Transitions

On April 18, the North Peace MB Church, Fort St. John, B.C., celebrated the ordination of associate pastor Rod Willems and his wife Adeline. Interim B.C. Conference minister Bob Friesen conducted the service. Pictured praying for the couple (middle) are (l–r) Rod’s parents Betty and Dan Willems, moderator Carl and Merna Reimer, Bob Friesen, senior pastor Les and Marilyn Riediger, youth pastor Tim Blois.

Several people from Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church have recently been connecting with mission beyond the church. Pastor Lorne and Heather Willms took an extended visit to the Philippine Islands and Toyota City, Japan where they visited member missionaries Larry and Joyce Thiessen of TEAM, and adoptive missionaries Lawrence and Leona Hiebert of MBMSI. Leo and Hilda Siemens spent 6 months in Piura, Peru, doing finish carpentry in the church and missionary home of the Gerald Falks of MBMSI. Youth pastor Dale Friesen travelled to Vancouver with 17 youth to work with Youth with a Mission.

Noel and Melanie Hudson will take up the work of youth pastor at Elm Creek (Man.) MB Church on Aug. 1. Noel has a BA in youth ministries from Providence College, Otterburne, Man., and has been a volunteer youth sponsor at Prairie Rose EMC Church in Landmark, Man. while working at Loewen Windows in Steinbach. They have an infant daughter, Isabelle.

Joy Klassen is the new full-time pastor of church ministries at McIvor Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg. She has been part of the church since 1978 and has been serving since July 2002 as interim director of church ministries. Previously she worked 25 years in the childcare field, 21 as director of a daycare centre. She is married to Alvin, a firefighter and farmer. They have two grown children.

The Board of Church Ministries of the US Mennonite Brethren Conference has appointed Don Morris of Weatherford, Okla. as Director of Mission USA, beginning Sept. 1. He will give oversight to the Mission USA and Integrated Ministries assignment. Loyal Funk is retiring from the IM portfolio at the end of July.

Several Mennonite Brethren participated in the Mennonite Central Committee orientation in Akron, Pa. April 20 to May 4. Don and Lois Collins of The Meeting Place, Winnipeg, are beginning a 2-year assignment as registered victim companions in Winnipeg. Don last worked as national director of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Canada and Lois was a support worker at Winnipeg Child and Family Services. Edwin Loeppky of Willow Park South Church, Kelowna, is beginning a 2-year assignment as thrift shop store manager.

Chonburi, Thailand: Karen and Ricky Sanchez pictured with Stephanie Schroeder and Graeme and Verna Isbister. Graeme and Verna, of Sardis (B.C.) Community Church, visited the Sanchezes under the auspices of MBMSI’s Pastors Overseas Project, and Stephanie, a student from Bethany College was doing an internship.

Baptisms and new members

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

• Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, welcomed 39 new members Mar. 6–7, 13 by baptism, 11 by transfer and 15 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) elder Dale Loewen, Randy Regier (t), Albert Peters (t), Dylan Graham (cf), Ken Reeve (cf), John Griffith (b), Bruce McLean (b), Jon Boldt (b), Robert Hill (b), pastor Frank Martens; (third row) Karen Regier (t), Alana Regier (t), Priscilla Howes (t), Pam Graham (cf), Linda Bourhill (b), Lyn McCullagh (b), Tuula Opheim (cf), Rachel Patillo (b), Angela Hiebert (b), Shawn Gelineau (cf), Douglas Okero (t); (second row) Amy Patillo (b), Shelly Gelineau (cf), Denise Scott (t), Sarah Scheer (b), Debbie Buysee (b), (front) Christina Friesen (cf), Janis Westlund (cf), Teresa Petkau (cf), Lore Peters (t), Druew Hollsworth (t), and Jamie DeChamplain (b). Not pictured are Bert Petkau (cf), Cira Nickel (b), Rob Westlund (cf), Jeff Crocker (cf), Jonathan Friesen (t), Jeff Scott (t), Chris Priebe (cf), David McLauren (cf) and Sharmila McLauren (cf).
• Sardis Community Church, B.C., welcomed 12 new members Jan. 4, 18, and 25, 6 by baptism, 4 by transfer and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) Pastor Jim Kearsley (cf), Cathie Kearsley (cf), Larry Schroeder (t), Brenda Schroeder (t), Samuel Selby (b), Rebecca Paulding (b), Dennis Noland (b), Gina Snelgrove (b), Dennis Cox (b), Chris Suderman (b), Erich Petkau (t), Naomi Petkau (t) and pastor Allan Rempel.
• Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, welcomed 10 new members Feb. 4, 1 by baptism, 4 by transfer and 5 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor James Penner, Craig Amendt (t), Pat Ellis (cf), Jeanine Leiding (t), Dale Leiding (cf), Joan Trachuck (t), Ernie Trachuck (t); (front) Len Chmelyk (cf), Carol Chmelyk (cf), Monica Larson (b) and Josh Giesbrecht (cf).
• Christian Fellowship Church, Lanigan, Sask., welcomed 8 new members Apr. 27, 1 by baptism and 7 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Steve White, Ellen Weber (cf), Barry Nygren (cf), Bob Funk (cf), (front) Lorena Schmidt (cf), Elsie Houk (cf), Debra Nygren (cf) and Sylvia Funk (b). Not shown is Lloyd Weber.
• New Hope Community Church, Calgary, welcomed 4 new members by baptism Feb. 1. Pictured are (l–r) Dean Crowe, Sheila Crowe, pastor Kevin Carruthers, Edna Johnstone and Howard Johnstone.
• Promontory Community Church, Chilliwack, B.C., welcomed 4 new members by baptism Jan. 4. Pictured are (l–r) Alisha Godin (b), Christina MacInnis(b), Melissa Wiens (b) and Wade Godin (b).
• Vancouver MB Church welcomed 3 new members by baptism Dec. 7, 2003. Pictured are (l–r) Heather Pullein, Courtney Heppner, Doria Janzen, and pastor Luke Flaming.
• Vineland MB Church, Ont., welcomed 5 new members Nov. 30, 2003, 4 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Doug Schulz, Kevin Willms (b), pastor Andrew Thiessen; (front) Lou Augustine (cf), Suzie Hamm (b), Katelyn Dyck (b) and Jason McPhail (b).
• Willow Park Church, Kelowna, B.C., recently welcomed 37 new members, 10 by baptism and 27 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Kevin Edstron (cf), Colleen Edstrom (cf), Cory David (cf), Natalie MacDonald (cf), Lonnie Wilkie (b), John Lindsay (cf), Kathy Lindsay (cf), Linda Drew (cf), Kevin Drew (cf), John Ewens (cf), Jollean Ewens (cf), Clayton Kessler (cf), Suzanne Kessler (cf), Deanna Carlsson (cf), Sam Carlsson (cf), pastor Mark Burch; (middle) Judy Tearoe (cf),Tom Tearoe (cf), Lenora Ondracka (b), Lois Steinberg (cf), Marion Armitage (b), Jamie Roy (cf), David Roy (cf), James Welsh (b), Tamara Welsh (b), Cyril Tinling (b); (front) Michael Stewart (b), Danae Garcia (b), Christina Elliott (b), Rachel Lindsay (cf), Matthew Lindsay (b) and Carina Schellenberg (b). Not pictured are Hugh Ouwehand (cf), Heather Ouwehand (cf), Ron MacDonald (cf), Frank Plementos (cf), Keith Stelpstra (cf), Christina Stelpstra (cf).
• Leamington (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 12 members Nov. 30, 10 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) instructor Roger Epp, Shawn Simpson (b), Bernie Klassen (cf), Liz Klassen (cf), Tim Willms (b), Rhonda Willms (b) Deanna Loewen (b), Owen Goheen (b), Hannah Pears (b), pastor Graham Beer, William Wall (b), Suzanne Klassen (b), Joel Dick (b), Shane Dick (b), pastor Henry Regier.
• Westside Community Church, Morden, Man., welcomed 7 new members Dec. 14, 5 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Russ Toews, Harry Dalke (cf), Greg Hesom (b), Jeff Enns (b), pastor Wayne Banman; (front) Brenda Dalke (cf), Alison Hesom (b), Suzanne Enns (b) and Janna Banman (b).
• Greendale MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C., welcomed 6 new members Jan. 25, 1 by baptism and 5 by transfer. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Reg Toews, Zac Bosma (b), Jennifer Driediger (t), Sherry Knechtel (t), Lorne Knechtel (t), Vivian Froese (t), Gerald Froese (t) elder Marvin Wiebe and pastor Dave Beecham.
• New Hope Community Church, Calgary, welcomed 5 new members by baptism June 8, 2003. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Kevin Carruthers, Jackie Arthur, Melissa Carruthers, Crystal Labbé; (front) Mariah Carruthers and Cerah Dubé.
• Westwood MB Church, Prince George, B.C., welcomed 14 new members Nov. 30, 11 by baptism and 3 by transfer. Pictured are (back l–r) pastor Mike Ray, Steve Wagar (b), Christina Heitrich (b), Josh Koehn (b), Jody Berensten (b), Sylvia Manton (t), pastor Mel Fehr; (middle) Brian Kleyn (t), Claude Provencher (b) Emily Brandes (b), Janet Broening (b), Ashley Solmonson (b), Leah Sharpe (b); (front) Yong Wang (b), Bernice Warner (t) and Donna Myketa (b).