Personalia

Vern Heidebrecht announced Jan. 26 that he is planning to step down as senior pastor of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. after serving in the position for almost 15 years. He will continue as senior pastor until a new senior pastor is found, at which point the church leaders have asked that he transition into the role of pastor of prayer and discipleship. Heidebrecht was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in January 2002 and then took a five-month sabbatical and health leave, but returned to work full-time June 1, 2002. He earned a B.Th. from MB Bible College in Winnipeg in 1962; pastored the MB church in Sawyer, N.D. 1963–68; served as associate pastor at Butler Ave. MB Church in Fresno, Calif. 1968–69; earned an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno in 1970 and a D.Min. from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in San Francisco in 1976; and served as senior pastor of Lincoln Glen MB Church in San Jose, Calif. 1969–80 and Neighborhood MB Church in Visalia, Calif. 1980–88. He has served as moderator of the Pacific District MB Conference, chair of the Columbia Bible College Board and a member of the MB Biblical Seminary board and the board of MBMS International. He has also served as a convention speaker and a mentor, particularly through the church leadership conferences sponsored by Northview. He and his Carol have four children and five grandchildren.

John and Gloria Block, pastor couple of Gem (Alta.) MB Church, are planning to retire Aug. 1, after serving that church for almost five years. John studied at Bethany Bible Institute and earned a B.Th. from MB Bible College, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and teaching credentials from Manitoba Teachers’ College. He pastored an MB missions church in Winnipegosis, Man. for three years, pastored Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church for six years, taught in Carman High School for eight years, pastored North Battleford (Sask.) MB Church for eight years, earned an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary and then pastored Christian Fellowship Chapel near Orillia, Ont. for eight years. The Blocks have four sons and 11 grandchildren.

James Ip (Ip Kin Wor) resigned as associate pastor of Burnaby (B.C.) Pacific Grace MB Church in mid-September, after having served for two years. Previously, he pastored at Pacific Grace MB Church in Vancouver for one-and-a-half years and North Point Alliance Church in Hong Kong for one year. He has an M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, an M.A. from Nottingham University in England and a B.Sc. from Hong Kong University. He and his wife Rebecca Lee have two children, Genevieve and Timothy. He is now serving as youth pastor at Richmond (B.C.) Chinese Alliance Church.

Ramsy Unruh resigned as worship pastor at Eastview Community Church in Winnipeg in mid-January after serving for over four years. Previously, he earned a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and a B.R.E. from MB Bible College; taught for a year at Gardner Bible College in Camrose, Alta.; earned an M.Mus. from the University of Arizona; taught music for four years at Aldersgate Bible College in Moose Jaw, Sask.; and then served as minister of music at Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C. for six years. His wife Shannon studied at Aldersgate Bible College and has a teaching diploma from Okanagan University College. The Unruhs have three children, Katy, 6, Tom, 4, and Jane, 3. The Unruhs are seeking God’s will for future ministry.

Marcus Tso has resigned as associate pastor for English ministries at South Vancouver Pacific Grace MB Church, effective March 31. He began this ministry June 26, 2000 after graduating from Regent College with an M.Div. He also has a B.A.S. degree from the University of British Columbia and was a professional engineer before entering pastoral ministry. He and his wife Daphne are looking for God’s direction for future ministry.

David and Charlene Chow were installed Sept. 8 as associate pastor couple at Killarney Park MB Church in Vancouver. David is a recent graduate of MB Biblical Seminary–ACTS. David and Charlene previously taught English as a second language in Japan under MBMS International. They are pictured with their daughters Emily and Sarah and senior pastor Ken Peters (right side in photo).

Casey and Janice Brouwer began serving Dec. 1 as full-time youth pastor couple at Armstrong (B.C.) Bible Chapel. Casey studied three years at Western Pentecostal Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. They then served for three years as youth pastor couple at Joe Rich Valley Fellowship, a church his father was planting near Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, B.C. Casey had earlier served as youth leader in other churches his father was planting. He has also served as a volunteer fire fighter for five years and a forestry fire fighter. The Brouwers have one son, James, 1.

Joy Klassen has been serving as half-time interim ministry director at McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg since July 1, 2002. From May 2002 to January 2003 she also served as half-time office administrator at the church. For the previous 25 years she had served as a daycare worker in Winnipeg, the last 21 as director of a daycare started by her father. She resigned from that position in December 2001 in order to pursue a vision to begin a women’s retreat ministry. That ministry, now called Women Refreshed at the Well, is still being organized but has a board and charitable organization status. She and her husband Alvin have two children, Joshua, 21, and Ashley, 18.

Craig Jost, MBMS International missionary to Portugal, underwent surgery Feb. 1 to remove a fractured herniated disk from his lower back that was causing his left leg great pain and significant numbing. He, his wife Fabiana and their children hope to be able to continue with plans to be in North America in late March.

Sharon Tang resigned as associate pastor at Pacific Grace MB Church in Vancouver, effective Jan. 31, 2003, in order to move back to Hong Kong to care for her aged mother. She began lecturing in a Bible seminary in Hong Kong in February. She has served at the Pacific Grace church since Sept. 1, 1999, responsible for the two youth groups, the Mandarin ministry and the evangelism and discipleship department, and preaching once a month. She has a D.Min. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago and previously served as a pastor in Hong Kong for nine years.

Baptisms and new members

Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.

• Panorama Community Church, Surrey B.C. welcomed 6 members by baptism June 16: Jocelyn Cilliers, Benjamin Syu, Tracy Andrew, Cheryl Klikach, Tara Klikach and Leanne Atley.
• Panorama Community Church, Surrey B.C. welcomed 12 members by baptism Nov. 24: Tracy Mandaryk, Blair Govan, Sarah Nickel, Josh Nickel, Tracy Abolis, Ernie Abolis, Kimee Anderson, Tracy Godfrey, Robert Godfrey, Sheila Marples, Steve Swain and Colleen Swain.
• Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C., welcomed 33 new members Nov. 3, 12 by baptism and 21 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Marlene Pinto (b), Gilda Castillo (cf), Claudia Martinez (cf), Soon-Young Yoo Lee (cf), Eunmi Youn (b), Kathy Ruan (b), Jackie Slavenova (b), Helen Cabuguason (cf), Barbara Saunders (b), pastor Daryl Kroeker; (middle) Terumi Sato (b), Richard Cheng (cf), Karen Shan (b), Lorna Rubio (cf), Chrissie Cole (cf), Suzanne Gabel (cf), Margaret Kan (b), DooRyea Park (cf), Yelena Kondratyeva (c); (front) Kenyatta Sterling (c), Gloria Frimpong (cf), Lyn Vandermey (cf), Darlene De Julius (cf), Esther Kappers (cf), Christie Pearson (b), Kevin Peters (b), Tara Quilliam (b) and Kelly Dean (b). Not pictured are: Shawn Cole (cf), Terry Dadswell (cf), Colleen Dadswell (cf), Shamota Labeodan (cf), Mark Loewen (cf) and Elly Loewen (cf).
• Westwood MB Church, Prince George, B.C., welcomed 7 new members Dec. 29, 2 by baptism and 5 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Kristine Carter (b), Tina Chisholm (cf), Colin Chisholm (cf), pastor Mel Fehr, pastor Dave Fields; (front) Sharon Baumbach (cf), Susan Simpson (cf), Kim Banfield (cf) and Andrea Shauer (b).
• Culloden MB Church, Vancouver, B.C., welcomed 11 new members Nov. 24, 8 by baptism, 2 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Joe Bogar (b), Karl Neufeld (b), pastor Ted Klassen; (middle) Richard Standerwick (t), Julie Standerwick (t), Jeremy Neufeld (b), Jaimie Wolff (b); (front) Jennifer Kimbel (cf), Christel Sisson (b), Lucia Guerrero (b) and Melissa Smith (b). Not pictured is Rena Sonnenberg (b).
• Yarrow (B.C.) MB Church welcomed 7 new members by baptism Aug. 25 and Nov. 17. Pictured are (l–r) Becky Wiens, Siggy Taylor, Ceal Robertson, Luke Friesen, Bonny Morthorst, pastor Jim Nightingale, Dale Spence and Kham Sisakda.