Letters to the Editor

Some hard questions

My wife and I just came back from a trip to Gonzales, Mexico, visiting cousins whose parents had moved to Mexico around 1920. There are appproximately 800 people in five villages, with two churches--the Sommerfelders (who teach salvation by baptism) and the Kleinegemeinde (who teach salvation by grace through faith). We attended a service at the latter and were pleased to see they had no piano or musical instruments--because then they could never have rock music like our churches back home.

These people asked me some difficult questions: How can you call yourselves Christians and listen to rock music, or go to movies, or watch the devil's television, or have women preachers, or be involved with professional sports on Sundays, or wear shorts to church? (I believe this last one must especially grieve the Lord Jesus, who said, "Be ye holy as I am holy.") I wonder how Jesus would have answered the questions of the Mennonites in Mexico?
Peter Neufeld, (E)
Winnipeg, Man.

What leads to sex?

MBs will soon be booking tickets for their children to go to Banff '98 (NYC '98). The mere mention of Banff reminds us of the infamous Banff '95 and the year-long hullabaloo about whether dancing was the fruit of the devil or of freedom in the Spirit. We MBs have always been wrong about the issue of dancing. Dancing doesn't necessarily lead to sex, and my grandfather is proof of this. Every six years, the MB Conference would meet in my grandparents' hometown. Nine months later, my grandparents would bring a new child into the world. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see what really leads to sex! Derek Van Nes,
Otterburne, Man.

(The next Canadian MB Conference convention will be July 9-12, 1998 in Burnaby, B.C. Ed.)

Unto the third and fourth generation

I am updating the mailing list of the Russian congregation of Willingdon Church, contacting the various families and asking whether they would like the Herald to come to their home (instead of to the church, where they receive it now). It is good that you send the magazine to these people. Their English may be poor, but it will improve, and usually there are children in the home who grasp the language very quickly. One never knows whether an article may be just what they need at a specific time. God often works in ways such as that. I have appreciated the issues that I have been receiving.

I am new to the membership of the MB Conference, although it was through MB workers almost 100 years ago that my grandfather was found by Jesus. He became a member of the MB church in Blaine Lake, Sask. As a teen, I walked past the MB church in Saskatoon to the Alliance church because I did not understand German and the morning services were still conducted in German. My grandfather was an ordained lay pastor, and now here I am in the MB Conference, working with immigrants. Isn't God good?
Lloyd Makaroff, Assistant Pastor,
Russian Ministries, Willingdon Church,
Burnaby, B.C.

My Easter story

In April, 1996, my husband Ed went to jail for something that he did while serving in a large Mennonite Brethren church 20 years before. My struggle at the time was overpowering anger at how the church had used our fear of saying "No" to their own advantage. Even back then, some people had known in their spirit that something was wrong in the relationship between my husband and a teen-age girl, but they were afraid of confronting him. I was terrified of losing a husband (someone to take care of me) and a father for our four young children, so I chose to believe his lies when I asked what was going on. We now know that we allowed ourselves to be so over-involved in the church because it made us feel loved. The Lord has been wonderful in allowing us both to see the truth of how messed up we were. We did not know how to go to Jesus with our needs, but used people to fill us up. By the grace of God, we have confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness where we could. We are now walking out the very painful consequences of our sins. I am proud of Ed for not running away. What blows me away is the amazing work of grace that God has been able to do in our lives. We used to live in fear, shame and guilt. Now we both hold onto the promise that "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

I want to share the healing that happened in my life two years ago. I shook my fist at God and screamed that if He were a man, I would punch Him out. He replied, "I did become a man. His name is Jesus." I went looking for God's Son with anger. In my mind, I found Jesus as the soldiers were getting ready to crucify Him. I shoved them aside, grabbed the hammer and nailed the spikes into His hands as tears of rage and pain were pouring down my face. I hated God for all that had happened in my life, and killing His Son was going to be sweet revenge. I finished this horrible deed and looked up to see Jesus' eyes pierce my soul. He said, "I did this for you", and I knew the truth. I knew who Jesus was, I knew what God's plan for redemption was, and I knew the unconditional, overwhelming love God had for me. I was finally able to see myself for who I was. I wept and wept for what I was capable of doing and for what I had done. Then God's arms of love gathered m e to Himself, and I heard Him laugh with unrestrained joy. I heard the heavens shake that night because I had found my way home. I finally knew what Good Friday and Easter Sunday were all about, and I had peace.

I wanted to share this part of my life with all those who prayed for us during and after that very difficult time. I have come to a place of forgiving those who hurt us, and ask God to bless the Mennonite Brethren community. I, in turn, ask forgiveness from anyone whom I have sinned against. May God bless you with His love, joy and peace this Easter season.
Elsa Dyck,
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

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