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Fresno, Calif.
MBMSI makes changes to job descriptions, staff


MBMS International, the global mission agency of the MB churches in Canada and the US, has announced changes in job descriptions and staff in offices in Manitoba, British Columbia, Kansas and California.

A newly defined regional representative position has been created for all offices, except the one in Fresno, Calif.

“In an independent survey we commissioned last year, Mennonite Brethren told us that they wanted mission staff to be present in their region, to help churches develop their mission vision,” said Harold Ens, general director of MBMSI. “We have re-defined our staffing to reflect that need.”

The MBMSI Board approved a redefined job description for the regional representatives in Winnipeg, Man., Wichita, Kan., and Abbotsford, B.C., at its meeting April 19-22. Among other changes was an increase from half-time to full-time positions.

Winnipeg office

Gerald Hildebrand will be MBMSI’s regional representative for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and eastern Canada. He will work from the Winnipeg office, beginning in mid-August. He will work with MB pastors and churches in defining mission vision, and help to turn that vision into reality.

For the past seven years, Hildebrand has been senior pastor of National Capital Community Church in Ottawa. Previously, he was administrator at Donwood Manor and Lions Club of Winnipeg Housing Centres, was associate pastor at Portage Ave. MB Church for four years and was chaplain at Headingly Correctional Institute. He has an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary. He and his wife Joanne have two daughters, Simone and Carmen.

Hildebrand replaces Harold Siebert, who left the agency May 1 to drive charter bus. Prior to Harold’s term in the Winnipeg office, he and his wife Dorothy were church planting missionaries in Colombia for a decade.

Wichita office

Mike Yutzy will begin serving as regional representative for the Midwestern US, effective in late August. He and his wife Tina were appointed MBMSI mission associates in 1999. This past year, Mike was director of Frontier Media Productions department at the US Center for World Mission in Pasadena, Calif.; Tina was coordinator of volunteers. Previously, Mike was a youth pastor at Buhler (Kan.) MB Church for three-and-a-half years.

Yutzy replaces Russell Schmidt, who has resigned as director of Asia programs and regional representative for the Midwestern US after serving for three years. Russell and his wife Elizabeth are pursuing a call to the pastoral ministry in Lawton, Okla. Previously, they were MBMSI missionaries among the Khmu people of Thailand for six years.

Fresno office

Jeanine Yoder has resigned as interim half-time representative for the Pacific District MB Conference after serving since the summer of 2000. She also held quarter-time duties with Youth Mission International and was a staff writer. She will be coordinating a portion of the Urban Mission program of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in downtown Fresno, effective in July. She will also be adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University. She has an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary.

 – MBMSI news release

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Last modified July 10, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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