Personalia

Ramsy Unruh began as senior pastor of Community Fellowship Church in Newton, Man. on July 1. He and Shannon, with their children Katy, Tom, and Jane, moved from Winnipeg, where he was previously worship pastor at Eastview MB Church. Besides his pastoral duties, Ramsy enjoys singing in the Red River Quartet, which performs southern gospel concerts a number of weekends each year.

Trevor and Barb Stearns are the new pastor couple of Discovery Church in Pitt Meadows, B.C. Trevor has been working as assistant campus pastor at Fresno Pacific College in Fresno, Cal. for the past two years and Barb has been administrative assistant to former MBBS president Henry Schmidt. Trevor is a certified millwright. Earlier, while working at his trade, he was director of small groups at Garden Valley Community Church in Kelowna, B.C. He has also worked with groups like Hockey Ministries International and most recently with Central California Children’s Hospital to develop a Peer Ministry Leadership Training Conference for students. Trevor and Barb have two children, Bryan, 14, and Kiana, 8.

Clinton and Amy Friesen, pastor of Carrot River (Sask.) MB Gospel Mission for one year, have resigned to become senior pastor of the Meadow Lake (Sask.) Alliance Church.

Other transitions in Saskatchewan churches include David and Marles Tooke, associate pastor of the Waldheim MB Church from Aug., 2001 to Feb., 2003, moving to Niagara Falls, Ont., and Keith and Jenni Derksen, associate pastor at Christian Fellowship Church in Lanigan the past two years, moving to the Evangelical Free Church in Lac La Biche, Alta.

Ron Geddert resigned as quarter-time pastor at the Meeting Place in Abbotsford, B.C. after being on staff nearly 5 years. He will be involved in his own business, building houses. Korky Neufeld has been full-time pastor at the church since last November.

On July 1, Joel Toews joined the staff of Winnipeg’s Fort Garry MB Church as youth pastor. He served at the Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church for 4 years and has a BA in youth ministries from Providence College. He and Colleen, a registered massage therapist, are expecting their first child in September.

Don Nielsen is the new half-time worship pastor of Peace Arch Fellowship Church in South Surrey, B.C. He also works as a self-employed finish carpenter. Dan served as associate pastor at Murrayville Community Church in Langley for two and a half years. He studied at Columbia Bible College. He is married to Elizabeth, formerly a preschool teacher, and they have two sons, Caleb, nearly 3, and Jesse, 1.

Baptisms and new members

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

• Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, B.C. welcomed 32 new members February 9, 16 by baptism and 16 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Ben Min (cf), Katy Seo (cf), Mi Sook Cheung (b), Jieun Kim (b), Joanne Jiang (b), Lin Zhang (b), Ken Ipe (cf), Jim Pigott (b), pastor John Jung, pastor Michael Chan, pastor John Neufeld; (middle) John Chang (cf), Allison Lu (cf), Jae-Young Park (b), Seong Soon Kim (b), Han-Jo Joo (b), Hee-Jung Hwang (b), George Shen (cf), Sophia Chen (cf), Chul Hoon Kim (c), Myong Sook (cf), Jinho Jeong (cf), Jeong Hee Jeong (cf); (front) Grant Forsyth (cf), Lorilee Forsyth (cf), Murray Smith (cf), Lori Smith (cf), Charles Chong (b), Daris Chong (cf), Woojin Kang (b), Jinyoung Koh (b), So-Young Kim (b), DaeYoung Lee (b), Jong Park and Kyung-Hae (b).
• Willow Park Church, Kelowna, B.C. welcomed 25 new members Feb. 16, 13 by baptism and 12 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Joel Feddersen, Tim Sawatzky (b), Theresa Thiessen (cf), Jeff Thiessen (cf), Joel Kuyvenhoven (b), Desiree Rypstra (b), Randy Rypstra (b), Ben Suderman (b), Elmer Issler (cf), Elisabeth Issler (cf), Margaret Penner (cf), pastor Brian Penner (cf), Carrie Fumerton (b), Renata Neufeld (cf), Stuart Neufeld (cf), pastor Mark Burch; (front) Jennifer Peters (b), Nikki Foster (b), Jayna Martens (b), Mike Jelley (b), Carolyn Jelley (cf), Corinne Forner (b), Shar Howe (b), Glenn Sawyer (cf), Rhonda Sawyer (cf) and Robin Jack (b). Not pictured, Steven Johnson (b).
• Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 4 new members Dec. 29, 3 by baptism and 1 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l–r) Jason Janz (t), pastor Herb Neufeld, Richard Siddall (b); (front) Adeline Neufeld, Linda Koopmans (b) and Dorothy Swayze (b).
• Port Rowan (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 7 new members Mar. 23, 4 by baptism, 2 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Dave Bergen (cf), Carolyn Nethercott (t), Don Nethercott (t); (front) Joel Wiebe (b), Abe Friesen (b), Stephanie (Enns) Wiebe (b), Pearl Solga (b) and pastor Sandy Young.
• Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C. welcomed 15 new members Mar. 30, 8 by baptism and 7 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Michael Chan, Bei Lei Gu (b), Camila Watts (b), Brad Kroeker (cf), Trevor Eden (b), Jia Ying (Joan) Li (b), Chi Hsui (Stephen) Chen (b), Ian MacBeath (cf), pastor John Neufeld (front) Iryna Kut (b), Alexander Vassiliev (cf), Faina Vassiliev (cf), Barbara Dyck (b), Romeo Gerhardt (cf), Margit Gerhardt (cf), David Tsou (cf), Jean Jing (cf) and Jun Ping (Nancy) Ma (b).
• Promontory Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C., welcomed 7 new members by baptism Feb. 23. Pictured are (l–r) Ryan Monchalin, Dawn Monchalin, Ray Godin, Debra Godin, Geoff Berry, Sara Rados and Sheila Henderson.
• College Drive Community Church, Lethbridge, Alta., welcomed 17 new members Aug. 4 and Sept. 1, 7 by baptism and 10 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Jarvis McNabb (b), Stephanie McNabb (b), pastor Tim Thiessen (cf), Marilyn Thiessen (cf), Allan Koot (cf), Valerie Koot (cf), pastor John Moerman, Diane Watson (cf), Clare Watson (cf), Steve McGlenn (b), David Guenther (b), Ard Biesheuvel (cf); (front) Janessa Moerman (b) and Kim Biesheuvel (cf). Not pictured are Nathan Arkell (cf), Jeremy Bridge (b), Jayne Bridge (cf), Hope Forsythe (b) and Heather Forsythe (b).
• South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church welcomed 11 new members by baptism Mar. 11. Pictured are (back, l–r) Kevin Bruneski, Shane Bradley, Kurt Bruneski, Brian Tjepkema; (middle) John Krause, Shonda Fairbrother, Joey Kuter, pastor Bindu Sidhu; (front) Carly Dexter, Kaila Miton, Ashley Loewen and Sandy Pandher.
• South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church welcomed 38 new members Feb. 2, 18 by baptism and 20 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l–r) Alan Alderson (t), Larry Massier (b), Kevin Janzen (t), Derek Froese (b), Trent Nickel (b), James Willms (t), Dale Vance (b), Jennifer Fedrau (b), Heidi Franz (t), Brian Fedrau (t), Ken Franz (t); (third row) Stan Peters (t), Susan Cuthbert (t), Lori Peters (t), Adam Henson (b), Emily Allert (b), Kyla Janzen (t), Josh Pastoor (b), Erin Gotzke (t), Judy Bauer (t), Vern Bauer (t), Elmer Stobbe (t); (second row) Samantha Berg (b), April Foth (b), Lindsey Hildebrand (b), Renae Franz (b), Joanna Unger (t), Jeret Unger (t), Wilma Stobbe (t); (front) pastor Steve Berg, Natasha Goetzke (b), Karla Macdonald (b), Paul Foth (b), Rosemary Robinson (b), Jackie Dick (b), Amy Bahnman (b), Katrina Wiens (t) and Darrell Wiens (t). Not pictured, Tricia Alderson (t).
• Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C. welcomed 7 new members Mar. 2, 1 by baptism and 6 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Walter Patterson, Richard Eisert (cf), Ronnie Saw (cf), Irena Sharshakova (cf); (front) Susan Chuang (cf), David Chang (cf), Norm Olson (cf), Tony Toyoji Tsujitani (b) and pastor John Neufeld.
• Dalhousie Community Church, Calgary, welcomed 3 new members by baptism Mar. 9. Pictured are Amy Buller, Kristy Messick, Sarah Wishart and pastor Mark Jantzen.
• Fairview Louth MB Community Church, St. Catharines, welcomed 4 new members by baptism Mar. 9. Pictured are (l–r) James Lo, pastor Mike Krause, Diane Gilbert, Jim Doornbos and Liz Doornbos.
• Vancouver MB Church received 7 new members Mar. 2, 4 by baptism and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Johannes Stolz, Jodi Gienger (cf), John Leskevich (cf), Matthias Fast (b); (front) Johann Baart (b), Jochen Stahl (b), Iris Stahl (b) and Marilisa Voth (b).
• Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C., received 9 new members by baptism Nov. 17. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Doreen Wall, Janelle Haggerty, Chelsea Braun, Alaina Braun, Marcel Bal, Bernie Neufeld, pastor Brad Hagkull, pastor Wilf Richert; (front) Danielle Block, Janine Wall, Alyssa Gaukel and Jordan Peters.
• South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church welcomed 21 new members by baptism Dec. 8. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Randy Thomas, staff Shawn Teichrab, Dan Penner, Jamie Beck, Megan Beck; (third row) James Traber, Steven Eberhardt, Mark Bahnman, Nicholas Metzger, Carly Kamps, Victoria Fehr, Melissa Gautschi; (second row) Shawn Siemens, Jillian Peters, Caity Hardy, Becky Squirell, Brittany Dyck, Kirstyn Hardy, Joannie Munroe; (front) Daniel Dyck, Aaron Schroeder, and Andrew Schroeder. Not pictured is Dustin Froese.
• Chilliwack (B.C.) Central Church welcomed 10 new members in December, 2 by baptism and 8 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Adam Wiggins, Dave Jackson (cf), Teresa Dyck (cf), Gerald Dyck (cf), Paul Tschetter (cf); (front) Chris Wells (b), Stephen Jackson (b), Kathy Jackson (cf), Ward Bishop (cf), Martha Bishop (cf) and Liz Tschetter (cf).
• South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church welcomed 22 new members by baptism Nov. 24. Pictured are (back, l–r) Adrian Janzen, Justin Reid, Holly Kamps, Charissa Loewen, Chelsea Giesbrecht, pastor Randy Thompson, Heather Friesen; (middle) Justin Unruh, David Pankratz, Jared Klassen, Jason Kliewer, Stephen Dowedoff, Jennifer Falk, Melissa Peters, Carmen Pankratz; (front) Darren Matis, Paul Wiebe, Chatelle Perry, Adrienne Voth, Trisha Pankratz, Natalie Foth, Nadine Schroeder and Chris Peters.
• Valleyview Bible Church, Kamloops, B.C., welcomed 11 new members Nov. 17, 7 by baptism and 4 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Jocelyn Johnston (b), Joanna Battjes (cf), Paul Battjes (cf), pastor LaMont Schmidt, pastor Mike Roth; (front) Tammy Koester (cf), Lyn Roth (cf), Terry Roth (b), Sandra Wever (b), Nadine Berg (b), Andrea Pastoor (b), Amanda Charley-Boy (b) and Derek Mathew (b).
• Fairview Louth MB Community Church, St. Catharines, welcomed 8 new members by baptism recently. Pictured are (l–r) Sophia Attema, Janet Jamieson, pastor Mike Krause, Eric Moccio, Dee Neuman, Colin Peters and Perry Neuman. Not pictured are Shannon Rees and Esther Snippe.