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V. George Shillington, long-time Concord College (now Canadian Mennonite University) Bible and theology professor, has accepted a call to serve as half-time interim senior pastor of Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg, effective in September. Shillington recently retired from CMU. He is married to Grace.
Winkler (Man.) MB Church held a commissioning service June 23 for new lead pastor couple Gary and Ellie Loewen. The commissioning service, led by Manitoba MB Conference minister Herb Kopp, took place at Winkler Bible Camp.
Pictured are Herb Kopp, Ellie Loewen and Gary Loewen. |
Willingdon Church in Burnaby, B.C. held an ordination service June 30 for three of its pastoral staff: Walter and Chikako Patterson, who have been serving part-time with the Japanese language ministry since May 1, 2000; Michael and Brenda Chan, who have been serving with the Chinese language ministry since November 1997; and John and Grace Jung, who have been serving with the Korean language ministry since Feb. 1, 2001.
Pictured are (back, l–r) elder Hojin Kim, elder Paul Thiessen, pastor John Neufeld, B.C. MB Conference minister Ike Bergen, pastor Daryl Kroeker, elder James Wong; (front) John and Grace Jung, Walter and Chikako Patterson, and Michael and Brenda Chan. |
Bryan Sweet began serving as chaplain of Pleasant Manor Retirement Village in Virgil, Ont. on July 15. A welcome and dedication service was held. Sweet previously served with Janz Team in Schwarzwald, Germany for 20 years. Sweet will provide three services a week (including one in German), carry out Bible studies and be available for one-to-one visits. He and his wife Margaret have five grown sons. Sweet replaces Helmut Koop, who served as chaplain 1996–2001. Pleasant Manor is a ministry of the Ontario MB Conference.
Pictured are (l–r) Bryan Sweet and administrator Tim Siemens. |
Rick Cox began serving as director of public relations at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. on July 15. He previously was director of operations and men’s programs at the Fresno Rescue Mission for two years, was director of youth and community ministries at Millbrook Presbyterian Church for a year and operated a small marketing company for 20 years. He has a B.A. and secondary education credentials from California State University and is working toward an M.Div. from MBBS. He and his wife Denise have two children, Jordan, 19, and Emily, 17.
Thirty-nine people participated in an orientation held at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. June 3–21. Thirty-four are beginning overseas assignments; five are beginning North American assignments. Arthur and Phyllis Mann of Winnipeg are beginning a five-year term as country representatives in Laos. They previously served with MCC Sudan 1994–97. They both attended the University of Manitoba. They are members of Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg, and have two children, Erik and Conrad.
Thirty-three workers participated in an orientation held at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. July 9–19. Fifteen are beginning overseas assignments; 13 are beginning North American assignments. Angela Klassen of Winnipeg is beginning a two-year term with MCC and Mediation Services as receptionist at the MCC Manitoba office. She has a bachelor’s degree in Christian studies/conflict resolution from Concord College, Winnipeg. She attends Jubilee Mennonite Church, Winnipeg. Wendy McClelland of Abbotsford, B.C. has begun serving as provincial thrift shop coordinator in Abbotsford. She previously worked as an Internet marketing consultant. She attended Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. She attends Northview Community Church, Abbotsford.
Gary R. Walsh has resigned as president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, effective July 31, after serving for five years. He will serve as CEO of Interdev, an international organization based in Seattle, Wash. that works at developing partnerships between ministry organizations and denominational groups for mission to unreached people groups.
Shawn Driedger began serving as pastor of youth ministries at Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on July 22. He previously served as part-time youth pastor for two years at Evangel Assembly in Grand Prairie, Alta. while earning a B.R.E from Peace River Bible Institute. He grew up in South Langley MB Church in Langley, B.C., where he was mentored by youth pastor Darrel Schmidt (now an instructor at PRBI). Shawn’s wife Nicole has also studied at Peace River Bible Institute. They have two children, Brendon, 3, and Jonathan, 1.
Vijay Manuel became pastor of worship arts at South Abbotsford MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on Sept. 1. For the past six years he has been a music teacher and choir conductor at Rick Hansen Secondary School in Abbotsford. Over that time, he also served as leader of the Doxa band and worship ministry. He served as a volunteer youth sponsor at the South Abbotsford church for seven years and more recently had begun speaking in camps and churches. He has a B.A. in psychology and completed the Professional Development Program (teacher training) at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., and is working on an M.A. in educational leadership from San Diego State University. He and his wife Sarah are expecting their first child in December.
Herb and Adeline Neufeld have announced their intention to retire June 30, 2003 at the end of their current term as senior pastor couple of Ross Road Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. They have served the church for four years and previously were senior pastor couple of a number of churches including Mountain Park Community Church and Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford and Willingdon Church in Burnaby, B.C. Herb has also served as Canadian MB Conference moderator and B.C. MB Conference minister.
Mark Leverton is serving a half-time pastoral apprenticeship at Pemberton (B.C.) Christian Fellowship from Sept. 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003 through the B.C. MB Conference pastoral apprenticeship program. He is a secondary school teacher and will continue to teach half-time. He and his wife Kathy, an elementary school teacher, have two daughters, Rachel, 7, and Hannah, 5. The Levertons have been in the church for seven years, serving in pre-teen work, worship leading and home groups. Mark has done some preaching and had been serving as moderator of the church. The Levertons were previously in Whistler (B.C.) Community Church, where Mark was mentored by pastor LaMont Schmidt.
Gary Wall will be the new conference minister for the Pacific District MB Conference (covering the US states of Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and Washington). He is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University and MB Biblical Seminary and is working toward a D. Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Over the past 15 years, he has served two congregations as associate pastor and two as senior pastor; for the past eight years, he has been senior pastor of Vinewood Community Church in Lodi, Calif. He has served as chair and secretary of the Pacific District Conference and served four years on the board of Mission USA, the US MB Conference’s church planting and renewal ministry. He replaces Henry H. Dick, who is retiring (see MBH, People, May 31, 2002).
Walter Kelly has resigned as pastor of New Life Christian Church, Scarborough, Ont. He will be pursuing his Rev’n Racing Ministry as Track Pastor at two Ontario speedways. He is also continuing as police chaplain in Scarborough and is open to other speaking opportunities.
K.J. Weinberger resigned as church planter of The Dwelling Place, Kitchener, Ont., effective Aug. 28. He began as the church planter May 1, 2000. K.J. and his wife Charlene have two children, Lucas, 7, and Mikayla, 4. They are open to further ministry.
Randy Dueck resigned as associate pastor of youth and family ministries at Port Rowan MB Church Mar. 31, after 4 1/2 years of ministry. Randy studied at Canadian Bible College, Regina (BRE in biblical studies). He and Cheri have two children, Jason and Julie. They are open to further ministry.
Don Harder has accepted a position as youth pastor in Elmwood MB Church, Winnipeg. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Religion degree. He has also studied at North American Baptist College, Edmonton, and worked with youth in that city. Don is married to Melissa. They have a one-year-old son, Joel, and are expecting a second child shortly.
Alvin Enns has begun serving as half-time associate pastor of pastoral care. Sept. 1, in Elmwood MB Church. Alvin has served most recently as pastor of King Road MB Church, Abbotsford. Previously he was associate pastor at North Kildonan MB Church, Winnipeg, was associate editor at Mennonitische Rundschau, and worked with “Umsiedler Ministries” under MBMSI in Germany. He has also been registrar at MBBC, Winnipeg, has taught at Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. and worked in a teaching/church leadership capacity in Fernheim, Paraguay. His wife, Sue, is a nurse in a local hospital.
Hildor Funk has been serving as interim half-time associate pastor of German Ministries in Elmwood MB Church, Winnipeg. He began the assignment in July and will complete it in December. Hildor and his wife Wanda are from Paraguay. Hildor graduated from Providence College with an M. Div. degree this past year. They have two daughters Nethanja Jemima, 6, and Mirjam Jeanette, 3.
Dennis Wiens (r), pastor of Sunrise Community Church in Edmonton, pins a United Nations Peacekeeping Medal on retired captain Ron Wyman for his role as a peacekeeper in Egypt in 1974. The church marked the occasion June 2.
On March 24, Semson Nip was installed as pastor of Garcia de Dios Church, a Chinese Mennonite Brethren congregation in Venezuela. The installation ceremony was led by David Poon, senior pastor of Bethel Chinese Christian MB Church in Vancouver. Poon brought with him a love gift from Canadian Chinese MB churches amounting to $100 US.
On Feb. 17, at Pacific Grace MB Church in Vancouver, an ordination ceremony took place for Isaac Quan, associate pastor for English ministries. Quan grew up in Calgary in a Christian family and had worked in the engineering and insurance industries following university graduation. He was later called to full-time Christian ministry and went to seminary. The ordination ceremony was led by Ike Bergen, conference minister for the B.C. MB Conference. David Chan, Genghis Chan, Allan Low, To-Wang Hui and David Poon also took part in the ceremony. Quan’s parents came from Calgary to witness the event.
Forest Grove Community Church near 100 Mile House, B.C. had its “church reorganization” meeting May 19. (Originally nondenominational, the congregation came under the B.C. MB Conference a couple of years ago, but until now had never reorganized as a Mennonite Brethren church.) B.C. MB Conference church extension director James Nikkel (right) welcomed the new members (l–r): part-time pastor couple Victor and Helen Stobbe, Cindy and Rick Brown, Robin Suffil, and Jason and Beverly Selle.
Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.
Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont. baptized and welcomed Francine Rorison into its fellowship on June 30.
West Portal Church in Saskatoon welcomed 6 new members recently, 1 by baptism, 3 by transfer and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Andrew Fehr, Colin Enns (b), Jeremy Meinema (t), Dwayne Giesbrecht (cf); (front) Margaret Thiessen (t), Aimee Meinema (t) and Jennifer Giesbrecht (cf).
Fairview–Louth MB Community Church in St. Catharines, Ont. recently welcomed 9 new members by baptism. Pictured are (back, l–r) Dave Jansen, Allison Cronkwright, Jacquelin Daboll, Carly Soyka; (front) pastor Jeff Lockyer, Gerry Soyka and Brad Goertzen. Not pictured are Danielle Martens, Eri Kegawa and Aileen Albidone.
Justice (Man.) MB Church welcomed 3 new members by baptism June 2. Pictured are (l–r) church moderator Les Loewen, Genene Loewen, Courtney Wielinga (b), Dana Bateman (b), Scott Loewen (b), Nora Harms and pastor Gerry Harms.
Culloden MB Church in Vancouver welcomed 3 new members June 16 by baptism. Pictured are (back, l–r) Richard Vandop, pastor Ted Klassen; (front) Marian Hanna and Ingrid Guerrero.
Richmond (B.C.) Bethel MB Church baptized and welcomed into its fellowship Jordan Clarke May 26. She is pictured with pastor Brad Julihn.
L’Église chrétienne de Saint-Eustache, the Mennonite Brethren church in St-Eustache, Que., baptized and welcomed two new members on April 14. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Stéphane Rhéaume, Renée Ducharme and Francine Roberge.
Blaine Lake (Sask.) Gospel Chapel welcomed 12 new members June 2, 4 by baptism, 5 by transfer and 3 by confession of faith. The baptism took place at Redberry Bible Camp, where 2 of the candidates accepted Christ as campers years ago. Pictured are (back, l–r) Wayne King (b), Nicholas Peters (t), Gordon Barcsik (cf), pastor Gerry Epp; (middle) Chris Hamilton (b), Anita King (b), Ernest Peters (t), Miriam Barcsik (cf), Terry Rapsey (t); (front) Barb Woytiuk (b), Ann Popoff (cf), Eva Peters (t) and Denyse Rapsey (t).
McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg welcomed 11 new members June 2, 9 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. The baptism took place at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Pictured are (back, l–r) Kevin Hampton (cf), Kim Hampton (cf), Vicky Caldwell (b), Nancy Robinson (b), Andrew Loewen (b), Lisa Woelk (b), Jaryd Toews (b); (front) Elaine DeFehr (b), Dolly Sekhon (b), Cristiana Paetkau (b) and James Martens (b).
Community Fellowship Church in Newton, Man. baptized Dustin Rempel May 26. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Jeff Banman, pastor Neil Block and Dustin Rempel.
Lendrum MB Church in Edmonton welcomed 14 new members Feb. 3 and May 4, 6 by baptism and 8 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Kae Neufeld, Mark O’Flanagan (b), Angela Kucek (cf), Brad Kucek (cf), Ian MacDonald (b), Bonnie Peckham (cf), Lynette Derksen (cf), pastor David Dyck; (front) Marcy Friesen (b), Catherine Taylor (b), Joanna Henshaw (b) and Sarah Wilson (cf). Not pictured are Norman Enns (cf), Darlene Enns (cf), Sara Bennett (cf) and Henry van Lieburg (cf).
Killarney Park MB Church in Vancouver baptized and welcomed into its fellowship James (Jun) Yu Easter Sunday, Mar. 31. Yu (left) is pictured with pastor Ken Peters.
Living Hope Church in Saskatoon welcomed 6 new members in May, 1 by baptism and 5 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) Kathleen Baillie (cf), Jeremy Baillie (b), pastor Dwayne Harms, Neil Krahn (cf), Mandy Spidla (cf), Carol Krahn (cf), Saskatchewan MB Conference minister Ralph Gliege and Ron Spidla (cf).
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Last modified October 25, 2002.
© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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