Personalia

On June 22, Community Fellowship Church, Newton, Man. bid farewell to Neil and Ruth Block, who served as interim pastor since 2000.

On August 10, the Newton church blessed Hugh and Yvette Froese, leaving to pastor the South Park Church in Altona, Man. (See MBH, May 2). Hugh grew up in the Community Fellowship Church and was youth pastor 4 years.

Joel Gagnon is the new pastor of Restigouche Valley Church, Campbellton, N.B. He and April are originally from Campbellton, but have lived in Ontario the last 11 years. He studied part-time for ordination in the Wesleyan Church, taking courses through Houghton College in New York state and Indiana Wesleyan University, and ministered in churches in Ottawa and Belleville. They have three children: Sarah, Faith and Nathan.

Brad Naylor began as associate pastor of Scott St. Church, St. Catharines, Ont. on Sept. 1. He graduated from MB Biblical Seminary–ACTS with an MDiv. this spring and was support staff at Camp Stillwood during the summer. Darlene has been worship director at Immanuel Fellowship Baptist Church and a teacher at Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford, B.C. They have three children: Rocky, David and Dixie.

Paul Toews, of the Fresno (CA) Pacific University history faculty and director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, has received a Fulbright lecture-research scholarship. He will be in the Ukraine Sept. 1 to June 30, teaching U.S. History at Zaporizhzhia State University and visiting archives throughout the former Soviet republic in search of documents relating to Mennonite history.

After serving as youth pastor of Westwood MB Church, Prince George, B.C. since 1995, Craig Reimer has moved into a new position as Pastor of Assimilation and Small Groups. Earlier, he studied at Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C. and Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. He and Lisa have three children: Sydney, Quin, Connor.

Wendell Andres has resigned as director of Redberry Bible Camp after 7 years service. In the immediate future, he is returning to house construction. He and Gwen have three children: Thomas, 15, Tenille, 13, and Braden, 10.

There were 8 Canadian Mennonite Brethren among the 61 participants in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. July 8 to 22. John and Ruth Janzen, Winkler (Man.) MB Church, are beginning a two-year assignment in Mexico with the Low German program. He will be a coordinator at an addiction treatment centre and she will work as an adult educator. John was recently superintendent at Garden Valley School Division, Winkler, and Ruth previously served with Missions and Services in Nova Scotia. Karen Smith of Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont., previously teaching in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, will serve a three-year assignment in Egypt as a teacher. Annie Brosseau of Eglise Chretienne de St. Eustache, St. Eustache, Quebec, who has a certificate in writing from the University of Montreal, is serving a two-year assignment as co-regional MCC representative in Montreal. Diane Klassen of South Abbotsford (B.C.) MB Church is continuing an assignment as receptionist at the MCC B.C. office in Abbotsford. Earlier she worked as an office assistant/receptionist at Central Abbotsford Optometry. Phil Schafran, who obtained a MBA degree from the University of B.C., is beginning a two-year assignment as director of resource development in MCC B.C. He attends Northview Community Church, Abbotsford. Dianne Schroeder, who obtained a payroll administrator certificate from Kwantlen College, Langley, B.C. is beginning a three-year assignment as accounting assistant in Abbotsford. She attends Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford. Andrea Wiens, who has a BA from the University of B.C. and attends Panorama Community Church, Surrey, B.C. is serving a one-year assignment as receptionist in Abbotsford.

John and Ruth Janzen

Karen Smith, Diane Klassen and Phil Schafran

Alex and Carla Suderman will be serving as interim pastor of Flin Flon (Man.) MB Church for one year. Both studied at Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. Alex has done two ministry internships, in Flin Flon and at Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, where he was also associate pastor for a year. He will also serve the Northern Fellowship Church of Creighton, Sask. in a cooperative arrangement with the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

Lance Schubert is the new senior pastor of Garden Valley MB Church, Kelowna, B.C. He was pastor in Associated Gospel churches in Fraser Lake, B.C. and Banff, Alta. for 10 years. He has a BA from North American Baptist College, Edmonton and has nearly completed an MA from Liberty University, Virginia. He is married to Melanie; they have 3 sons, Landon, 11, Leighton, 9, and Sawyer, 7.

Baptisms and new members

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

• Promontory Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C. received 14 people into membership on July 13, 6 by baptism and 8 by confession of faith: Lisa Newell, Janelle and Pawel Rychtowski, Todd Armstrong, Janice Williams, Brad and Nicole Driscoll, Dennis and Kari Barg, Neil and Darlene Burritt, Katherine MacLaren, and Pat and Les Peters.
• South Point Community Church, Leamington, Ont. welcomed 16 new members June 22, 7 by baptism, 3 by transfer and 6 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Brad Wilson, Dianne Wilson, Terry Joyce (b), LeeAnn Joyce (b), Melissa Richard (b), Jill McLean (b), Hollie Shuglo (t), Eva Friesen-Onorato (cf), Mario Onorato (b), Maria Konrad (cf), Bill Konrad (b), Susan Kocsis (b) and Kyle Kocsis (cf). Not Pictured are Roger Tennant (cf), Connie Hubert (t), Jim Hubert (t), Jenn Simpson (cf) and Elaine Humphrey (cf).
• Winkler (Man.) MB Church, Winkler, Man. welcomed 16 new members June 22, 10 by baptism and 6 by transfer. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Gary Loewen, Joelle Krahn (b), Jordan Janzen (b), Jordan Kroeker (b), Eric Wiebe (b), Heidi Wiebe (b), pastor Brad Huebert, Danielle Penner (b), Lisa Rempel (b), Courtney Wall (b) and Keerstin Giesbrecht (b). Not pictured are Heidi Hildebrand (b), Ken Thomas (t), Eleanor Thomas (t), Andy Fehr (t), Mandy Fehr (t), Darryl Wieler (t) and Dolores Wieler (t).
• Eastview Community Church, Winnipeg, Man. welcomed 29 new members Dec. 31 and June 1, 17 by baptism and 12 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Mark Enns (b), Joel Neufeld (cf), Ryan Thiessen (cf), Shane Geschiere (b), Raymond Dueck (cf), Sylvain Baril (cf), Martine Fortin (b); (third row) pastor Steve Dick, Lindsay Poggemiller (b), Dorothea Toews (b), Vicky Sawatzky (cf), Doreen Ens (b), Martha Dueck (cf), Lorraine Dewar (b), Margarete Schulz (cf); (second row) Alayna Dueck (b), Lindasy Giesbrecht (b), Vanessa Hiebert (b), Keli Schmidt (b), Jen Campbell (cf), Staci Anders (b), Wilhelmine Ali El-Shariff (cf), Emmanuel Ali El-Shariff (cf), pastor Lorne Pearson; (front) pastor Thom Dick, Lukas Krause (b), Hannah Krause (b), Becky Thiessen (cf), Nikki Dunn (b), and Sarah Wood (b). Not pictured are Alan Dewar (b) and Greg schroder (cf).
• Port Rowan (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 5 new members June 29, all by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) Jocelyn Martens, Richard Breene, Heather Vranckx, Bertha Breene, John Braun and pastor Sandy Young.
• Gem (Alta.) MB Church welcomed 3 new members June 22, all by baptism. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor couple Gloria and John Block; (front) Bailey Pickett, Elisa Reid and Lynnae Pickett.
• Elm Creek (Man.) MB Church welcomed 5 new members April 20, all by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) Jennifer Froese, pastor John Willems, Deanna Kroeker, pastor Greg Wiens, Krystin Friesen, Brett Kroeker and Scott Penner.
• Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, B.C., welcomed 38 new members June 8, 21 by baptism and 17 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor John Neufeld, Denny Oenar (cf), Erwin Djuhari (b), Hanson Lok (b), Stephen Janzen (b), James Hardy (cf), Jennifer Seak (cf), Calvin Seak (cf), Larry Lin (b), Helen Lin (b), Wei Yang (b), pastor Mark Janzen, pastor Matt Castle; (middle) pastor Michael Chan, Lisa Kim (b), Donald Kim (b), Rachel Nesdoly (cf), Andy Nesdoly (cf), Danielle Adams (b), Mercedes Duifhuis (b), Laurel Enns (cf), Andrea Sali (b), Nirmala Das (b), Karen Dyck (cf), Ken Dyck (cf), Darren Brooks (cf), pastor Sonny Mandagie; (front) Nina Mendoza (cf), Lydia Mendoza (cf), Amando Mendoza (cf), Pretty Smith (b), Christy Van Ieperen (b), M. Joy Forbes (cf), Tracy Flavelle (b), Serena Oh (b), Amelia Sutjiadi (b), Kristien Rahayu (cf), Jesslyn Niti (cf), Dioni Sidarta (b) and Sally Gozali (b). Not pictured are Galyna Chernega (b), Valentina Laptsevich (b) and Edgar Tarnate (cf).
• Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, Ont. welcomed 3 new members Apr. 27, all by baptism. Pictured are (l–r) Shawna Dirks, pastor Vic Loewen, Brian Rowaan, youth leader Wes Wiens, Josi Dominquez and pastor Steve Sheane.
• Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, B.C. welcomed 21 members by baptism May 11. Pictured are (back, l–r) Neil Krell (b), Houston Ukpabi, Raoul Kibangula, Sammy Tecle, Benjamin Soquier (b), pastor Mark Janzen; (middle): Chris Erlenbach (b), Melanie Reich (b), Eugene Park (b), Chelsea Park (b), Linnea McNally (b), Thomas Wiens (b), Liam Hewlett (b); (front) Lauren Orjala (b), Daisy Ho (b), Jillian Forsyth (b), Allison Taylor (b), Amber Thiessen (b), Amanda Riemer (b), Mercedes Duifhuis, Janelle Ei (b). Not pictured are: Samuel Abou Samra (b), Tamara Ginter (b), Daniel Regan (b), Julie Wineberg (b) and Jordana Wong (b).
• Evergreen Heights Christian Fellowship, Simcoe, Ont. welcomed 9 new members June 8, all by baptism. Pictured are (back, l–r) Harold Schroeter, Justin Waddington, Dan Avey, pastor Richard Martens; (front) Pauline Thiessen, Kim Shroeter, Edith Innes, Jordan Varey, Brent Easey and Julia Easey.
• McIvor Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg, Man. welcomed 7 new members June 1, 6 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Doug Enns, Andrea Battershill (b), Amber-Lee Hamm (B), Patricia Kumbakisaka (b), Carmyn Hildebrand (b), Alison Stenekes (cf), Laura Dyck (b), John Guenther (b) and pastor Terence Hoorman.