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Abbotsford, B.C.
Many voices will tell their stories at General Conference Celebration


The General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches will conclude its 123-year history with three evening celebrations July 25, 26 and 27, 2002 in Abbotsford, B.C. Organizers of the event have compiled a varied list of speakers including radio personality David Balzer, poet Jean Janzen, and even the biblical character Jeremiah himself.

During the first of the three celebrations convention attendees will hear voices from the past, a dramatization of the men who signed the secession document, carving a Mennonite Brethren fellowship out of the larger Mennonite community. The drama will include testimonies of tearful farewells as the first Mennonite Brethren emigrated from Russia and stories of the sacrifices and challenges of the early missionaries who followed God’s call.

A choir led by retired Columbia Bible College professor Rudy Baerg will help tell the story in music. Among the selections they sing will be an original composition by Larry Warkentin, recently retired from the faculty of Fresno (Calif.) Pacific University. Lynn Jost, a Bible professor at Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., will bring the evening’s meditation.

A procession of symbols will lead into voices from the present in the second evening’s program that will feature testimonies from people who joined the MB family after the migration to Canada and the US. People from Hispanic, Chinese, Slavic and other ethnic communities that make up today’s North American MB Church will share their stories.

Two ensembles will provide music on the third evening. Retired Tabor College music professor Jonah Kliewer will lead his Sixteen Singing Men of the Fifties as they conclude a concert tour of British Columbia at this celebration. The evening’s multicultural flavour will be highlighted by the 50-voice choir of young adults from Bellingham (Wash.) Slavic Gospel Church, singing under the direction of Antonina Datskiy. Ron Redekop, pastor of Northside Community Church in Mission, B.C., will give a message.

The prophet Jeremiah’s voice from the past will call the audience to look into the future in a dramatic interchange in the final evening celebration. The program will range from a prelude of hot Christian jazz by the Canadian combo Jazz Garden, to a closing communion service led by the Conference’s executive secretary Marvin Hein. Testimonies from several young adults will focus on continuing to follow God’s call to global mission.

The celebration evenings will be held at Central Heights MB Church from 7 to 9 p.m. During the day, delegates from the Canadian and US Mennonite Brethren Conferences will meet separately in Abbotsford – Canadians at Northview Community Church and Americans at Bakerview MB Church.

For details on the evening celebrations, contact Marvin Hein at 559-452-1713 or by e-mail at mhein1@fresno.edu. No registration is required for the evening programs.

 – a release

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Last modified April 15, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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