The Great Commission: Mandate, Ministry, and Mandate

Compiled by Conrad Showalter

To those of you who were able to participate in the Annual Conference meetings in upstate New York, enjoy a review of things you may have heard recently. To those of you unable or unwilling to attend, enjoy a few glimpses of what you missed.

A Taste of Missions

It is fitting that CMC begins and ends its annual conference with a focus on mission. After all, the life and reproduction of the kingdom is certainly one of the reasons for the existence of the church. The conference sessions opened Thursday evening with the missions reporting meeting. John and Sue Doe (pseudonym) who have served in Central Asia for the past four years, shared about some of the unexpected answers to prayer after a discouraging death of vision.

Another couple who have lived in the Middle East for the past five years, spoke of the encouraging growth of a small fellowship of believers in spite of opposition and suffering. She shared how God answered her prayer for healing for Fatima. Other family members now come to her for prayer when someone is sick. He told how Abdi, a dentist, inquired whether Muslims ever become Christians. He was able to reply in the affirmative, and a seed was planted. Would you pray for God's care for that seed?

Paul Kurtz, director of global missions, shared an overview of some of the new directions for Rosedale Mennonite Missions. (If you have not already done so, please read the missions feature in the August Brotherhood Beacon.) David I. Miller shared an historical sketch of our Conference work in Germany, and Heinrich Boschmann, church planter from Bad Pyrmont, Germany, shared a testimony of what God has been doing in the life of the congregation there. The church at Bad Pyrmont is recently autonomous, with RMM having no financial commitment to the work there. The evening was capped with a fellowship time including apple and plum kuchen.

Minister's Business Meeting

Friday is a day for a variety of meeting groups. Ministers spend the day in a business meeting. Business meetings are usually fairly predictable, but important nonetheless. One predictable component of the business meeting is some form of humor from Clinton Yoder, pastor at Cannon Mennonite Church, Delaware. This year it was the claim that he had not received the packet of material from the Conference office. Clint at least had the excuse that he had moved since the last business meeting. Unfortunately, I did not have the same excuse. I found my packet buried under more mail on my desk after I returned home. Thankfully, even those of us who are organizationally challenged are accepted as full members of the ministerial body. (Clinton Yoder's minutes which did not arrive at his home in July (again) would have correctly had the address for Lloyd Weaver as Darby, Montana, rather than Darby, Michigan.)

We do have time for significant discussions and some spiritual sharing. One of the nuggets that stuck with me this year was the following quote from one of the moderators: "The foolish man chooses the road and accepts the destination. The wise man chooses the destination and accepts the road."

We heard reports of congregational transfers to and from Conference. Recently ordained ministers and international visitors were introduced. We took time to pray for special needs in our Conference and in our congregations.

- Conrad Showalter

God's Design on the Quilts of our Lives

Women's Fellowship Program 2004: the stage was adorned with beautiful quilts. Slowly but surely women filed expectantly into the pleasantly cool Beaver River Central School Auditorium, finding comfortable seats. Martha Stoltzfus welcomed everyone by reminiscing about the many years she attended this program. It was always the "highlight of her year."

It did not take long after Barbara Borntrager, our guest speaker, began her presentation until we knew that this year's meeting was certainly going to be a highlight for everyone present as well! Barb spoke with intense passion as she described the journey she traveled with her son Jon, a victim of Tourette's Syndrome. Helplessly she watched Jon, a creative, exceptional child, as his behaviors became more and more irrational, unpredictable, and compulsive. She listened to his cries of self-hate as he realized that he was different from others. More than once she stood at his hospital bedside, calling him back from a deep sleep after his attempt to end the pain. Shortly after his 21st birthday and yet another toxic overdose of his meds, the battle was ended.

Where was God? Did He care at all? Certainly these were huge questions she and her husband Jonas struggled with. But they could only find peace as they laid down their demands for answers. She emphasized how faith in God's goodness and sovereignty releases us from the terrible burden of unanswered prayer. By keeping us in the riddle and mysteries of life, God is teaching us to live by faith, not by sight. Faith doesn't change circumstances, instead it changes our perspective! She spoke of the unfairness of life. But we should not confuse life with God. God doesn't cause pain, instead He is the Divine Transformer who brings gain from pain. Pointing to the colorful quilts she reminded us how God, from the chaos of our lives, takes the scraps and fashions them into something beautiful. In the end when the quilt is finished we will gasp at the beauty!

In the final session Barb taught from Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, calling it Heaven's Quilt Gallery! The "Great Cloud of Witnesses" are the ordinary, plain, unassuming people who lived extraordinary lives by faith. They trusted God for specific things. Their reliance pleased Him and led to their being included in the divine Hall of Faith.

The important idea to remember is that the Hall of Faith continues to be written. God is still searching for those willing to stake their hope on Him. God is not looking for a certain type of personality, but just people with normal needs and backgrounds; lives characterized by enduring faith! Of course, the odds are always overwhelming, otherwise there would be no need for faith! The difficult part is that the final outcome may not always be rosy. She emphasized that "this is part of the mystery of God's involvement in our lives. Sometimes we understand this, other times our earth-bound eyes cannot see as God sees. At best, we see only a blurred picture, the underside of the quilt." But when the day comes that we can say we rested in the Lord-that truly pleases Him!!

If you would like to read more of Barb's journey from pain to gain, read her book, A Mother Held Hostage, 21st Century Press.

During the day we were also blessed to hear from two missionaries. Joyce Beachy spoke about the challenge of being a missionary to Middle Eastern women whose worth is measured only by the children they bear. But Joyce sees herself as a "termite" eating away at the foundation of false belief-working quietly (but very intentionally) at the foundation of false belief. Sue Doe (pseudonym) shared how God wants to coach her to become an accurate pattern for the women she ministers to. She reminded us how it is always a temptation to build defenses for our "personal issues" and block out the light of the Holy Spirit.

It was truly a blessed day for all those who were able to attend!

- Rachel Brenneman

Youth Meetings

God is moving and He is moving today. He made this evident during the youth sessions led by Jason Carpenter, whose heart-felt and powerful lessons touched many young lives. The stressed themes of his teachings were God's love for us, and how we need to show this love to non-believers. Jason strongly emphasized the importance of evangelism in our communities today. He told stories of people reaching beyond their comfort zones and showing God's love in unusual ways. He gave examples from Christ and how He went with the lowest of the low, looking at hurting hearts instead of reputations and life styles. These lessons convicted many of the condition of our own hearts and inspired us to be better fishers of men.

God also moved during the incredible praise and worship. The songs sung were obviously touching many. It was awesome to hear everyone singing from their hearts. One sensed the unity with each other and God during this time.

The fellowship was a great time to meet new people, hang out with friends, play games and eat some good food. The first evening the youth got together and played baseball, ultimate Frisbee, basketball and ate pizza. The second evening some concerts were given and ice cream was served. Both nights were fun and enjoyable.

In summary, the fellowship, worship, and teachings all combined to make an incredibly up-lifting time. We are all anticipating the next CMC youth sessions in Greenwood, Delaware.

- Bethany Christophel

"Thinking Christianly"

Friday evening's meeting is usually a focus on education. This year we certainly received some interesting education. The title of the evening message was "Thinking Christianly," and the speaker was Johannes Reimer. Reimer was born in Siberia, the former Soviet Union. As a young person, he was a leader in the Communist youth party. He became a Christian while in his late teens, and suffered severely for his refusal to serve in the military. The fact that his grandmother was Mennonite seems to give Johannes the freedom to critique Mennonites as an insider; his experience as one growing up completely outside the church gives him a perspective both refreshing and unsettling.

In his Friday evening message (and Sunday morning as well), Reimer called us as a church to recognize our inferiority complex and learn to find a new identity in Christ. He characterized us as a church most familiar with doing-serving others, feeding the hungry-and less familiar with the work of thinking. Preaching from Philippians 2, he challenged us to become more like Christ in our thinking, to know and fill our true identities as ambassadors of Christ, representatives of a heavenly kingdom, a role more important than any position of power in an earthly kingdom.

- Conrad Showalter

Saturday Sessions

The Saturday morning message was given by Lael Barkman, pastor at Sunrise Chapel in Harlan, Indiana. He spoke on the Great Commission Message, noting these few words are Jesus' final instructions to his disciples. The message of the Commission is twofold-to make disciples or students of all nations, and to teach the content of Jesus' message of good news. He challenged us to use all of the resources God has given us-gardens, wood shops, kitchens-to build relationships and make students of the people around us. Changed lives are the true evidence of the Great Commission being lived out.

Max Zook, pastor of Locust Grove Mennonite Church in Belleville, Pennsylvania, continued the Great Commission focus on Saturday evening, speaking of the mandate or command in Jesus' teaching. He noted that the Commission begins not with a command but with the provision and assurance of power and authority. The command is not to go, but to make disciples. Characterizing us as the "goingest people on earth," Max challenged us to make disciples in every context. At home (foster care is a wonderful option!), at work, wherever we go.

One of the great things about attending the annual Conference meeting is the opportunity to visit sister churches in other communities, and to experience the warm hospitality of hosting churches. This year was certainly not a disappointment in that regard. Thanks to the upstate New York churches for your hard work on our behalf. We were blessed!

- Conrad Showalter

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