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Steinbach (Man.) MB Church held a “Celebration of Missions” Oct. 26–28. Pakisa Tshimika of the Mennonite World Conference and former MBMS International program director for Africa was the keynote speaker. Speaking on the theme “Global Family of Faith”, Tshimika, who is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, shared his life story and challenged the congregation to take risks, seek justice and hear the call of God. He pointed to a critical need for teachers for young Christians in the developing world. University student Juanita Kornelsen reported on her short-term mission trip to the Ivory Coast. Miroslav Peyter, pastor of the Slavic church in Winnipeg, gave a report, and his translator, Eugene, also sang. During Sunday school, MBMSI missionaries Robert and Erika Sukkau spoke about their work with a vibrant youth group in Trujillo, Peru. On display were mission agencies such as MBMSI, the Gideons and Athletes in Action and Bible camps including Simonhouse and Red Rock. Pictured are (l-r) Pakisa Tshimika, Eugene (translator), Miroslav Peyter and Erika and Robert Sukkau.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has released its plan for the number of immigrants and refugees it expects to process in 2002.
| Immigrant Category |
|
Plan for 2002 |
|
Arrivals in 2000 |
| Skilled Workers |
129,000 – |
139,800 |
133,370 |
| Family |
56,000 – |
62,000 |
60,515 |
| Others |
2,000 – |
2,800 |
3,244 |
| Total Immigrants |
187,000 – |
204,600 |
197,129 |
Refugee Category |
| Government-assisted |
7,500 |
|
7,378 |
| Privately Sponsored |
2,900 – |
4,200 |
2,905 |
| Refugees Landed in Canada |
10,500 – |
15,600 |
12,978 |
| and Dependants Abroad |
2,100 – |
3,100 |
3,486 |
| Total Refugees |
23,000 – |
30,400 |
26,747 |
| Kosovo Refugees |
|
|
3,283 |
| Others |
|
|
50 |
| Total Immigrants and Refugees |
210,000 – |
235,000 |
227,209 |
– Citizen and Immigration Canada
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The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has appeared before the House of Commons Committee on Justice and Human Rights in order to suggest changes to Bill C-36, the Canadian government’s anti-terrorism bill. The EFC recommends that Bill C-36 be amended: 1) to restrict the definition of “terrorist activity” to violence; 2) to require that criminal facilitation of terrorism have a criminal intent; 3) to make it clear that legitimate humanitarian aid is not included in the definition of “participating in or contributing to terrorist activity”; and 4) to remove Part 6, which allows charities to be de-registered without an adequate opportunity to refute allegations that they facilitated terrorism. The EFC fears the Bill could hinder the humanitarian work of relief and development agencies. – Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Orchard Valley Church, Winfield, B.C., has a new mailing address: 3130 Berry Rd., Winfield, B.C. V4V 1V2. The phone number remains the same at (250) 766-1682. Pastor couple is Joe and Linda Harrison. E-mail: jharrison@silk.net. – Orchard Valley Church
Living Water, a joint project of Mennonite Central Committee and the Anglican Church of Mozambique, has resulted in 23 wells being dug this year in various communities in Maputo province in southern Mozambique. Three more wells are expected to be completed before 2002. Water is precious in this area, especially during the dry season from May through October. In March 2000, severe flooding destroyed most of the area’s wells. MCC has contributed $83,000 this year for the Living Water project. Many of the wells are dug on church property but serve the whole community. In communities where there is a lack of water, women must walk long distances to fetch water or pay to draw from private wells. Lack of water creates severe health problems because it means people drink less and wash less. – Mennonite Central Committee
Mennonite World Conference executive secretary Larry Miller and MWC executive member Fimbo Ganvunze were in New York City in June to clarify a possible MWC intern appointment to the Mennonite Central Committee office at the United Nations. If this new position is approved by the executive committees of both MCC and MWC, MWC would have a chance to express its concerns to the UN about the challenges facing its member churches in various wartorn countries such as Colombia and Democratic Republic of Congo. The MCC UN office has been in operation since 1991. It has official consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council and the UN’s Department of Public Information, and works with other non-governmental organizations related to the UN. MWC and MCC have had an official relationship since signing an agreement in 1997. For the past four years, each organization has had “participant observers” at the other’s executive committee meetings. While in New York, Miller and Ganvunze also met with a UN diplomat responsible for UN affairs in Democratic Republic of Congo. MWC is the body that represents Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches worldwide. MCC is the relief and development agency of Mennonite churches in North America. – Mennonite World Conference
Between 50,000 and 100,000 Dalits, India’s lowest society caste (sometimes called “untouchables”), participated in anti-caste political rally in New Delhi on Nov. 4. Thousands of Dalits adopted Buddhism as their religion during a mass ceremony. Christian leaders Joseph De Souza and John Dayal of the All India Christian Council made speeches of solidarity to the assembled Dalits. Contrary to the expectations of some foreign Christian observers, no organized Bible distribution or Dalit baptisms into the Christian faith took place at the rally. Some Christian organizations claimed that “300 million Dalits [were] on the verge of [converting] to Christianity” and raised funds to distribute Scriptures and to build tents on the site to baptize Dalits. Rally organizers demanded a halt to such claims, stressing that Christian leaders had merely been invited to participate as guests and show solidarity; they had not received permission to hold evangelistic activities. However, the claims, downloaded from Internet sites, were used by Hindu nationalists to demand that the rally be cancelled. As a result, the police permit for the rally was revoked, forcing it to be moved to a new site. Organizers say 350,000 Dalits were prevented from boarding trains to attend the rally. Hindu culture says that Dalits must remain in the lower class as a punishment for sins in a past life. To counter discrimination against them, India’s constitution has affirmative-action policies to help Dalits attend university and get government jobs, but these are not always effective. Dalits who convert to Christianity lose such entitlements. Still, 60% of India’s 40 million Christians are from a Dalit background. – Compass Direct, Evangelical Press News Service
Supporters of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe increasingly believe that he and his government have been cursed by black magic. London’s Sunday Times reports the deaths of two government ministers in separate car wrecks, the resignation of another and the collapse of a high government leader from cerebral malaria. Even educated, elite Zimbabweans are hesitant to link themselves with Mugabe; thus, replacements for the lost government leaders are difficult to recruit. Mugabe is nominally Roman Catholic but has encouraged tribal religions. – World Pulse
US Attorney General John Ashcroft has ordered federal drug agents to take action against doctors who use controlled substances to assist in the suicides of terminally ill patients. The doctors could have their licences suspended or even revoked. The new order overturns a 1998 order by previous Attorney General Janet Reno which in effect suspended enforcement of the federal Controlled Substances Act in Oregon. Oregon passed a law permitting physician-assisted suicide in that state in 1997. Since that law took effect, 70 people have ended their lives with the aid of a doctor. – EPNS
“Three Guiding Principles for Humanitarian Aid in the Afghanistan Crisis” is a document written by five humanitarian agencies, including Mennonite Central Committee. The document, released Nov. 1, asserts that humanitarian aid “must be provided on the basis of need, not as an instrument of political or military strategy; multilateral cooperation is critical for effective aid in Afghanistan; and military intervention must not exacerbate humanitarian crises.” The five groups – MCC, Church World Service, the American Friends Service Committee, Lutheran World Relief and Presbyterian Church U.S.A.–Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – also said they supported efforts by the US government to deliver aid to Afghan refugees. – EPNS
A survey conducted by Health Canada found that three-quarters of Canadians want the federal government to ban human cloning, two-thirds believe that sex-selection for non-medical reasons should be illegal, and over 80% strongly support the establishment of a regulatory agency to oversee fertility clinics, reproduction technologies and embryonic research. Fewer than one-third of Canadians are aware that there is no current legislation governing the field of reproductive and genetic technology. Federal Health Minister Allan Rock has indicated that he will table legislation after he has received a report from the Standing Committee on Health, which is conducting public hearings on the matter. – EFC, Ottawa Citizen
Nearly 200 Indonesian Mennonites celebrated the 150th anniverary of Mennonite mission work in that country July 26–28. Represenatives from the Netherlands and North America also attended. Dutch Mennonite missionaries Pieter and Wilhelmina Jansz came to Indonesia in November 1851, ministered there for over 50 years and are buried there. They founded the first Indonesian Mennonite congregation in Jepara. There are now 160 Mennonite congregations in Indonesia, and dozens more are emerging. In the context of violence in that country, church leaders are giving increasing attention to Christ’s call to be peacemakers. Mennonite Central Committee began its work in Indonesia at the request of the Dutch Mennonite Mission Board following World War II. – MCC
Marvin Hein, executive secretary of the General MB Conference, is sending frequent e-mails to pastors in order to give updates on the plans for the convention July 25–27, 2002 in Abbotsford, B.C. If you are a pastor of an MB church in Canada or the US and have not received a recent e-mail from him but you do have e-mail access, please send him your e-mail address at mhein1@fresno.edu. – General MB Conference
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Last modified December 7, 2001.
© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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