We held our pastor installation service on February 23, 2025, in front of family and friends who came out in support. Peter and Martha Doerksen came to bless the Unger family as they celebrated. Our church leadership continues to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit as we work to meet the needs of the people in our church and community.

This past year has been a season of transition for our church family. When Pastor Norm Bueckert resigned in 2024, we once again found ourselves without a pastor. Though we continue to be without one, we’ve come together as a congregation—sharing responsibilities, supporting one another, and trusting God to lead us through this time of change.

FOMO. I keep hearing that word, which stands for fear of missing out. It reminds me of another word loneliness. As Sheldon and I work in our member care role, people often tell us how lonely they are and how much they long for deeper friendships. I think FOMO and loneliness are pretty common. To be honest, I have struggled with them too.

I have had the privilege of living out what I once only dreamed of as a young man. I remember asking God to make it possible for me to work as a singer-songwriter in a way that would allow me to provide for a family in a stable and healthy way. For more than thirty years now, that prayer has been answered, and I am deeply thankful.

♪As we begin another year, the world we live in encourages us to start new habits, set new goals, and accomplish new achievements. Whether this approach helps you or not, living with purpose takes intentionality, including engaging in spiritual disciplines.

I don’t have a smartphone. Never have. My lack of smartphone does not make me better than others. I know full-throttle phone addicts who are more present, patient and prayerful than me. Pope Francis apparently had 50 million Twitter followers. But, while my status does not confer moral superiority, it does give me a rare viewpoint.

God is a worker. The first thing God reveals about himself in Scripture is that he is a creator and a worker. God chooses to work, and the work of his hands is good. According to Genesis, we were made to be workers to reflect the image of the ultimate Worker.

Due to negative stigma, many Christians distance themselves from the title “fundamentalist,” and I cannot blame them given the current cultural perception. Yet are we right to so readily abandon this designation? While I may have distanced myself from adopting this title given the modern-day interpretation and definition, I am also wary of throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater.

The past number of years have seen significant staff changes in the EMC office. One of the consistent staff members for the past 19 years was Erica Fehr. Erica retired at the end of November. Also announcing his resignation is Peter Doerksen. Peter has filled the role of western ambassador for the last few years.

Readers respond to the Sept/Oct 2025 issue, and to the ‘appeal’ series in The Messenger.

♪When resolutions and goals can feel rigid and restrictive, with a pass or fail element to them, there’s a pull toward the freedom to be found in a one-word theme to guide the coming year. While I haven’t chosen a word for the year, “abide” recurs as a theme for this issue.

“As a believer, and an image bearer of God,” Nita says, “my goal in my imaginings is that the life-giving nature, the truth and beauty of God would be made manifest in my work.” Nita’s imagination expresses itself through stained glass.