Personalia

Gene Maynard is the new senior pastor of The Meeting Place in Winnipeg. He comes from the US, where he pastored 3 Quaker congregations and earned a D.Min. in Spiritual Formation at Princeton University. The last years, he has combined his passion for spiritual formation and students, working 2 years with secular students at Boise (Idaho) State University, and 2 years with students in a church context in Maryland. He and Lorri, who has run her own business “Organized by Design” and done children’s ministries, have three children, Colin, 23, Aaron, 19, and Noelle, 15.

Cornerstone Community Church in Virgil, Ont. commissioned Steve Sheane as pastor on March 23. Ontario MB Conference minister Mark Johnson officiated and brought the message. Steve was previously pastor at Bethany Community Church in St. Catharines and served 6 years as pastor of the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait. He and Naomi have 3 daughters, Petra, Hillary and Amanda.

Trevor Fedderson began as pastor of children and youth at Garden Valley Community Church in Kelowna, B.C. July 2. He has a BA in youth ministry from Briercrest Bible College and served as youth pastor of Banff Park Church just over 3 years. He and Kyla, a massage therapist, have two children, Aidan, 2, and Meagan, nearly 2 months.

Paul Toews resigned as Executive Director of the Mennonite Brethren Historical Commission July 31, after 17 years in that position. Under his leadership, the Commission published the “Perspectives on Mennonite Life and Thought” series, a commemorative history of the General Mennonite Brethren Conference, and 22 biographies in bulletin insert format. Internationally, he has helped MB groups in India, South America, and India with historical projects and secured microfilms of archival holdings in the former USSR.

Brent Alexander has resigned as director of Westbank Bible Camp in Swift Current, Sask., effective Nov. 30, after 7 years of ministry. He and Verlynn have 5 children: Natalie, 10, Isaac, 9, Simeon, 6, Seth, 4, and Adon, 2.

Jubilee Mennonite Church in Winnipeg celebrated a number of transitions in June. They bid farewell to interim senior pastor Allan and Irene Labun on June 8.

The following Sunday, they commissioned Terry and SuAnn Goertzen, previously youth pastor, as lead pastor. John Neufeld of Mennonite Church Manitoba officiated and Manitoba MB conference pastor Herb Kopp gave the message. Terry and SuAnn have three children, Michal, Brodie and Neko.

Also commissioned was Richard Bage, as part-time youth pastor.

Dave Pankratz of the River East MB Church in Winnipeg will spent June to December in Iraq, coordinating and evaluating Mennonite Central Committee relief efforts there. He was recently involved in a “No War Against Iraq” campaign and welcomes the opportunity to do something “hands-on” for that country. He is an accountant by profession; he and wife Janet Schmidt previously spent 3 years with MCC in Africa.

West Portal Church Youth Mission Team 2003 went on a mission trip to Montreal, Feb. 15–22. They visited nursing homes, led worship services at a Haitian church gave Bible lessons, games and fun for a black community in downtown Montreal. “We saw God doing amazing things in the lives of the people we met, but I think the greatest impact will be what God has done in our own lives,” was their reaction.

Foothills Community Church, Pincher Creek, Alta. turned the sod for their new building June 4. Pictured is the building committee: (l–r) Jim Huber, Herman Borne, David Willms Jr., Tom Quinlan, Russ Friesen, David Willms, Sr., Helmut Friesen, pastor Ernie Bergen and Jean Vogelaar. Not pictured is Naomi Huber.

Lakeview Community Church, Killarney, Man. cut the ribbon for their new addition May 4. The addition includes a foyer, kitchen and a gymnasium. Pictured are building committee members: (l–r) pastor Dan Stobbe, Wayne Petkau, Dan Penner, Bill Poetker, Robert Wiebe, Wes Martens, Elaine Groening and Ron Duerksen.

Baptisms and new members

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

• Jubilee Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, Man. welcomed 6 new members June 22. Lauren Dirks, Ruth Friesen, Rachel Isaak, Daniel Neufeld and Jessica Schmidt were baptized and Patricia Eaton was received into membership by testimony.
• New Hope Christian Church, North Delta, B.C. welcomed 7 new members Apr. 20, all by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) Trevor Nicholson, Courtney Chan, Erin Epp, Marcel Fast, pastor Mike Brown, Julia Fedray, Cecelia Siebert and Kevin Wittenberg.
• Scott Street Church, St. Catharines, Ont. welcomed 7 new members May 18, 4 by baptism and 3 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l–r) Kevin Boese (b), Paul Mason (b), Ivan Braoun (b), pastor Tom Friesen, pastor Pat Bartley; (front) Kim Trefz (t), Mary Klassen (t), Monica Heidebrecht (t) and Rob Pauco (b).
• Central Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C. welcomed 19 new members in April, 12 by baptism and 7 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Mike Froese, pastor Adam Wiggins; (third row) Tyler Schulz (cf), Elizabeth Koehler (b), Shannon Crites (cf), Brian Crites (cf), Paul Rodrigue, (b), Jodi Rodrigue (b); (second row) Keith Miller (b), Bryan Doeve (b), Larry Hankins (b), James Braun (b), Jenny Noel (b); (front) Lynn Thompson (b), Carmen King (b), Greg Poirier (b), Craig Ritter (cf), Chris Harder (cf), Michelle VanDyk (cf), and Chris VanDyk (b). Inset, top left, is Tarnia Ritter (cf).
• River East MB Church, Winnipeg welcomed 8 new members, 4 by baptism Apr. 20 and 4 by transfer earlier. Pictured are (back, l–r) Bryan Regehr (b), pastor Gerry Derksen, Russell Thiessen (b), Addison Klassen (t), Sean Regehr (b), Michael Siebert (t); (front) pastor Connie Epp, Gerda Klassen (t), Betty Hamm (t) and Lisa Derksen (b).
• West Portal Church, Saskatoon has welcomed 18 new members since Nov. 2002, 3 by baptism, 6 by transfer and 9 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Rick Heppner (t), Kathy Heppner (b), Carl Reimer (cf), George Dyck (cf), Rod Geddert (t), pastor Andrew Fehr; (middle) Shirley Ens (cf), Abe Ens (cf), Janet Reimer (cf), Karen Dyck (cf), Tina Dyck (cf), Henry Dyck (cf), Randy Klassen (t), Vern Funk (t); (front) pastor Dwayne Barkman, Claus Baender (b), Jeff Froese (cf), Lisa Worthington (b), Darlene Klassen (t) and Janice Funk (t).
• Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 11 new members by baptism Apr. 20. Pictured are (back, l–r) moderator John Funk, Mike Williamson, Luke Willms, Steven Rempel, Kevin Harms, Mike Tennant; (front) Kara Dyck, Valerie Patton, Diana Dirks, Alana Patton, Lorrie Tennant, Dana Friesen and pastor Vidya Narimalla.
• Discovery Church, Pitt Meadows, B.C. welcomed 2 new members Apr. 27, both by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) Eric Treen, pastor Paul Fast and Kat Miller.
• Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 13 new members Apr. 27, all by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Michael Dick, Les Roy, Andrew Dick, Veronica Mills, Sarah Reimer, Gerry Allan, Ted Cui, Jr., Daniel Zacharias, Nicole Horch, Brendan Dick, Christine Prachnau, Dan Charlton, Pat Williams, David Cui and pastor Tim Wiebe.
• Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg welcomed 16 new members Feb, 2, Mar. 30, and Apr. 6, 3 by baptism, 4 by transfer and 9 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Roger Thiessen, Don Enns (t), Fran Enns (t), Dave Falk (b), Tracy Stein (b), Jeremy Knight (b), pastor Sean Sagert, and Terry Doerksen (cf). Not pictured are Mike Kroeker (t), Wes Geddert (cf), Phillis Geddert (cf), Deb McMillin (cf), Sara Wiens (cf), Jordan Hayward (cf), Shannon Hayward (cf), Steve Bell (cf), Erika Bell (cf), and Hilda Unrau (t).
• North Kildonan MB Church, Winnipeg welcomed 15 new members recently, 11 by baptism and 4 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor George Klassen, Adam Thielmann (b), pastor Bob Marsch, Gina Tessmann (b), Jessica Janzen (b), Janice Tessman (b), Peter Wiebe (b), Alexander Kummer (cf), Natalie Kummer (cf), Nick Kummer, pastor Roland Marsch; (front) Norma Pauls (b), Elke Maier (b), Tatiana Hirschfeld (b), Stephanie Loewen (b), Rachel Olfert (b), Alexandra Thielmann (b), Adelina Garrecht (cf) Phillip Garrecht, Tanya Kummer. Not pictured is John Friesen (cf).
• River West Christian Church, Edmonton welcomed 3 new members June 8, 1 by baptism and 2 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l–r) elders Sig Janzen and Lydia Penner, and pastor Kerry Dyck; (front) Ryan Zielke (t), Tammy Zielke (t) and Bonnie Katzenback (b).
• Community Fellowship Church, Newton, Man. welcomed 2 new members May 25, both by baptism. Pictured are Ashley Banman, Christine Wall and pastor Jeff Banman.
• Sardis Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C. welcomed 5 new members, 1 on Nov. 17 and 4 on Jan 26, 3 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Graeme Isbister, Pat Stevens (b), Melissa Dempsey (b) and Sherry Kavanagh (b). Not pictured are Amanda Crowe (cf) and Claude Lange (cf).