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Eli Detweiler
iwantafignewton@aol.com

For as long as I can remember, Mr. Wiens would take students out to breakfast just to talk things over. I used to make fun of people that would actually agree to go out with him, thinking that it was kind of odd how the Vice Principal was hanging out with students. One day, Mr. Wiens popped me the big question. “Do you want to go to breakfast tomorrow?” Not wanting to get on his bad side, I agreed. The decision to go with Mr. Wiens to breakfast was possibly the greatest choice I have made so far in my high school career.

Besides my parents, Mr. Wiens developed into the adult in my life that I could come to and share my problems, questions, or joys that I wanted to share. Coming from Souderton Area High School, I was not used to this kind of attention from a teacher. I tended to be think that you were sent to the vice principal because you were in trouble. Not so with Mr. Wiens.

Mr. Wiens is more than just an authority figure—he tries to be your friend, and I’m glad to say that he is my friend. I know that if I do something wrong, I will not get special treatment, but get punished the same as anyone else. And this punishment may be even worse because I will have to live with knowing that I let down someone important to me.

One memory with Mr. Wiens that I will never forget is our Mennonite Secondary Education Council (MSEC) touring choir trip. Mr. Wiens and I are hardcore CD touring choir groupies and the choir had their MSEC concert in Lancaster, PA. Mr. Wiens and I saddled up and made the trip west. Although I don’t really remember what we talked about during those car rides, I do remember that I gained a lot from them and also gained a lot of respect for Mr. Wiens as a person and a friend.

There are many examples of how Mr. Wiens cares for Christopher Dock and its activities. He is always seen at boy’s soccer games, field hockey games, baseball games, band/orchestra concerts, and touring choir concerts. He is a guy who loves his school and loves his students.

Mr. Wiens is a person that I can look up to. He mentors me whether he wants to or not. When I look around and see his relationships with people, I know how I want my relationships to be. He is a guy that I respect in his actions with the school and with his peers. He is an authority figure to me, but he is also a friend. He’s a pretty good guy to get sushi with as well.

Eli Detweiler is a senior at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Salford Mennonite Church.

Christopher Dock Mennonite High School

In partnership with the family and the church, developing the God-given abilities of students in preparation
for responsible stewardship of life as members of God’s people in a global society.

www.dockhs.org

Conrad Erb
conraderb@gmail.com

This summer, a torrent of rockets and shells fell on the earth as Lebanese militant fighters associated with Hezbollah clashed for 34 days with the Israeli military. By the time a ceasefire came into effect, over 1100 Lebanese and 150 Israelis had lost their lives, and over 1 million civilians were displaced as a result of the conflict, according to Israeli and Lebanese government sources.

The effects of the war have put a tremendous strain on the infrastructure of the country, and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has launched a relief effort to deliver close to $1 million in material aid to the people of Lebanon. Over 5000 miles away from Beirut and Jerusalem, nestled in the rolling farmland of Harleysville, PA, a long, narrow building sits on a small hill. While it may not appear to have a connection to Lebanon, it is an integral part of MCC’s relief efforts there and in many other countries around the world.

At the Harleysville Material Resource Center (MRC), comforters live up to their name. Each week, scores of volunteers from surrounding communities gather to transform leftover materials into cozy bedspreads that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) incorporates into their relief work in impoverished or trauma-stricken areas. People all over the world, including many in our own country, receive well-crafted comforters and necessary life supplies—a true “comfort” in a time of need.

MRC is one of nine centers in North America that collect and consolidate material aid in support of MCC’s material relief programs. With over 50 regular quilting volunteers, 45 churches that donate materials, and numerous community groups that contribute additional time and resources, MRC offers strong support to national and international relief work.

A small building, nestled in the rolling farmland of eastern Pennsylvania, houses this remarkable venture. Inside, a group of volunteers surrounds three wooden frames, chatting and making jokes as they quilt and knot comforters. The combined support of churches, community groups and individual volunteers yields impressive results: over the past two years, MRC has supplied over 2,500 comforters to the material resource center in Ephrata, PA, from where they are shipped overseas to support MCC’s relief efforts. The largest comforter donations come from a group of volunteers living at the Souderton Mennonite Homes. “They do 40 comforters each month!” Dorothy Detweiler reports.

MRC is also home to a major relief kit program involving health kits, school kits, newborn kits and kits for people living with AIDS. Materials for the kits are collected from local church donations and then wrapped in colorful fabric bags, tied with ribbon and packaged for transport to the resource center in Ephrata, from where they are distributed to countries throughout the world. According to Mildred Moore, warehouse coordinator at MRC, recent relief efforts have included shipments to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina in the southern U.S. and of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The Ephrata resource center recently sent 6,000 kits to Jordan for distribution in the region, and the center is collecting items that will be part of a major campaign by MCC to provide material assistance to the people of Lebanon in the aftermath of a devastating war between Lebanese militant Hezbollah fighters and Israel.

In most cases, the assembled kits are distributed to thousands of people around the world, and the volunteers who pack the kits never meet the recipients. In March 2006, however, Mildred had an opportunity to participate in an MCC-sponsored delegation to distribute kits in Central America. The delegation went to Honduras to visit the Mama Project, a children and youth health and education program. Mildred saw a bundle of school kits being distributed and recognized that they were from Harleysville. “We were privileged to hand out the kits.” Mildred says, “Not all of us can to go Honduras, but this is a way to serve MCC and offer another kind of comfort.”

Fabric is collected from Care and Share Shoppes in Souderton and cut into squares that are used to make patches for quilts. Is there any material that can’t be used for some project? “Not many!” She laughs. “We don’t throw much away.” Mildred turns around to open a room where rolls of fabric six feet high lean against the walls. Last year, a drapery store went out of business, and the excess inventory filled the entire room. The rolls of fabric are now used as backing for quilts—and already half of the rolls have been used by volunteer quilt-makers.

Although MRC supports the work of MCC, Norman Good and Dorothy Detwiler are proud to point out that MRC receives no financial support from MCC, relying entirely on private donations for its operations. Norman explains that the total annual operating budget of the center, including rent, utilities, telephone, and miscellaneous costs, is only $5,000. “We are very low budget,” he says with a laugh. To support its operational expenses, the MRC holds an annual fundraising dinner and has a volunteer program making rags to sell to area oil companies. “Everything is voluntary, one hundred percent,” says Norman.

Next year, MRC will begin an exciting chapter in its history. The center recently received a donation of nine acres of farmland near Elroy, PA, from retired farmer Nelson Souder. MRC’s new resource center will share space with Mennonite Disaster Service, the MCC’s Meat Canning program, and a storage facility for Care & Share Shoppes. The new center will occupy nearly 15,000 square feet of warehouse space and offices—six times as large as the current building. Groundbreaking is scheduled to begin in late 2007, and fundraising efforts have already begun. With a budget just under $2 million, of which $50,000 has already been raised, Nelson is optimistic about the fundraising goals: “Based on the influence of MCC and the fact that we are working with Franconia Mennonite Conference, Eastern District Conference, and the Brethren in Christ churches, we have a strong base of support to draw from. I have every bit of confidence that they will support the project.”

MCC Material Resource Center of Harleysville

MCC Material Resource Center of Harleysville serves as a liaison between the MCC Material Resource Center of Ephrata and peace churches of Eastern Pennsylvania. Through this outreach, we share God’s love, hope, and joy in the name of Jesus Christ.

www.mcc.org

M. Christine Benner
m.christine.benner@verizon.net

David Kochsmeier hosts Life With God Broadcast, a radio show playing 30 minutes of preaching, teaching, and a few hymns each week. David is usually the one preaching and teaching. I asked him what he considered the program to be.

“Certainly not a duty,” he answered, leaning back on the chair. “And not a business, though there must be business sense.” He thought about it a moment. “The best word to describe the Life With God Broadcast is an opportunity. An opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Jesus.”

Seven radio stations (including one in Puerto Rico) carry the Broadcast each week. The projected number of people within reach of those seven stations is 30 million. Not all of those 30 million people tune in, admits Kochsmeier. But the potential is there—this is the opportunity.

Weekly, Kochsmeier records in his in-home studio. His messages spring from the perspective of Anabaptist understanding “in a way the broader community can relate to.” As he preaches, he imagines his listener: a faithful supporter driving to church, a mental health patient seeking hope, a woman in prison, a teenager flipping channels on the car radio, an elderly man in a retirement home—any soul who has stumbled onto the program and waits long enough to be touched.

Although Life With God Broadcast began in 1962, Kochsmeier got involved 11 years ago almost by accident when he ran into Earl Anders at Spruce Lake Retreat. Knowing Anders was considering stepping down from his radio position, Kochsmeier inquired about the search for a replacement. Anders read this as a sign of interest and took Kochsmeier’s name to the board as a candidate. Kochsmeier was offered the job. After negotiating some working conditions with the board of Steel City Mennonite Church, where he was serving as pastor, Kochsmeier accepted and has done both ever since.

Years ago, Kochsmeier entered Hesston College as a pre-med major. Everyone, including Frank—his hometown barber—was proud that this Arizona farm boy was going to be a medical doctor. But Kochsmeier’s plans began to change. He soon realized that he wanted to be a pastor. Going home for break, he wondered how he would break it to his friend, the barber, who had been so proud, so attentive. Avoidance worked for a while, but a coincidental street meeting with Frank brought the issue to a head.

“I want to come over to see how the doctor’s doing!” Frank told Kochsmeier. “How’re the studies going?” The young man braced his nerves and told Frank he had changed majors. He expected Frank to try to persuade him to change his mind. But that wasn’t what happened.

“That’s really great,” Frank told the young man. “Doctors help people live for ninety years; pastors help people live for an eternity.”

“I took that as my confirmation of a call, and I haven’t looked back since. As long as God chooses to use me,” he said, “I’ll be glad to serve. I feel so humbled to be used in this way. The opportunity to have my life, my voice, intersect with other people is very rewarding, humbling, and exciting.”

For Kochsmeier, it’s all about trust. His work on the radio is mostly one-sided. He talks into the microphone, trusting someone is listening, trusting God is working through his words. There have been signs of success: letters, monetary gifts, prayer. “Don’t think we can judge success on dollar amounts,” Kochsmeier said, “Success is lives being touched and transformed that will be in Heaven because of it. I doubt that, this side of Heaven, I’ll ever know that.”

Life With God Broadcasts

Proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

by Patrecia Fernanda
pat2_1604@yahoo.com

On September 16, 2006, the winner of Indonesian Idol 2005, Michael “Mike” Prabawa Mohede, visited Philadelphia. I had the privilege of interviewing Mike before he began practice with Philadelphia Praise Center’s worship team who joined him on his ministry tour stop in Scranton, PA. Mike was born into a Christian family and grew up in a relationship with Jesus. He shared how his faith was tested after his father “went to the eternal home” in 2001. Mike’s relationship with his father was very close and he not only lost his father but also a mentor. “God is always good,” he testified. “At that time I was ready to start my college years and the loss of my father made it seem that every door was closed but God worked in a different way. He opened many doors for me and I believe in every test there is always a purpose.”

When I asked Mike how he feels about winning the Indonesian Idol contest, he joyfully said “unbelievable and unpredictable.” He had dreamed of becoming a singer since he was 11 and after winning Indonesian Idol he’s more passionate about singing for Jesus. Now he is eagerly planning to make an Indonesian gospel album. “Ministry, like my worship and song, is telling a story. I hope every time I sing I can be a media for people meeting face to face with God to recharge their faith.”

Even with the blessing of being the Indonesian Idol, Mike considers himself a quiet and shy person and is uncomfortable with the attention his fame has brought him. Simply eating at a restaurant can make him the center of attention. He likes to be with ordinary people where not many know who he is. He is an normal man who wants to buy a house for his mother and hopes to marry a woman like her someday.

It’s amazing when God works through someone as humble as Mike who lets God se him for his purposes more and more.