People and Events

Mennonite Disaster Service is looking for stories about how MDS's work has led someone to Christ or brought a person back into the fellowship of the church. Lowell Detweiler, coordinator of MDS 2000 activities that will commemorate MDS's 50th anniversary, is in the process of compiling such stories. MDS work has resulted in churches being started in Elmira, N.Y. and Rapid City, S.D. The witness of MDS volunteers in Alabama after Hurricane Camille in 1969 led a dying man to request a visit by a Mennonite pastor in 1996. He would only trust a Mennonite because Mennonites had helped him rebuild almost 30 years earlier. He gave his life to the Lord before his death. Stories or comments about the spiritual impact of MDS can be sent to MDS 2000, Box 500, Akron, Pa. 17501.--

Area conferences of the Mennonite Church have expelled or suspended the following churches because of these congregations' acceptance of practising homosexuals as members: Under suspension are Southside Fellowship, Elkhart, Ind.; Assembly Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind.; Oak Park (Ill.) Mennonite Church; Maple Avenue Mennonite Church, Waukesha, Wis. and Atlanta (Ga.) Mennonite Fellowship. Expelled are Ames (Iowa) Mennonite Church; Germantown Mennonite Church, Philadelphia; and Rainbow Mennonite Church, Kansas City, Kan. The Mennonite Church is in the process of merging with the General Conference Mennonite Church, which has not expelled such congregations.--

gave dramatically more to national and binational causes during the 1997-98 fiscal year. The US and General MB Conferences both finished with the highest church contributions recorded in the 16 years giving has been tracked, according to Dale Regier, US Conference treasurer. Church giving to the US MB Conference totalled $284,031 US, a 21% increase from the previous year; special fundraising added $249,177; interest income and endowment earnings brought the total US Conference income to $542,096. This resulted in a net surplus of $754 for the year. The budget was underspent partly because the MB Biblical Seminary fundraising position was filled for only part of the fiscal year on a part-time basis, and partly because the Christian Leader, the periodical which serves the US MB Conference, switched to a more economical production process. Church giving to MBBS during 1997-98 totaled $237,182, a 13% increase over the previous year. The MBBS subsidy, which is guaranteed by the US Conference, fell short of the $267,500 requirement by only $2,042. MBBS covered the shortfall with excess funds from individual gifts to the school. US church support for the General MB Conference causes was $100,895 in 1997-98, 16% higher than last year. For 1998-99, US MB churches are being asked to give only $99,988 to the General Conference and $254,000 to MBBS. However, the 1998-99 US Conference budget will rise substantially to $660,910. Nearly half of the budget is to come from church contributions, while the rest is to come from individual giving, estate gifts and endowment and networking funds.--

Each spring Rolling Hills United Church in Brooks, Alta. invests $20,000-$25,000 in about 40 calves which are then branded and distributed among ranchers from the congregation and those wanting to help raise the calves. In fall, the animals are sold and the profits go to the church for the coming year. Typically, each animal nets about $200 in profit; participating farmers are given a charitable donation tax receipt for the amount of profit the animals return. The "Holy Cow Project" is credited with keeping the church in the black.--

The Canadian Bible Society has launched "Proclamation: The Word of the Lord", a public oral reading of the entire Bible over a period of 10 days, 14 hours a day. It began in 1995 in the Anglican parish of St. James, Rosemère, Que., which saw 200 readers in 12 languages read the Bible. By 1997, 28 congregations, gathered in 9 host churches to participate. The event is intended to raise awareness of the work of the Bible Society.--

Southern Baptist leaders report that more than 1,700 people in Salt Lake City, northern Utah and Idaho Falls received Christ after a few days of evangelism in June. Some 2,000 door-to-door Baptists canvassed as a major media campaign was underway and in conjunction with the denomination's annual meeting. The denomination had set a goal to reach 1,500 people with the gospel and launch a dozen churches in this area dominated by Mormons.--

The Freedom from Religious Persecution Act was passed in May by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 375-41. It allows the US to cut off foreign aid, except for humanitarian purposes, from countries that are found to persecute people for their faith. Big businesses opposed the bill, saying it will hinder trade.--

Total international aid, including private investment, has more than doubled over the last three years to more than $300 billion US. However, giving by the world's rich nations has fallen to the lowest level in three decades. In 1996, official government aid was $59.9 billion, down $4.5 billion from 1995. Aid totalled just a fourth of 1% of the combined economic output of the 21 nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In dollar terms, Japan gave the most, $9.44 billion, while the US was second with $9.38 billion. The OECD criticizes many aid efforts for falling short in coordination, involving much duplication of effort, failing to account for local needs and failing to train locals to run the programs when the aid workers leave.--

According to a new poll, two-thirds of Germans say that their highest aspiration is be "happy and content". That's up from 49% in 1974. Only 39% stated that they find it meaningful to "create a better society". Only 17% of Germans consider "doing what God expects me to do" to be the ultimate meaning of their existence.--

Mennonite Disaster Service helped rebuild a dining room and chapel complex in Camp Elim, south of Swift Current, Sask., after it burned to the ground in March. Insurance covered the costs of replacement, but not the labour. Meanwhile, in southern Alberta, a wild-fire storm in mid-December swept through an area 43 kilometres long and 11-16 kilometres wide, burning five houses, numerous barns and corrals and 600 kilometres of fence. MDS volunteers began building two new barns in April, and is committed to rebuilding three or four sets of corrals and one house. MDS Alberta raised $10,000 to help pay for supplies.--

Fresno Pacific University reported an increase in enrollment this fall, with an unofficial total of 1,651 students. Of these, 635 are traditional undergraduates, 116 are enrolled in the Center for Degree Completion and about 900 are in the graduate school. In August 1997, numbers were 602 traditional undergraduates, 139 in the CDC and about 900 in the graduate school, for a total of 1,641 students. FPU is operated by the Pacific District MB Conference.--