A youth’s journey of faith and baptism
One of the youth in Mennville EMC’s joint youth ministry with Riverton Gospel Chapel recently asked to be baptized in our church. Upon her confession of faith, we baptized and welcomed Susan Marks into membership on May 19, 2024.
A journey through GriefShare
♪ Dwylla Zacharias’s life was upended in a moment. It was early 2021. She, husband Jared, and their four children had recently returned from the mission field of Hungary and were sorting out how to report to supporting churches despite pandemic restrictions.
Convert, how is that working for you?
♪ Have you discovered an exciting new theology or even joined a new church and then become an evangelist sharing your news with friends near and on Facebook?
EMC Project Builders golf tournaments: putting the fun in fundraiser
Want to have a fun way of raising some funds for a good cause? Come on out and participate in the Project Builders golf fundraisers! In June 2024, events took place in Steinbach, Man., and La Crete, Alta., together raising over $60,000.
EFC Steinbach receives 11 members
On June 2, 2024, 11 members joined Evangelical Fellowship Church in Steinbach, Man.
When being the ‘expert’ creates a barrier
♪ In recent years, SIL has felt it necessary to shift our approach in serving minority peoples. In the past we focused on languages; we now want to put “people before language.” This is a very welcome turn. I reflect briefly on my experience of these two approaches as I look back on my career with SIL (see sil.org/about).
Reading through the Bible in under 100 days!
♪ You may think this is a bit of an exaggeration—but let me assure you, reading through the Bible in under 100 days was seriously fun! Trust me, I was just as surprised as you might be. Let me take you through my adventure.
Ramones departs, Ginter to begin at EMC office
We are sad to announce that Betty Ramones, who served as EMC Church Leadership Assistant for the past year, is no longer working as part of the EMC staff team.
Building bridges, not barriers
June 28–30, 2024, EMCers from across Canada gathered in La Crete, Alta., to worship and learn.
Conference proposes changes to EMC gatherings, affiliations
♪ Delegates gathered on June 29, 2024, in person at La Crete (Alta.) Christian Fellowship Church (LCCFC) and virtually over Zoom to hear of proposed changes to EMC gatherings and affiliations.
Different family situations, different challenges
♪ In 1 Corinthians 7:32–34, Paul writes that for both the unmarried man and woman, they are freer to be “concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how [they] can please the Lord.” He adds, “her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.”
Ministerial: strengthening churches
♪ “We do this because we want to better understand who we are so that we can make the necessary adjustments to better serve in our appointed roles within the kingdom of God and advance his work.”
Leaders gather to learn how to pass on the faith
♪ Steinbach Bible College was pleased to host Dr. Joel Thiessen on March 15–16, 2024, at the annual SBC Leadership Conference. The topic was “Passing the baton: How faith gets passed to the next generation … or not.”
Taking the slow road
♪ The snow had slowly melted, the sun shone, and the yesteryear’s leaves were brown and crispy, ready to be dislodged from the soon-to-be green lawn. We incentivized the children and sent them off as small conquerors of leafy kingdoms. The first day went well.
A tragic loss: Belen is now in heaven
♪ On Thursday, May 16, 2024, Kiara Belen was crossing the highway on her bike five blocks from our home as she was coming home from school at 5:30 in the afternoon, when she was hit by a pickup truck and immediately was in the arms of her Saviour.
Building bridges of grace
♪ It is a privilege to speak at this EMC conference. I am not a Mennonite, but most of my best friends are, and my ancestors were Scottish, so I am cheap. I once said to my wife, “You are only getting one cup of tea from a teabag; you can do better.” So, I am an honorary Mennonite. Better yet, I am with brothers and sisters who love and serve Jesus.
Editorial: From innovation to discipleship: EMC churches are flourishing!
♪ Written reports from four of EMC’s nine regions were easily available online but, since they didn’t figure in the meeting’s agenda, I had not taken time to read them.
Editorial: Rethinking well-behaved churches and embracing God’s transformative power
♪ A FEW YEARS ago, after an Abundant Springs* weekend, we heard back from Briercrest about how respectful and well-mannered EMC students were compared to some of their other groups. Naturally, we congratulated ourselves because that spoke so well of the students, families and ministry leaders in EMC churches.
Together with the world
♪ … the Roman empire had perfected the art of conquest. They controlled the vast majority of the known and civilized world, and no nation or group posed any serious threat to their authority. Rome clung to power through military might, rigid bureaucracy, and good old-fashioned fear. But Jesus was subversive; he taught differently on what true power looked like. Instead of power to conquer and dominate, Christ spoke and modelled power to submit and serve.