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The 51st annual convention was held March 14-15 at Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn. Although Bethany is not directly responsible to the Saskatchewan MB Conference (it is jointly owned by the Alberta and Saskatchewan conferences and has its own convention each fall), having the convention at the school allowed the constituency to experience the warm atmosphere at Bethany. Lunch and coffee breaks saw parents and/or constituents interacting with the students and faculty.
The convention motto, which was adopted in 1993 for the rest of the decade, was illustrated by a banner prepared by Reuben Andres. It repeated the phrase, "Planted to produce" in the three languages used by the Saskatchewan MB churches in their worship: English, Spanish and Chinese. It also illustrated the pumpkins and sunflowers which were grown from the seeds given to churches at last year's convention. At that time, churches were encouraged to see who could grow the heaviest pumpkin and the tallest sunflower. It was reported that some sunflowers grew up to 11 feet high, and at least one pumpkin was over 100 pounds. Prizes included reduction in fees for the BBI Youth Advance (a weekend retreat for high school students) and/or registration at West Bank Bible Camp or Redberry Bible Camp.
Thomas based his Friday evening message on Acts 5. In Acts, the "believers were incorrigibly happy, totally unafraid and always in trouble". Christianity is Christ in you and me, and without Christ we can do nothing, said Thomas. "It's amazing how tired you can get doing nothing. There are so many tired Christians who don't know the reality of Christ. Christianity is reduced to performance and religion to ritual." Peter and John were imprisoned for the faith, but through divine intervention they were set free. They were told to "go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life." That verse set the stage for Thomas's key emphasis for the weekend: "Go where you are sent, stay where you are put, and give what you've got."
On Saturday morning, Thomas continued with Acts, starting in chapter 8. The church in action was Christ in action. What the Lord Jesus continued to do and continues to do is clothed with the humanity of a few redeemed sinners. Philip did not argue when he was sent to the wilderness. He went where he was sent.
Thomas's third hour-long message, on Saturday afternoon, was based on Ephesians 2. Christians must be willing to die--to their reputations, their prejudices, etc.--in order that they can be regenerated, be made alive. They must be willing to die to what is, in order to live what is meant to be. The heart of the gospel is life to those born dead. Christians must be in the place God put them; "no questions--only instructions to obey".
* Because of some church obligations on Saturday, Alfred Lee gave his testimony for ordination on Friday evening. He is the pastor of Chinese Community Church of Regina. Lee had learned to know Christ in his teenage years and wanted to become a social worker so that he could help teens. Lee has felt God's call to mission work in Africa, but for the time being sees his mission field in Regina. During this time, he is growing spiritually and ministering to the church. During the last eight years, the church has had 34 new Christians. The youth group from the church is keen to serve the Lord, and Lee is trusting that the next minister for the church will come from within the body.
* On Saturday morning Ralph Gliege, as Director of Church Ministries, used Bethany's drama troupe "Steadfast" to illustrate his report with their sketches. He also invited three pastors who had attended the New Pastors' Orientation in Fresno, Calif. in January to report on their experiences. Since some of the new pastors in the province come from outside the Mennonite Brethren Conference, they appreciated learning what MBs were about. Gliege also had multicoloured candles available for each church. The fact that there were many colours symbolized the individual identity of each church. The flame from their use on Pentecost Sunday symbolizes the unity that exists among the churches.
* Con Cozac, chair of the Board of Church Extension, invited people from a number of churches to tell what is happening in their churches. Reuben Rempel from Borden talked about weekly prayer meetings, boldness in witnessing and an outreach banquet. Dwayne Barkman from West Portal in Saskatoon told of continuing to use "Andrew cards"--names of friends to pray for, with a goal of 10% of these people coming to Christ each year. John Klassen of Beechy told of the growth in that church, both from baptisms and from people joining from other churches. Ellwood Barkman from Kelstern indicated that that church was not only a surviving rural church, but was a church in a slow growth mode. It is the last evangelical church within a 35-mile radius. It is building a new facility on a cash basis. When people ask why the church is building in a rural setting, the church members have an opportunity to talk about their faith.
* Perhaps the most exciting report came from Carlos Vera. Vera is a Spanish church planter, who has started a church in Medicine Hat, Alta. and two in Calgary. He is now working on one in Regina. Together with Vera was Elias Miranda. Miranda and his wife came to Calgary in 1984. Here they became acquainted with Vera and his wife, and through them became Christians. Miranda will be heading up the church in Regina. Although neither the Calgary church plant nor the Regina church plant, known as Love in Action Ministries, are officially MB, talks are being held in both provinces. Jake Balzer, coordinator of ethnic ministries for the Canadian MB Conference, is mentoring Carlos Vera during this time.
In the meantime, the Saskatchewan MB Conference passed a recommendation that would provide financial support for Miranda in Regina, would pay for four trips from Calgary for Vera to help train and disciple Miranda, and would allow Miranda to visit the Spanish church at Willingdon in Burnaby, B.C. and learn from pastor George Sanchez. If the evaluation in June, 1997 is such that Love in Action Ministries and the Saskatchewan MB Conference Council of Boards wish to affiliate, then steps toward affiliation would begin and support would continue. In December, the Council of Boards would prepare a recommendation to the next Saskatchewan Conference convention for further support of this ministry.
* The Board of Christian Education highlighted the various ministries of the past year, and then Wayne Schmidt reported on a project done at the request of the Board. He described the Saskatchewan MB Conference internet home page, along with its component pages, and the many opportunities for dialogue.
* Reports from the Conference's camps, Redberry Bible Camp and West Bank Bible Camp, were given by directors Lyndon Gliege and Brent Alexander, respectively. Gliege was grateful for the money coming in for the various building projects. He indicated that many children and young people came to Christ this past camping season. Since Lyndon had resigned from Redberry Camp earlier, he was happy to introduce the new camp directors, Wendell and Gwen Andres, who are beginning their ministry at Redberry this spring. Alexander gave his report in Spanish and English, so that the Spanish brothers present would get a rest from having to listen to only English. He had spent some time in South America in ministry and is beginning his ministry at West Bank this spring.
* that the Canadian Conference wished to have confidence that the MBBC assets will be transferred to a willing and responsible supporting body;
* that there is a low level of participation from Saskatchewan churches in Concord;
* that the 1996 Concord convention removed the need for the three provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario) to participate in the Mennonite university vision and that the Saskatchewan Conference was not supportive of the federation of Concord with Canadian Mennonite Bible College and Menno Simons College;
* that there is a possibility that the Manitoba MB Conference would be willing to assume full responsibility for the governance of Concord;
* and that individual Saskatchewan MB Churches could continue to maintain a relationship with Concord College individually.
On Friday evening, moderator Lorne Willms indicated that there was another recommendation in regard to Concord as well. This was available to the delegates, but would not be considered until the Executive Board motion had been voted on. When it came time for discussion, Menno Martens and Larry Speiser, both board members of Concord College, gave rationale for their alternative recommendation that would see Saskatchewan remain a "supporting conference" even though it would give up ownership of Concord. Although there were a few comments for and against the Executive Board recommendation, and it was clarified that the door was not closed to Concord College visiting any church, the vote indicated just over 80% in favour of the Executive Board recommendation.
The original motion indicated a desire to be released from being a supporting conference as soon as possible, rather than waiting the two years required by a memorandum of agreement between the four supporting provincial conferences. However, it was understood that, rather than create a hardship "as soon as possible", might take up to two years.
The Board of Management has set up a Church Support Fund which has been used during the past year to help several pastors in small congregations with specific aid. It also bought out the mortgage of Parkland Community Church in Yorkton. Anticipated donations from the churches for the coming year were set at $140,000. With a membership of just over 3100, this allowed the Board to reduce the norm to $45 per member.
Elections proceeded quite uneventfully. The only major change was that Henry Braun was elected moderator, and Eldon Fehr, who had served as secretary to fill the unexpired term of Rick McCorkindale, was now affirmed as secretary.
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