Letters to the editor

All should read Congo stories

"Stories from Congo" (News, April 30) is a very sobering story about our brethren in Congo. I thought about the courage our kin in the faith have and the wimpiness of my practice of the faith. That is reflected in a net loss of 3,000 church members per day in the US (pro-rated for Canada, this would be 300 per day), compared with a daily gain of 16,000 in sub-Saharan Africa—where communication and transportation require enormous personal effort. They have the excuses; we don't. Church leaders should urge their members to read this story.

George Epp, (E)
Chilliwack, B.C.

The proposal to dissolve the General MB Conference is an easy way out of a perceived problem, but the solution is potentially costly. Christian unity is not chiefly structural. Still, structural fragmentation sends a message that is hardly a positive model for churches in Europe, Africa, South America or Asia.

Despite the best intentions to salvage the ministries of spiritual supervision (Faith and Life), global mission, leadership training and media resourcing through cooperation between national organizations, I fear that disjointedness, scattered vision, administrative overhead and an overall downplaying of these priorities will jeopardize effectiveness of ministry and blur our identity.

I agree that changes are necessary, but should changes not be made in the light of our calling and mission? Is dissolution the appropriate response to the vision statement of the General Conference which was proposed in 1987 and adopted, together with strategies, in 1990? Is it now expedience that determines decisions?

Elmer A. Martens, (E)
Fresno, Ca.

Congratulations on an excellent issue about death (April 16). I especially appreciated "A wink at death" wherein Moses Slambaugh describes building his own coffin. I have thought of doing that, and have asked my woodworking sons to do it for me. The 90th psalm is a wonderful meditation: "Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Buddhists also encourage meditation on one's own death for the purpose of living wisely and compassionately.

I have had the great privilege of being with a number of people as they left this life; it is a rich and sacred experience.

Ruth Wood,
Winnipeg, Man.

Congratulations on consistently producing a quality publication that challenges and stimulates me in my walk with God. Godly parents took me to an MB Church as a child, and in 1960 at Columbia Bible Camp I became a follower of Jesus. I was later baptized and joined East Chilliwack MB Church. Even though I have not been a member of an MB church for 25 years, the Herald allows my wife and me to keep strong connections to our roots. My childhood and teen years included a strong attachment to the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Radio speakers J.T. McNair, K. Neil Foster and A.W. McVety were as familiar to us as our own pastors. Having uncles and aunts who attended Alliance churches, my dad was on a first-name basis with many of those pastors. They would occasionally preach in our church, and some of our preachers would preach in theirs. My parents took us to our cousins' baptisms, and I remember my aunt and uncle affirming me at mine. So it was easy for me to make the transition from MB to Alliance.

I was therefore delighted to see the article describing the amalgamation of Pincher Creek Alliance Church into the MB Church (News, April 16). Our recently retired pastor's son-in-law was the Alliance pastor involved in that smooth transition. Likewise, the "laying on of hands" by Alberta MB Conference leaders on a pastor whose congregation had decided to join the Alliance speaks volumes about the true unity that exists among all Christians. There is no competition among us. We all have our spheres of influence, strengths and weaknesses.

I have grown to appreciate the strong commitment to the authority of God's Word and to Christian behaviour that MB churches have always stood for. That commitment is a gift you have given many other denominations in Canada. With the Alliance, I've noticed a strong emphasis on missions and the spread of the gospel. Both traditions stress personal renewal and "deeper life".

In our own church, besides families with MB backgrounds, we sing songs and choruses composed by Pentecostals and Vineyard members, led by former Pentecostals. One of my best friends at church is the son of a godly United Church missionary/minister. My friend, however, became a Christian in a Baptist church. We also have families from Christian Reformed, Anglican and Evangelical Free backgrounds. Our local church has been enriched with the unique gifts and heritages of all these brothers and sisters.

As you treasure the wonderful heritage God has entrusted to you, please continue to write articles and pursue topics that speak to Christians of "all stripes". Jesus never hesitated to speak to the tough issues of His day, but was always so gracious that He could debate with even His most vicious critics, yet never "stoop to their level". Many times He simply let their own words trap them. He also graciously accepted the heartfelt expressions of sincere truth seekers even if they were wrong! May you continue to demonstrate that gracious spirit I see in so many of the articles, and may the Spirit of Truth continue to guide all of us into truth.

Jim Sagert,
Quesnel, B.C.

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