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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-11-22, Page 3• by Shelley McPhee Peter Mantel has spent a year of his life in a psychiatric hospital and over three years in the Millbrook Correctional Centre. Now,, he leads the wOrship services. at the Vanastra Christian Reformed Church. What might seem to be :a major transfocmation of character is not really -go, for Rev. Mantel has taken his beliefs and his reliOon from the church, to,prisons,and ,hospitals. A minister for over 10 years, Rev. Mantel's basic interest in life is people. His desire to help and relate to people of all types has led him through a wide ranging career. Along with serving two churches in the past, Rev. Mantel spent one year of his training ministry at the Toronto General Hospital, another year in the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital and over three years as prison chaplain at Millbrook. "People are people. I don't look at a someone as a criminal or a psychiatric patient, they're all people," he explained. Rev. Mantel's ministry has changed considerably since he took stuck in. Whe middle ,-- - My body may not be as beautiful as Raquel Welch's. It may not be as strong as Debbie Brill's or a supple as Karen Kain's, but nevertheless, it's the only body I got and I want to take care of it. After all, if my body goes to wreck and ruin then the rest of me won't be much good. It's sort of like a car, if you don't fix the dents and let the rust slowly eat away at the finish, your car will quickly depreciate and probably fall apart. I'm not a fanatic about my keeping my body in top condition. I'm not a health food nut or a physical fitness buff. I often eat too much, enjoy my wine and gin and like a smoke now and then, but that's about the extent of my evils. Perhaps I just have a low tolerance level. If I drink more than one cup of coffee at a time, my body starts shaking and my stomach turns somersaults. If I eat too much ugar, I begin feeling really mean and irritable. Too many cigarettes make my head spin and my throat sore. My body believes in limitations and I respect this. Maybe I'm odd, but I can't figure out why some people abuse their bodies so badly. Look at drug addicts. IAno,w that most drugs are addictive, physically and mentally, but do druggies find their bodies so unimportant that they'll shoot analgesics and antihistimines as a substitute for heroin? Well they do, and these cheap substitutes usually result in fatal convulsive ,seizures and large drops in body temperature. What a thrill. Maybe I don't understand what it's like to be a junkie. his theological training at the Reformed 'Able School in Grand Rapids, Calvin College and Calvin Seminary. "I wanted to be closer to the people. I took clinic training so I could be amongst people," he said. A Dutch native from a religious family, Rev. Mantel has expanded his knowledge with courses in Pastoral Counselling and is now in his first year of study inTharriage counselling. "My experiences have given me .a very broad view of life." Rev. Mantel admits that after seeing so much pain and misery in his work, that very little shocks him anymore. "There are a lot of new ideas in the world today," he thoughtfully reasoned, "but I don't feel threatened. The world's not going to the dogs. Humanity still has a lot of strength, more than we give it credit for." He added, "I can still see something human in people. .There's still something goad behind all pain and "misery." Rev, Mantel has had to work with shelley by mcphee Even more shocking than shooting antihistimines into your veins, is the new found high on the disco scene, sniffing air fresheners. The fresheners, sold in small aerosol bottles in pornographic book stores under the names RUSH arid LOCKER ROOM, supposedly give the inhaler a sense of gid- diness and are used as a sexual stimulant. They give the feeling that time is prolonged, hence the feeling that sexual pleasure is extended. ,The effects only last a few minutes and they may be sniffed a •dozen or more times an hour. I - That's not my cup of tea. I couldn't be bothered taking a sniff every few minutes and along with the good feeling, they also cause pounding headaches and increased pressure behind the eyes. Doesn't that sound like fun? Some people are not even content With just sniffing. Some users drink the stuff, a fatal mistake, with nitrate poisoning as the result. • This kind of kick completely baffles me, These'stupid people go out and drink air freshener, but would they _drink a bottle of Dra inolt, No , itigItkill_ them. Would they cut all their fingers off? No, it might hurt. Yet they turn a deaf ear and shoot, drink, swallow and sniff other products that can be just as deadly and just as painful as drinking Draino or losing a limb. No, I don't understand that theory at all. just stick to my wine, knowing that when the feeling of the "dreaded black whirlies" begin, it's time to stop. e many disturbed people and has preferred working .. in group situationt, "I like to see groups open up and share their pains. Then they can help one another." - Rev. Mantel admits that in the past he too has had his personal dif- ficulties. "I can now understand where people are at because I've been there before." "I've gone through spiritual changes in the past. I had a lot ofpin and frustration with the church; but those wounds have healed and now I feel comfortable with the church. These are my roots." "My whole family has gone for counselling and we've gone for marriage counselling. I want to tell people that. I don't want to put myself from prisons to pulpits CLINTON Ng WS,RE.CORD, TflURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22,, 979 '4G 3 on a pedestal, I have human problems too." He expfained, "I'm not that mueh of an idealist that I think I can change the world, but I hope I can help some." Rev. Mantel plans to continue helping people through the church. He is content working in the church and has no plans to go into further in- stitutional work. "My prison ministry was -tr.saki. . emencious, but I was in prison too," he .Rev. Mantel, a firm believer in spontaneity, felt that some rules and regwuloartk.ions of the institutes confined his "I like to bespontaneous and free. You can still bring the gospel out that way, Sometimes I have to be careful over seniors housing Council rejects report by Shelley McPhee Clinton Council is not satisfied with a survey prepared by the Ontario Ministry of Housing (MOH) and at their November 12 meeting defeated a motion to endorse the report. Council wholeheartedly opposed the report, its format and its suggestions. According to Councillor Rob Parr, "I don't think we're satisfied with the report. It's hard to read, the recommendations are vague and it doesn't answer the questions we asked in the first place." "This is for the birds," Councillor Chester Archibald added. AccOrding to the survey, which was conducted in Clinton and the town- ships of Hullett, Tuckersmith, Goderich and Stanley, there is a need for nine toll subsidized, rent -geared - to -income housing units in the municipalitiesand there is no need for. n y ore family rent -geared -to - income housing., Council 'agreed. to Clerk Proctor's Clinton council- wasnot satisfied suggestion that a representative from with this finding and feel there is a the MOH be asked to meet with need for more senior housing 'in the council tO discuss the report and area. Mayor Harold Lobb noted that make any necessary changes in the at last check, there was a- Some 38 survey. senior citizens waiting for housing in Clinton's two senior housing apart- ments. Between the two, there are approximately 38 units. ° from page Clerk Cam Proctor noted, however, • average increase took both. points into that units were available and the consideration. senior housing complex in Bayfield. Moore said the negotiation process Council also questionned the was being held up by poor com- omission of tuckersmitn Township the report, Tuckersmith was not. Clerk Proctor suggested that the omission of Tuckergmith could haVe been a typographical error but Mayor Lobb noted, "Where's Tuckersmith? They're supposed to he helping to share the deficit with the other townships." Councillor Parr added, "If the report doesn't include Tuckersmith Township we should't endorse it." Council also opposed the MOH's suggestion that a private‘. contractor be hired by the town to construct and manage the seniors apartment building. The MOH noted that the contractor would receive finan'cial,aid from the government. "The government wanted all the responsibility for ahwile, now they 'N. Want to throw it back on the municipality," Mayor Lobb said. "It's really coming out of the government's hands altogether.' Teachers.., - from the report. In May 1978, Clinton munications more so than out - and the four surrounding townships standing issues. He said it appeared agreed tohave the joint survey the •teachers made, their proposals ' conducted. The agreement caroandeaction then waited for the board's g, , Cilme after JO14's..Lyndon, former manager -of' rhHcffbn Count The The board said it .wanted the financial. problems clearedup in one Housing Authority, said that the MOH , package and waited for the teachers nted to see future senior apartment . facilities shared by Clinton and the to do so. four surroundingtownships. He said the feeling on the part of . each side that the other must be the While Clinton, Hullett, Stanley and Goderich Tnext to show movement created an 'Townships were mentioned "artificial , artificial deadlock '. ouLOVA though, if it is too open people .may he afraid that things will get out of hand. We feel comfortable when we know our limits." Despite his liberal views, Rev. Mantel is not complete radical. He believes that different churches serve a purpose. He feels that one church would not work since some like to keep their worship service more rigid and others need to be more open. 'While he stresses spontaneity, Rev. Mantel also believes that there is room for formal worship, with perhaps an open discussion "raf- terwards. The important thing, ccording to Rev. Mantel, is to get close people and relate to them. To promote this he personally dislikes elevated pulpits. He likes to be on a comfortable level with his congregation, not at a distance. Through his ministry Rev. Mantel has taken on the delicate role of being an advisor, but not a ruler. In his prison and hospital work, especially, this could be a sensitive area for some. "I didn't come with the Bible directly. I dealt with them as a person first. They needed some human contact. My own personal convictions and values based on the Bible would come out," he explained. Even at his Vanastra charge, a church that has been without a minister for over a year, Rev.,Mantel knows that he 'cannot , go into the congregation and make, major ch7nges. I don't want to come d9Wn with a heavy hand. I'll feel my way into the church. I'm not just there for my own interests, but to respond to the needs of others." It seems that the needs of other people is the foremost importance in Rev. Mantel's wbrk. "We all need people," he stressed. "To help with our pains and to celebrate." '"'";:•;.• After a year, the Vanastra Christian Reformed Church, has a new minister. Rev. Peter Mantel, his wife Evelyn and two daughters have made their new home in Vanastra. Rev. and Mrs. Mantel are looking forward to worship and fellowship in the church and Mrs. Mantel is now involved in the Come Alive group at the church. (News -Record photo). al111.1.111111111I Kinsmen Club of Clinton.... FEVER NIGHT FRI. NOV. 30/79 -E3ULOVA ACCUTRON QUARTZ MEN'S #92505 Accuset feature Goldtone Silvertone linen dial Day/date English/French day disc LADIES' #92079 Silvertone rectangular case with braided edge Tapered bracelet Snow-white dial Jewelled crown Just two of our many styles of Bulova Watches - see our complete collection. We have a full selection of weather stripping in stock, so you can pick the right one for each job. ) A t ',..; • Ar.ranr=f7u7m.0 – WEATHERSTRIP TAPE— RUBANCOUPF • FRI210 , at \\' CLINTON.COMMUNITY CENTRE AUDITORIUM DOORS OPEN 9:00 P.M. 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