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Fresno, Calif.
Mennonite Brethren Missions restructures short-term ministries, shifts staff


MBMS International, the global mission agency of MB churches in Canada and the US, has restructured its short-term ministries. It also has made a number of changes in the location of staff.

Randy Friesen, who served as director of Youth Mission International for 13 years, transitioned June 1 to the new position of director for short-term ministries. He now oversees MBMSI’s entire range of short-term mission programs. He and several support staff remain in Waterloo, Ont. YMI and MBMS International merged two years ago. Over the past several years, YMI and the other short-term mission programs of MBMS International have seen increased involvement by church groups and schools, not just individuals.

Andrew Stanley, former program director for YMI, is now YMI director. In June, he relocated from Waterloo to Abbotsford, B.C., where the YMI head office is now located. YMI’s ACTION and TREK programs are also now based in Abbotsford. Meanwhile, YMI’s SOAR program, for teens aged 15 and up, will be based out of MBMSI’s office in Fresno, Calif.

Lori Toews Friesen, director of finance for MBMSI, will relocate to Abbotsford from Fresno in late summer.

Also effective June 1, Church Partnership Evangelism and Discipleship (CEPD) became more tightly integrated with MBMSI. CPED staff will begin moving into MBMSI’s Abbotsford office in the near future. A search is currently underway for a CPED director.

CPED sends adults overseas on two- to three-week terms. Participants travel with a Christian national teammate who translates as they share their faith testimonies door to door. The teammate then invites the hearer to accept Christ and attend the local church.

The shifting of staff has meant a substantial expansion of the Abbotsford office, which is housed at Columbia Bible College, along with the B.C. MB Conference office.

Some of the agency’s Fresno office also faced staff movement recently when an annex that housed several staff became unavailable. Four staff that administer MBMSI’s long-term mission programs, along with the YMI SOAR director and his staff, will now have their offices at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, a block from the current Fresno office.

 – Brad Thiessen, MBMS International

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Last modified July 19, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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