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Correction: In the June 21 issue we reported that Walter Wiens had been chaplain at Headingly Correctional Centre for 4 years when, in fact, he had served there for 13 years.
Prominent Mennonite preacher George R. Brunk II, who held over 100 tent revival meetings during the 1950s and 60s, died Apr. 21 in Harrisonburg, Va. He was born Nov. 18, 1911 to George R. and Katie Wenger Brunk in Denbigh, Va. In 1951, George and his younger brother Lawrence began the Brunk Evangelistic Association. The Brunk brothers bought trucks, tents and equipment financed entirely by the sale of Lawrence’s poultry farm. The first revival meeting was held in July 1951 in Lancaster, Pa.; it ran seven weeks and drew an estimated 15,000 people. Soon two more tents were purchased; the largest could hold 6000 people. With Lawrence as the song leader, George preached messages of renewal, calling for the preservation of conservative Mennonite values. Lawrence left the ministry in 1954, but George continued to lead revivals for the next 27 years, ending with a crusade in Pennsylvania in 1982. Revival meetings were also held across Canada. The Brunk tents were set up in 25 sites in Canada, including Kitchener–Waterloo, Ont. in July 1952; Swift Current, Rosthern and Osler, Sask. in 1955 and 1956; Winkler, Altona, Steinbach and Winnipeg, Man. in 1957; and Chilliwack, Vancouver and Abbotsford, B.C. in 1958. Until last year, George was editor of Sword and Trumpet, a periodical started by his father. In 1984 he helped found the Fellowship of Concerned Mennonites and served as its executive director until 1999. Ordained to the ministry in 1934, he was part of the Virginia Mennonite Conference until 1989. He taught at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg 1949–78 and was dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary 1967–76. A 50th anniversary celebrating the Brunk ministry was held Nov. 17–18, 2001 at EMU. A memorial service was held Apr. 25 at EMU.
Wilf and Lorena Richert have been serving as interim senior pastor couple of Broadway MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C. since mid-November 2001. In late June, the church decided to hire them on a permanent basis as associate pastor couple; Wilf will continue to serve as interim lead pastor until a new senior pastor is found. Previously, he was pastor of Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. for three years, interim pastor of East Aldergrove MB (now Ross Road Community) Church in Abbotsford for eight months, associate pastor at Yarrow (B.C.) MB Church for seven years, associate pastor at North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John, B.C. for six years and pastor of Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Chapel for two-and-a-half years. He has a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and a B.R.S. from MB Bible College in Winnipeg, and has studied at Coaldale (Alta.) Bible School, MB Bible Institute (now Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford), MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. and Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. The Richerts have a son Kelly, married to Karis.
Ross Johnston has resigned as associate pastor for outreach and shepherding ministries at Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective July 31. On Aug. 1 he will begin serving as senior pastor of Bear Creek Community Church, an Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada congregation in Surrey, B.C. He has been at Bakerview Church for a little over three years, including serving for a time as interim lead pastor. Previously, he served as pastor of Calgary East Church of the Nazarene for nine years and as pastor of Abbotsford Church of the Nazarene for six years, and was involved in parachurch ministries, counselling and business in Abbotsford for six years. He has a B.Th. from Canadian Nazarene College in Winnipeg and an M.Div. and M.R.E. from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. His wife Beverley has worked as an on-call elementary school teacher and as a Sunday school curriculum consultant. The Johnstons have three children: Heidi, 19, will be staying in Abbotsford, while Kent, 15, and Michelle, 14 will be moving with their parents to Surrey.
Adam Kruger has been hired as youth pastor at King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., starting on a part-time basis this summer and becoming full-time in September. He has been active in Vancouver MB Church, serving as a volunteer youth sponsor and as interim youth pastor in 2000, and working in Trek (the church’s summer camping ministry). He has worked in construction, has a B.A. in political science from the University of British Columbia and is just completing his M.Div. at Regent College in Vancouver. His wife Sylvia is an elementary school teacher at a private school in North Vancouver.
Ron Mathies was appointed to a third three-year term as executive director of Mennonite Central Committee on June 15 during the MCC Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon. He and his wife Gudrun have three adult children and are members of Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church. He previously served with MCC in Malawi and Swaziland and was director of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ont.
LaMont Schmidt is retiring as senior pastor of Valleyview Bible Church in Kamloops, B.C., effective in June 2003, after serving since 1995. Previously, he pastored Whistler (B.C.) Community Church for nine years; served with Mennonite Mutual Aid in Kansas for four years; was associate pastor at Rosedale MB (now Bible) Church in Bakersfield, Calif. for four years; served with Northern Arizona Mennonite Mission, working with the Hopi people for two years; and served with MBMS International in Peru for eight years. He has a degree from Skagit Valley College in Washington, with additional studies at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. He and his wife Shirley have three daughters and seven grandchildren. They are open to short-term ministry opportunities.
Scott and LeeAnn Kopp have resigned as youth pastor couple at Herbert (Sask.) MB Church, effective July 15, after serving for two years. Scott previously was a carpenter for eight years. He attended Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. for a year-and-a-half. The Kopps have a daughter, Olivia, 6 months. They are seeking the Lord’s will for the future.
Gary and Kim St. Amand began serving as youth pastor couple at Steinbach (Man.) MB Church July 1. Most recently, Gary was half-time youth pastor at Assiniboia–Charleswood Community Church in Winnipeg for a year and was studying for his M.A. from Providence Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Man. He previously worked with Youth for Christ in Winnipeg for three-and-a-half years. He has a B.A. from Providence College. The St. Amands are expecting their first child in October.
Ross and Dawn Penner have resigned as senior pastor couple of Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church, effective July 31, after serving for six years. In August, they will begin serving as pastor couple at Glencairn MB Church in Kitchener, Ont. Previously, Ross was youth pastor at Dalhousie Community Church in Calgary for four years and did a one-year pastoral internship at Westside Community Church in Morden, Man. He has a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. The Penners have two sons, Jotham, 15, and Matthew, 14.
Anna Chu began serving as full-time pastor of the English congregation at Vancouver Christian Logos Church May 1 after serving part-time since March. Previously, she was interim pastor at North Shore Bethel Christian MB Church in North Vancouver for seven months; was ministry coordinator at Enoch, a youth mission outreach, for two years; and was youth minister at Chinese Christian Chapel in Vancouver for two-and-a-half years. She has a B.A. from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and an M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver.
Scott Dueck began serving as full-time youth pastor at Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man. in May. He recently graduated from Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. Previously, he served a youth pastor internship at McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg from September 2001 to April 2002; served with Jubilee Partners near Atlanta, Ga., teaching English to Sudanese refugees for three months in summer 2001; and worked at Camp Moose Lake in Sprague, Man. and Camp Crossroads in Torrance, Ont. He is originally from Vineland, Ont., where he attended Vineland MB Church.
Darlene Klassen has been hired as half-time interim children’s minister at West Portal Church in Saskatoon, effective Aug. 1. She will be filling in for Jacki Kliever, who is currently on maternity leave. Darlene has worked in children’s ministry, has coordinated children’s church, has led worship, has taught parenting in the community and is a writer. She has studied at Winnipeg Bible (now Providence) College in Otterburne, Man., and has a B.N. from the University of Manitoba and an M.Div. in church and family ministries from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. Her husband Randy, who has resigned as associate pastor at Coaldale MB Church, is joining the faculty at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. (See next item.) The Klassens have four children, Josie, 15, Jeana, 14, Adam, 7, and Misha, 5.
Randy Klassen has been appointed an instructor in Biblical Studies at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask., beginning August 1. Klassen will be initially working part-time in order to complete his dissertation for a Ph.D. at the University of Calgary. Klassen previously served as associate pastor in Coaldale (Alta.) Mennonite Brethren Church for six years, then continued on as part-time minister of music for three years. He has a B.R.E. from MB Bible (Concord) College in Winnipeg, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg, an M.A. from McMaster University in Hamilton and an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. Randy and his wife Darlene have four children.
Juan Forero has been serving a 12-week pastoral internship at Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg since May. He has completed his third year at Canadian Mennonite University and is studying toward a B.A. in Christian studies, focusing on missions and global Christianity. He was born in Cali, Colombia. His parents are Miguel and Maria Consuelo Forero. Miguel is MBMS International program director for Latin America. Juan’s wife, Helene, who was born in Switzerland and raised in Hepburn, Sask., has studied at the University of Saskatchewan and has a B.Comm. from the University of Manitoba. She has served in the Youth Mission International ACTION program in Colombia.
Lakeview Community Church in Killarney, Man. held a commissioning service Apr. 28 for Phil Wiebe. Wiebe is serving a summer youth pastor internship at South Mountain Community Church in Draper, Utah. He is a graduate of Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask.
Ralph Gliege, Saskatchewan MB Conference minister (left), and associate pastor/minister of evangelism couple Andrew and Helen Fehr. |
West Portal Church in Saskatoon held a commissioning service Mar. 17 for associate pastor/minister of evangelism couple Andrew and Helen Fehr, who began serving at the church in January. Andrew previously pastored Carrot River (Sask.) Gospel Mission for 10-and-a-half years. He has a B.R.E. from Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask. The Fehrs have four children, Matthew, 15, Christina, 13, Kimberly, 11, and Brian, 9. Saskatchewan MB Conference minister Ralph Gliege officiated at the commissioning service.
Pictured are (l-r) church council chair John Balzer, Scott Young (holding Elizabeth), Joanne Young (holding Anna), Bertha Balzer, B.C. MB Conference moderator Arnie Peters and Grace Church pastor Blake Wagner. |
Grace MB Church in Penticton, B.C. held an installation service Apr. 28 for summer pastoral intern Scott Young. Young, who is being sponsored through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program, is a student at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. He and his wife Joanne have two daughters, Elizabeth and Anna.
Allan Sauder has been appointed president of Mennonite Economic Development Associates, effective Nov. 4, 2002, after serving as executive vice-president since 1998. He will be based in MEDA’s Waterloo, Ont. office. He will succeed Ben Sprunger, who will continue working on special projects until the end of his contract in February 2003. Previously, Sauder was MEDA’s director of international operations 1990–98, directed MEDA’s Mbeya Oxenization Project in Tanzania 1987–1990, and was a research officer with the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa 1984–87. Sauder, 49, began working with Mennonite Central Committee in 1979, first as job creation administrator in Bangladesh, and later as assistant director of SELFHELP Crafts (now Ten Thousand Villages). He has a B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo and an M.B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. MEDA is an inter-denominational association for Mennonites in business which operates development programs in North America and around the world.
Marvin Kehler completed his ministry as president of Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada June 15 after serving for 28 years. He is now senior vice-president of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, focusing on the organization’s humanitarian aid programs worldwide. His wife Katherine is currently developing a new Web site for Campus Crusade that is geared toward people 50 and over. Chief executive officer Grant Richison is serving as interim president of the Canadian agency until a new president is found. Founded in 1967, Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada is headquartered in Langley, B.C. The international organization employs over 26,000 people and operates in 191 countries with missionary endeavours; outreach programs such as Athletes in Action; executive leadership initiatives; aid partnerships in Third World countries; and the Jesus film.
Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.
Panorama Community Church in Surrey, B.C. baptized 21 people March 17: Claudine Bastien, Lauren Birdsall, Jim Hopkins, Karen Hopkins, Kris Storness-Bliss, Jennifer Keis, Nathan Blacklock, Tom Burge, Wendy Burge, Mark Donnery, Devon Fisher, Colin Funk, Charles MacGillivray, Stephanie Mura, Troy Nagle, Laura Pihl, Sandy Reichert, Kelly Murphy, Tommy Stone, Nicole Swart and Jacob Vanderwood.
Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon baptized 12 people and welcomed them into its fellowship May 26: Tianna Thompson, Heather Goetz, Jill Stead, Annika Boomsma, Adrienne Wedel, Amy Wall, Chris Enns, Kyle Kozlowski, Adam Neufeld, Todd Roach, Hui Huang and Jindong Ge.
Ross Road Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 11 new members recently, 5 by baptism, 2 by transfer and 4 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Gary Gerbrandt (cf), Adeline Neufeld, pastor Herb Neufeld, Grace Rude (cf), Carolyn Rice (t), Bill Rice (t); (middle) Carol Siddall (b), Christina Currell (b), Bonnie Hughes (cf), Dan Hughes (cf); (front) Larissa Froese (b), Emily Friesen (b) and Shari Holzken (b).
Cedar Park Church in Delta, B.C. welcomed 2 new members by baptism Nov. 25, 2001. Pictured are (l-r) Chelsea Emery and Craig Peters.
Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. recently baptized and welcomed into its fellowship Candace Sabo. She is pictured with pastor Terry Kaethler.
Scott St. MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont. welcomed 14 new members Mar. 3, 5 by baptism, 6 by transfer and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Kevin Niessen (b), Heinz Niessen (cf), Rita Niessen (cf), Marga Wieler (t), Heather Himes (b); (middle) Mary Neufeld (t), Karen Friesen (b), Heike Kehler (t), Tilo Kehler (t), Julia Hein (b); (front) Lydia Mandau (t), Herb Hiebert (cf), pastor Paul Fast, Willy Schroeder (t) and David Friesen (b).
Crestwood MB Church in Medicine Hat, Alta. welcomed 2 new members by baptism Nov. 25, 2001. Pictured are (l-r) Jasmine Bork, Blaine Zacharias and pastor Murray Schmidt.
King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 11 new members recently, 7 by baptism and 4 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l-r) pastor Andrew Dyck, pastor Alvin Enns; (middle) John Ottom (t), Sylvia Ottom (t), Herman Janzen (t), Erika Janzen (t); (front) Theodore Dyck (b), Angie Born (b), Doug Wiens (b), Helena Friesen (b), Travis Dyck (b), Carmen Janzen (b) and Eddy Loewen (b).
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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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