue]

I just received The Messenger in the mail today. It was much anticipated due to advance notice from a friend/ EMC pastor, as well as my mom who texted me a photo of the front-page headline, “Spiritual direction: the new ancient practice.” This was noteworthy because I have trained as a spiritual director myself a few years ago and am currently offering direction through my private practice (online and in-person) based in Winnipeg (FerventFolk.com). I was so pleased to read Peter Ascough’s well written article explaining a spiritual practice that has become so important to me personally. My journey with spiritual direction has been a wonderful one of deepening personal encounter with God, the loving Divine Presence. (This has been an especially tender journey as my family and I transitioned to Canada in 2017 after 11 years serving with MAF in Madagascar, supported financially by many individual EMCers and our sending church(es) of Prairie Rose and Heartland in Landmark, Man.)

Receiving spiritual direction from my own director, as well as offering direction to others after my training, has fed the thirst for “more” that I struggled with coming back into the busy and fractured culture of Canada. It seems to me that there is something especially challenging about life as a Christ follower in our culture—there are simply too many things vying for our attention! It’s so easy—the default, in fact—for me to miss the movement of the Spirit in my life because I’m not living as slow (or, uncomfortable?) as I was when I lived in Madagascar or Lithuania. Our hurried lifestyles don’t allow much (if any) space to notice things of spiritual nature, in my experience.

It’s this challenging environ of Canada that prompted me to search for spiritual direction myself, and to receive training to offer this service to others: because it’s difficult to notice the spiritual when we’re rushing around doing all the good things life in Canada has to offer. The practice of spiritual direction holds space for this noticing, together with a spiritual companion (the director) who knows how to listen both to me and the Spirit’s whispers within my words and experiences, who knows how to ask good questions and has the strength to refrain from offering easy answers. I would add my voice to Peter’s in recommending this “new ancient practice” for anyone seeking a deeper, more attentive spiritual practice.

– Jocelyn R. Plett
Winnipeg, Man.

Car seats, gluten and opinionated bloggers [Mar/Apr 2024 issue]

My child has a $500 carseat. It was given to us as a gift (but that “you love your child more than I do” zinger was, well, zingy).

It does feel like there’s a lot of legalism to choose between in parenting. It does take a lot of faith and humility. And I’m discovering it also takes grace for other parents who are, intentionally or unintentionally, choosing different systems.

– Jessica Plett