Canadian Mennonite April 13, 2009 21
The first year they feted the firefighters discussed what a healthy congregation feel excited about,” he said. “If people feel
in their county at a banquet. There, they looks like, deciding that being who they their money is needed, they give.”
told the firefighters that the congregation were, at their life stage, was a key sign of Margaret Ewen Peters, co-pastor
would be praying for them weekly for the health. Un-health would be trying to be at Ha n l e y Me n n o n i te a n d a n M C
next year. The church has continued this what they weren’t or panicking about the Saskatchewan council member, shared
ministry, having to increase space to ac- future. One participant noted that he and concerns about competition arising
commodate the groups to whom it minis- his wife had downsized from a large coun- among leaders. “What I don’t want to see
ters. Now many years later, the congrega- try home to a condo in the city, which gave is pitting programs against each other,” she
tion still has no children, but it is joyfully a them more energy to live and serve. explained.
healthy small church, he said, adding that Participants went home with hope for Gerhard Luitjens, pastor of Hope
healthy small congregations realize that their small congregations, one as small as Mennonite Fellowship in North Battleford,
they need to change to live. 15 regular participants. believes the budget isn’t being met because
After lunch, churches of MC Eastern The event was sponsored by Associates younger people don’t necessarily own the
Canada gathered to discuss the morning’s Resourcing the Church, Conrad Grebel vision of the area church and the older
presentation in small groups. One group and MC Eastern Canada. Λ people are passing from the scene. But he
also sees a lack of information as part of
Finance chair, pastors differ
the problem. A lot of people aren’t famil-
iar with what the area church is doing, he
pointed out.
on program funding cuts Perhaps the most surprising viewpoint
came from Eigenheim Mennonite Church’s
bi-vocational pastor, Allan Friesen. “I be-
MC Saskatchewan budget shortfalls ‘can’t lieve a conference’s main calling should be
’
continue, Armin Krahn stresses to provide mutual aid and accountability
between congregations,” he wrote in an
By Karin Fehder au e-mail. “Unfortunately, congregations are
saskatchewan correspondent often seen more as existing to supp