October 2010

On the eastern side of an Alberta concave curvature – overlooking fields of cattle and grain, sweeping into the western foothills and up into the snow-capped Rockies – stands a farm, its entrance in friendly greeting: Welcome to the Evergreen Farm. A partnership consisting of two former refugees and one Canadian bachelor set out to make this place and their living on it an all-inclusive welcome to community – strangers, neighbours, church – Christ’s call to practical discipleship.

The following is a conversation between MB Herald interim editor J Janzen and Canadian Mennonite University faculty Gerry Ediger (professor emeritus of Christian history) and Gordon Matties (associate professor of biblical studies & theology, and dean of humanities and sciences). Together, they challenge the idea that study is only for academics and explore what mindful discipleship might look like for the ordinary Christian.

We learn best when outside our comfort zones. At Metro Community (Willow Park Church) in the core of Kelowna, B.C., the distant cultures of “normal” and “street” cause one to be suddenly off-balance. Serving here, my wife and I discovered early on that our best teachers were broken, addicted, sometimes only a few days along the road to recovery.

Text Examined: Hebrews 5:13-6:1 – “As much as we try to avoid any hint of superiority in matters of faith, the fact remains that we are called, as we mature, to grow in an ever-deepening understanding and experience of our faith. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that we are to make a clear distinction between what is elemental to our faith and what is food that leads to maturity (5:12–14).”

Changes for Jon Isaak

Introducing Richard Hovey, Ben KRamer, Carmyn Campbell, Mike Rea, Josh Reimer, Byron Rempel-Burkholder, Don Epp

Farewell to Nathan Koslowsky, Ferne Burkhardt, J. Lorne Peachey, Wendell Andres, Sandy Derksen

On the one hand, Celebration 2010 was about rediscovering that we are family. I left humming, “We are fam-i-ly…”

Blessed with a warm summer breeze, Black Creek MB Church celebrated its 75th anniversary on the August holiday weekend. More than 200 guests congregated under the tents clustered around the church to rejoice in the theme “Renew faith, hope, & love.”

The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) appointed David Wiebe, outgoing executive director of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (CCMBC), as interim executive secretary Aug. 1, 2010.