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The difficulties are many. Muslim-controlled governments revoke visas of westerners suspected of religious activity. Some Muslim leaders threaten and advocate persecution of those who seem interested in Christianity. Laws forbid witnessing and holding meetings.
MBM/S ministries in Central Asia have especially encountered uncontrollable disruptions. The Board, recalling the mandate of the General Conference Convention in 1993 in Winnipeg to increase mission among resistant, unreached peoples, sought a more flexible, mobile approach.
The result was a decision to form "a Muslim Ministry/Training Team that may include traditional and vocational missionaries, non-resident resource persons and partner conference workers". The team will not be stationed in a particular place but will respond to selected, strategic opportunities. It will focus on Muslims as a cultural/religious group rather than on a geographical location.
Ens pointed out that some of the outreach will probably aim for Muslims in North America. Such ministry is more feasible, less expensive and less subject to disruption. Missiologists have shown that people who migrate into new cultures are far more receptive to new ideas, including the gospel, than those still rooted in their home countries and relationships. Once they become believers, these become channels of witness, "bridges of God", back to their home people groups.
In a related action, the Board officially indicated the intention to "utilize the training, experience and gifts" of Tim and Janine Bergdahl for ministry to the Baluch people of Central Asia and the Muslim world in general. The Bergdahls began a one-year leave of absence from MBM/S on April 1.
Other key resource persons who have expertise in ministry to Muslims include Herb and Ruth Friesen, who have just concluded many years of medical work in Afghanistan/Pakistan, and Gordon and Gwen Nickel, former missionaries to Pakistan. The Board decided to extend Gordon a contract to serve up to one quarter time as a resource missionary for the Muslim world. Gordon also teaches missions at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask.
Ens emphasized that the new strategy would not necessarily increase spending but mostly shift present costs of Muslim work into new patterns of mission.
Youth groups in Canada and the US are being challenged to mobilize for cash raising projects to fund the group's ministry: Sloppy Joe supper, pie supper, car wash, garage sale, walk-a-thon, etc. Participating groups will be featured in Witness magazine.
The Board and administrative staff also plan to donate personal funds to support Esengo Zaire.
The biennial conference convention in July 1997 in St. Catharines, Ont. will present new MBM/S literature, videos and an inspirational program further promoting the rest of the Year of Global Mission.
As the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren prepares for a second Global MB Consultation in 1999, the Board allocated $30,000 over the next three years to help delegates from all regions attend. The first global MB gathering occurred in Curitiba, Brazil in 1988.
MBM/S and other conference agencies have been engaged in talks regarding a proposed Mission Training Centre in the Vancouver area, scheduled to begin operating in summer of 1997. The current blueprint projects that the centre would function under the structure of the Center for Mission/Evangelism, an arm of MB Biblical Seminary. The proposal was approved for MBM/S to participate as a partner. Other agencies will indicate their intentions in late April.
While the European expenditure will remain around 25%, an increasing increment will go toward ministry in the former Soviet Union, with less to be spent in Germany/Austria. Another 15% will be allotted for reaching unreached peoples in Africa, possibly including the Wolof of Senegal.
The Board reaffirmed a prior commitment to allocating 5% to immigrants and international students in North America.
The $200,000 in cuts will target church construction, a line item that has not been fully funded for several years, and some new programs whose start can be delayed.
Expressing their own determination to do their part to alleviate the financial crunch, the Board and administrators of MBM/S donated $7300 from their own pockets and committed themselves personally to raising a matching $7300. The total $14,600 will underwrite the Kikwit Bible Institute for almost one full year.
Ruth Klassen, who serves in Guadalajara, Mexico as a Christian education specialist, will begin another three-year term in January 1997. Jeff and Teri Prather, team leaders in Peru, will continue in their role for three more years, until April 2000.
The Board affirmed the work of Ernst and Ursula Janzen, who have been planting a church among the upper middle class in Montevideo, Uruguay, and created a new opening for an additional worker or couple to join the Janzens. The Janzens were reappointed, with the stipulation that they will have co-workers to assist.
Similar considerations shaped the reappointment of Miller and Isabella Zhuang, who complete a second term of service in Venezuela in May. The Zhuangs have single-handedly carried the ministry of church planting and pastoring of two widely separated Chinese fellowships, and need teammates to share the workload.
After ministry in North America, they will take at least a one semester study leave, during which co-workers need to be identified. The Board urged the Chinese churches of Vancouver to make this search a top priority. Board member David Poon is communicating to these churches that the return of the Zhuangs depends on finding appropriate help.
Harold and Dorothy Siebert will conclude their ministry in Bogota, Colombia in July and take a two-year study leave at Providence Theological Seminary, Otterburne, Man. During the leave, Harold will continue to serve as half-time regional secretary for Latin America from the MBM/S Winnipeg office. In 1998, under reappointment, they plan to enter a new church planting ministry in Latin America.
Lawrence and Selma Warkentin received a one-year extension of their work in Dresden, Germany, with the proviso that the cost be jointly funded by MBM/S and the German MB partner (AMBD). The mission will explore further shared funding for the replacements for the Warkentins, who will retire in 1997.
The Board accepted the resignation of Tim and Jill Schellenberg, missionaries in Simbach, Germany, effective December 31, 1996. The Schellenbergs have planted a growing church which will welcome its first German pastor in August.
The Board decided to end MBM/S participation in the church planting effort in Enns, Austria, where the prospects for growth and progress seem unlikely. Al and Karen Stobbe were given the freedom to explore other ministry options prior to the end of their stint in late 1996.
In 1997, the Colombian Conference anticipates sending a couple to minister in Panama with the indigenous MB churches for a term of two years. At present MBM/S has no one working in this area. The Board committed MBM/S to assist in supporting the Colombian couple.
MBM/S continues to subsidize 103 Indian couples who systematically evangelize over 500 unreached villages. A recent Church Partnership Evangelism campaign in the Gadwal area resulted in many professions of faith and encouraged pastors, conference leadership, and 17 Bible students who participated. More than 40 high caste persons indicated a desire to receive Christ.
Gary Hardaway, Communications and Public Relations
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