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Dave Esau has resigned as pastor of Grace MB Church in Penticton, B.C., effective at the end of March 2001, after serving for 14 years. Previously, he pastored Warman (Sask.) MB Church for four years, South Aldergrove MB (now Hillside Community) Church in Aldergrove, B.C. for seven years, Lashburn (Sask.) MB Church for four years and Elbow (Sask.) MB Church for five years. He also worked in mission and rescue ministries in Calgary for a year. He has studied at Columbia Bible College and MB Bible College. He and his wife Anita have three grown daughters, Barb Heinrichs, Donna Tieszen and Alissa, and four grandchildren. The Esaus are seeking the Lord’s will for the future.
Victor Loewen began serving as interim senior pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Virgil, Ont. on Oct. 1. The church continues to seek a full-time pastor. Previously, he was part-time associate pastor at Scott Street MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont. for seven years and taught at Eden Christian College for 27 years. He has an Ontario teaching certificate, a B.A. from McMaster University, a B.Th. from MB Bible College in Winnipeg and an M.A. from Niagara University. He and his wife Marian have three children and five grandchildren.
Victor Neufeld began serving as four-fifths-time interim pastor at Winkler (Man.) MB Church on Nov. 1. Previously, he was interim pastor at Westwood Community Church in Winnipeg for 10 months and Central MB Church in Winnipeg. He also was associate director of MB Communications (now Family Life Network) for seven years, was president of Winkler Bible Institute for nine years, pastored Westside Community Church in Morden, Man. for seven years, taught at MB Bible Institute (now Columbia Bible College) for four years and taught in elementary schools in British Columbia for five years. He is currently assistant moderator of the Manitoba MB Conference. He has a B.A. from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., a B.R.E. from MB Bible College in Winnipeg, an M.A. from Kansas University and an M.R.E. from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. His wife Linda teaches in Winnipeg. They have three grown children, Mark, Wayne and Carmen, and four grandchildren.
Rod and Melinda Taylor began pastoring Hays (Alta.) Gospel Chapel on Sept. 17. Previously, Rod was a health care professional, nursing for five years at Didsbury (Alta.) Hospital and working for five years in home care in Calgary. He has studied at the University of Calgary, Prairie Bible College and Alberta Bible College. The Taylors have two daughters, Amanda, 5, and Jennifer, 4.
Larry Thomas has been hired as associate pastor at Cariboo Bethel MB Church in Williams Lake, B.C., effective Jan. 1. His wife Becky Thomas will be associate pastor of worship. They have been pastoring the Vineyard Church in Vernon, B.C. for five years; Becky was worship pastor at that church for six years. Previously, Larry was associate pastor at Vernon Christian Centre for two years. They both have worked with Youth With A Mission, Larry for 10 years and Becky for six years, serving in Hawaii. Larry has done mission trips to Fiji, the Philippines, Hong Kong and El Salvador. Before pastoring in Vernon, they taught at YWAM’s School of Worship in Montana for two years and at YWAM’s School of Biblical Studies in Switzerland for five months. They have two daughters, Kimberly, 12, and Tiffany, 9.
Mike Roth became assistant pastor at Valleyview Bible Church in Kamloops, B.C. on Oct. 1. Roth previously was serving as a pastoral intern at the church through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program, working with youth, leading Bible studies and leading a youth worship band (see MBH, Nov. 3, 2000). He has also worked in automobile painting for a year, worked as a janitor for two years and worked in construction for a year. He will be taking correspondence courses from Prairie Bible College.
Dennis Wiens began serving an eight-month preaching and teaching pastoral internship at Murrayville Community Church in Langley, B.C. Sept. 1 through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program. Previously, he was youth pastor at Highland Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. He is completing his M.Div. at Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Chrisaline have a son, Calvin.
Jeff Hubert began serving a one-year pastoral internship at South Abbotsford MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. in June through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program. He is working mainly with junior high. He also is working with MCC Supportive Care Services in Abbotsford. As part of his schooling requirements at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, Hubert also served as a pastoral intern in Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church (his home church) for a summer as well as serving an internship with the registrar at Columbia Bible College. He has a B.R.E. from Columbia.
Fairview-Louth MB Community Church in St. Catharines, Ont. baptized and welcomed six new members into fellowship Sept. 24: Cherisse Berg, Derek Elliotson, Kristina Dolinksi, Ken Kadwell, Chris Main and Dan Zadorozny.
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Murrayville Community Church in Langley, B.C. held a street cleanup in its community Saturday, Sept. 16 as part of an adopt-a-street program operated by the Township of Langley. The goal of this initiative is to make streets cleaner and safer. The church participated in order to show its concern for and to have a spiritual impact on its community. The day ended with a barbecue at pastor Ron Van Akker’s residence.
Randy Friesen, director of Youth Mission International, was the keynote speaker at the “Celebration of Missions” Oct. 27-29 in Steinbach (Man.) MB Church. The Friday night session included a parade of representatives of mission agencies that were part of the weekend. Jim Harms, director of Backstage, a local teen drop-in centre, spoke of mission opportunities in “our own backyards”. The focus of the weekend was Isaiah 30:21. At a Saturday brunch, Emmanuel, from Democratic Republic of Congo, shared his journey from Islam to belief in Christ and his calling to bring the gospel to his country. A spotlight on evangelism was given by Ewald Unruh, director for the Canadian MB Conference Board of Evangelism. Unruh gave details on the progress of “Mission Calgary” (the church planting initiative of the Board and the Alberta MB Conference) and encouraged the audience to “Love Toronto” (the church-planting initiative of the Board and the Ontario MB Conference) with prayer and financial support. The motto “This is the Way, walk in it” remains on the church wall to inspire the congregation in the coming months.
Wilma Derksen, director of Mennonite Central Committee Canada’s Victim Programs, has been appointed to the Law Commission of Canada Advisory Council, effective January 2001. The Law Commission of Canada is an independent law reform agency that examines the laws, principles and performance of the Canadian legal system. The Advisory Council, which currently consists of 22 people, assists the Commission by identifying legal and justice issues in Canada and helping the Commission to understand the practical impact of its recommendations. Derksen’s 13-year-old daughter Candace was abducted and murdered in 1984. Bruno Bonneville, executive director of the Commission, said Derksen’s interest in victims’ issues makes her a valuable addition to the advisory council. Derksen said she has been noticing a new openness in the justice system to listen to the concerns of victims of crime. “I hope to bring all the pain and the stories that I hear in my work to the Commission,” she said.
After 25 years as a singer and recording artist, Paul Janz, has joined the faculty at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. as a sessional assistant professor of philosophy. Known for his songs such as “Amazon Rain”, “Believe in Me”, “Every Little Tear”, “Stand” and “Rocket to My Heart”, Janz recently completed a Ph.D. in philosophical theology at Cambridge University in England. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. “Philosophy is centrally about human self-understanding – a way to ask about our place in the world. Having been part of the popular music scene and the entertainment industry, I’m now interested in exploring meaningful and measurable human responses to contemporary culture,” said Janz.
Christian Fellowship Chapel in Orillia, Ont. held a dedication service Oct. 29 for its new building with an overflow congregation present. Pastor Roger Thiessen conducted the service. Music was performed by Foundation, a men’s quartet from Orillia, and the Chapel’s choir, worship team, band and orchestra, directed by former member Randy Weber. Guest speaker was Clinton Bell, director of the Ontario MB Conference Board of Church Extension. Speakers at the luncheon included MP Paul DeVillers, MPP Garfield Dunlop and Severn Township mayor Ron Stevens. Also present were former pastor couples Herman and Irene Kroeker, Robert and Pauline Roswell and Philip and Lydia Hamm. The new building has a 250-seat auditorium, Sunday school classrooms, basement auditorium and kitchen. The older building is being renovated to hold offices, modern washroom facilities, a library, a nursery and an expanded foyer.
Philadelphia MB Church in Watrous, Sask. held a commissioning service Sept. 10 for pastors Darren Holland and LaVerne Jantz. Pictured are (l-r) Saskatchewan MB Conference minister Ralph Gliege, pastor Darren Holland, pastor LaVerne Jantz, church moderator Gordon Schroeder, Saskatchewan MB Conference moderator Rod Dick and Saskatchewan MB Conference assistant moderator Ron Dyck.
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Last modified December 6, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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