By Roddy Hamilton
Create a throne room for yourself here, O Christ,
but let it be the empty seat beside the anxious
the lonely chair next to the confused
the vacant pew next to the hungry
and reign, O Jesus,
as sovereign over the forgotten Continue reading Pastoral Prayer: Reign of Christ
Rosenort Revival Celebrates 70 Years
By Leona (Plett) Friesen
On July 8, 2001, a group of us celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1951 revival in the Rosenort (Man.) EMC. Now, 20 years later, those of us who have not been promoted to glory celebrate 70 years since our dear Saviour sent a revival into our midst. Through the revival, we saw church members reconciled and many, many young people (as well as some parents) come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour!
What led up to that revival? Years of earnest praying by many deeply concerned parents; then a sad event hit our community when one of our own tragically died. Rev. Ben D. Reimer from Steinbach, Man., was invited to speak at the funeral. Rev. Reimer returned shortly after the funeral for two weeks of special meetings in our church.
He preached a week and a half with no visible results. It seemed no one was willing to confess “I’m at fault.” On the second Wednesday, Mom Plett said, “This very night I ask your forgiveness for the misunderstandings and fights.” After that Wednesday service, many came to our car to ask my mom for forgiveness. We got home way past midnight! (Mother’s German-Lutheran upbringing made it hard to fit into our community.)
The very next night, on July 5, blessings started to flow. Two of my sisters and a few others came to know the Saviour. Then on Friday night, 50-plus more youth surrendered to Jesus! (My late husband Edward and I were included in this Friday group.) By Sunday night, more than 70 in all had come to know the Lord! Our youth, homes, church and community were completely changed that weekend.
On March 19 of this year, I listened to “Back to the Bible.” The speaker asked, “Are you…am I…plugging the ‘flow’ of revival?” Thank you, Mom Plett, for removing the “plug” in our church on July 4, 1951.
My prayer, “Dear Lord, am I a plug that is blocking the channel of blessing of revival to my family, my church, my country and the world? “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23–24).
As a result of that revival, a burning flame for missions was kindled. The revival rippled on to our neighbours, friends, other towns, provinces and countries in the following years. And it still ripples on! (Revelation 7:9, 12)
Encouragement to those still around:
So, let us keep travelling, tho’ at times
we stumble and fall
Till through death, or at the sound
of the last trumpet call
We will be swept through that beautiful
heavenly gate
Where we’ll forever and forever
this Revival celebrate!
“No turning back, no turning back!”
Leona (Plett) Friesen with her late husband Edward is one of several missionaries (Frank and Marge Kroeker, Fred and Doris Friesen, among others) who ministered cross-culturally after committing their lives to Christ during the Rosenort revival of 1951.
You can listen to Leona reading her poem below.
I wrote the following poem and presented it on July 8, 2001, at the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1951 Revival at the Rosenort EMC Church.
This celebration began at the cross of Mount Calvary
When our precious Saviour died for you and me.
For years we had spent in sinning and pride
Ignoring the fact that the Lord Jesus had died.
Concerning this date; well, some fifteen years prior
There were earnest prayers for a revival fire.
Also, a foursome of brethren who in spite of foul weather
For soul-searching prayer, would gather together.
But all of you present here I am sure will know
That in 1951, exactly half a century ago,
Our dear Lord did not leave us in a lurch
But wonderfully touched our own home church.
Numerous young people on sinning were bent
Then into our midst an awful tragedy was sent.
Our whole community with deep sorrow was filled
As one of our own was tragically killed.
To speak at the funeral, an evangelist came
After that, our community has not been the same.
Tho’ of the speaker’s intentions, many were not sure
Mr. Ben D Reimer preached God’s Word, clear and pure.
(Mr. Reimer returned shortly after the funeral for two weeks of special meetings.)
A whole week and a half, with no seeming result
Nobody was willing to confess, “I am at fault”
Till the second Wednesday, Mom Plett said, “This very night
I ask your forgiveness for misunderstanding and fight.”
(Mother’s Lutheran upbringing made it hard to fit in.)
The very next night, on July 5, blessings started to flow…
Two of my sisters and others, the Saviour came to know,
Then on Friday night, fifty more youth and then some!
By Sunday night, seventy in all to the Saviour had come.
Friday night a certain girl in the church foyer did wait
Against whom in my heart there had been a deep, deep hate.
In grade school us Plett kids were often called ‘half-price’
We did not accept this term as very flattering or nice.
That evening I was changed, my heart filled with love.
For me, this was an extra special gift from above.
I found that forever was gone, that feeling of ill;
Heavenly love took care of it and always will!
Our youth, homes and church were SO changed that week.
Forgiveness for sinning toward others, we all did seek.
We went to friends and neighbours to confess our wrong
‘Cause we were forgiven and our hearts filled with song.
Edward’s sister Bertha, also one who came to the Lord.
Nine years later, her tombstone read these words,
“Where I am now, there must you be
Prepare my friend to follow me.”
Others did follow: George Kornelsen, the husband of Rosie,
She’d still want him with her, in her home so cozy.
Our dear brother, Melvin Dueck, and there are several more
Who are not here with us; they’ve gone on before.
Some others could not be at this celebration today
‘Cause of other obligations; or simply lived too far away.
Then, there are those absent, because they are sick;
One that comes to my mind is, dear Ralph Dueck.
Also missing is Fred, always ready with his wit and a joke
Now being in public is difficult, due to a stroke.
Then, there is Tina Reimer, she was Tina Friesen
She is absent as you know… cancer is the reason.
Even though since that blessed and unforgettable day,
Most of us have turned either bald, wrinkled or gray…
Let’s still be faithful, sharing the redemptive work of God’s Son
So that many others, like us, to the Saviour will be won!
Anyone who wants a copy of this simple rhyme
Can come to me, it’s yours for a quarter or a dime!
Come soon … “Cause in another fifty years from now
I won’t write a very much better one anyhow!
… Or I’ll do it perfectly!
‘Cause our next celebration probably will be in glory
And there we will witness the whole perfect story!
So, let us keep travelling, tho’ at times we stumble and fall
Till through death, or at the sound of the last trumpet call
We will be swept through that beautiful, heavenly gate…
Where we’ll forever and forever, this REVIVAL celebrate!
My late husband, Edward Friesen, and I, and countless others, will forever be grateful for deciding to follow Jesus! Our theme song was “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” Only Heaven will reveal what the blessed results were of that Revival. There we will all know “the whole perfect Revival story”!!
God bless you all!
Leona (Plett) Friesen
There’s a small window through which we see life
True for everyone, truer still for her
It’s passing by, picking up speed, slowing to a stop
Stillness is mandatory, restlessness inevitable
Despite it all, love shines through
From the space of her bed she sees it, feels it
In the way the birds flitter outside her window
The way their song reaches through the glass,
muffled and persistent
The Valentine’s and cards and declarations of love
that hang from the slats of the blinds
Her family, constant and present with a cup of water,
a kind word, a gentle hug
Her steadfast companion, staying true to his vows,
in sickness and health
It’s present in the petals of the flowers coming in a
constant parade of changing colours
In every bite of food brought to lighten the load
and fortify the body and soul for the journey to come
How everyone comes together,
even when physically, they can’t
The window through which we see life is small
True for everyone, truer still for her
But somehow, love shines through
by Eleanor Lee Gustaw
The Star that shone one glorious night
Held a message of a king’s pure Light.
Where far away this child was born;
His royal line of Heavenly throne. Continue reading The Cross and Christmas
Often attributed to Helen Steiner Rice
If my days were untroubled
And my heart always light,
Would I seek that fair land
Where there is no night? Continue reading Pathway of Pain
by Betty Siemens Martens, Kleefeld, Man.
Snowflakes, soft, white, fluffy snowflakes
Falling gently, no sound they make.
A beautiful, feathery sight.
‘Tis the picture of pure delight.
Soon comes along a playful breeze,
Those fluffy snowflakes to chase and tease.
They dance, they twirl, they spin around
Then come to rest upon the ground.
Not for long; the wind increases
All its fury it releases.
Whipping the snow across the field
And all around, its power to wield.
Then, in the night the wind retires,
While in the house they stoke the fires.
The stars come out. How they shimmer!
‘Til morning light makes them dimmer.
The sun comes out in full glory,
The trees they glisten white and hoary.
Drifts of snow like diamonds galore!
Awesome sight! And calm reigns once more.
So is the storm within the soul
Who will not let God take control.
But perfect peace comes in to stay
When the Christ the Saviour leads the way.
by Elmer Hamm
Jesus did it all for me
When He walked on Calvary’s road
When they denied Him as Lord
When they mocked Him and beat Him
And said He is to blame
He must surely be crucified
Jesus did it all for me
When He walked on Calvary’s road
When they crucified Him that day
He shed His blood there
To save me from my sins
And set me free forever
Jesus did it all for me
When He walked on Calvary’s road
And arose from the dead that day
He claimed me for His own
And gave me life anew
And now I can walk with Him
Jesus did it all for me
When He walked on Calvary’s road
And gives me victory
He leads me, and guides me
And walks right beside me
Yes, Jesus did it all for me
Yes, Jesus did it all for me
Elmer Hamm attends MacGregor EMC.
by Eleanor Lee Gustaw
The wonder of Christmas came one eve,
the glory of love in a virgin conceived.
The gift of His coming, the blessing so true,
that came in a manger for me and for you.
The joy that He brings each day to my soul,
hold riches untold that makes my life whole.
A carpenter’s Son, and yet, He is God,
how can I not thank Him, in joy offer laud!
For He is the Saviour so precious to me,
Who taught in the temple and preached on the sea.
Who died on a cross and in victory rose,
a love so adorning it sets each heart free!
That night was the greatest when Christmas was born,
and God became man yet in man He was God.
For the glory He is shall ever live on
because Jesus is Lord and in Him lives this song.
