Transitions

Maple Ridge (B.C.) Community Church held a celebration service June 6 for Dean and Janine Richmond, with children Brittany, Tyler and Keegan, who are moving on from an 18-year-ministry at Maple Ridge (B.C.) Community Church. Dean started in June 1986 as a youth pastor under founding pastor Ed Goerzen. In 1991 he was affirmed as senior pastor. He has begun a new pastoral position at the Abbotsford Vineyard Church in September.

The new pastor couple at Maple Ridge (B.C.) Community Church since July 1 is Duane Goerzen. He has a BRE degree from Briercrest Bible College. He did his pastoral apprenticeship in the church and served as youth pastor from 1989 to 1993. He has been leading worship and serving as an elder in the church for the last four years. He and Melody have two sons, Elijah and Jesse.

Mark Trew joined the staff of Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon June 1 as young adults pastor. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan and recently graduated with an MDiv in Theological Studies from Briercrest Seminary. He has been on leadership teams with young adults at Forest Grove for the last 4 years.

Chester Wiebe ended his ministry as associate pastor of Gospel Chapel, Grand Forks, B.C. at the end of June, after 4 years. He served as program director at Pines Bible Camp, Grand Forks, this summer. He and Charlene are open to further ministry.

The children’s ministry pastor at Peace Arch Fellowship in South Surrey, B.C. since February is Beth McGill. Earlier she worked in office administration at Christ for the Nations Bible College, Surrey, where she also took a diploma in Practical Theology. She is married to Brian, a high school counsellor.

In December 2003, Dave Beecham joined the staff of Greendale MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C. as youth pastor. Previously he worked with youth at First Baptist Church in Peace River, Alta. and Church of the Open Bible in Swift Current, Sask. He graduated from Northwest Baptist College, Langley, B.C. in 1995. He and Cherie have 2 children: Coral, 8, and Hudson, 6.

Len and Esther Doerksen retired as pastor couple of Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, Coquitlam, B.C. as of June 30, after 8 years there. They have previously served at Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church and Greendale MB Church in Sardis, B.C., and he was an instructor at Winkler Bible Institute, Winkler, Man. and Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford.

Baptisms and new members

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

• Discovery Community Church, Campbell River, B.C. welcomed 24 new members Mar. 20, 6 by baptism and 18 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Grant Warkentin (cf), pastor Kelly Cochrane, Walter Jakeway (cf), Mike Van Unen (cf), Kent Spencer (cf), Sherri Raffan (b), Dave Scholtens (b), Irene Poole (b), Mike Clausen (cf), Norm Poole (b), Ron Quinton (cf); (front) Eunice Jakeway (cf), Sharon Van Unen (cf), Julia Warkentin (cf), Marjorie Greanya (cf), Esther Clausen (cf), Cheryl Hessel (b), Eleanor Quinton (cf) and Grace Spencer (cf). Not pictured are Daphne Chidley (cf), Charlie Harms (cf), Cindy Harms (cf), Elizabeth Liznick (cf), Nancy Perkins (cf) and Steve Wray (cf).
• Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 9 new members by baptism Apr. 11. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Vidya Narimalla, Roger Tjart, Ruth Tjart, Marjorie Sutherland, John Minns, moderator John Funk; (front) Kirija Rajeevan, Ebenezer Rajeevan, Philip Rempel, Caleb Riley and Lorne Wiebe.
• North Peace MB Church, Fort St. John, B.C., welcomed 8 new members May 2, 6 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) Elmer Neudorf (b), Frank Gunther (cf), pastor Tim Blois, Eric Olson (b), (middle) Margaret Gunther (cf), Judy Olson (b); (front) pastor Les Riediger, pastor Rod Willems, Judy Small (b), Serena Baccante (b) and Jill Baccante (b).
• Scott St. MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont. welcomed 8 members Apr. 25, 4 by baptism, 1 by transfer and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Pat Bartley, Adam Woodcox (b), pastor Tom Friesen, Jeff Baird (b), pastor Brad Naylor; (third) Robert Mason (b), Kyle Agler (b); (second) Liudmila Batisheva (cf), Anatoly Kradko (cf), Scott Gossen (t); (front) Olga Kradko (cf).
• West Portal Church, Saskatoon, welcomed 9 new members recently, 3 by baptism, 3 by transfer and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Dwayne Barkman, pastor Kelly Wiebe, Michael Hay (t), Kathryn Hay (cf), Lorna Wolfe (cf), Peter Quiring (b); (front) Criston Fehr (b), Ashley Looysen (b), Susie Block (t), Martha Schlamp (cf) and Barb Worthington (t).
• Westview Christian Fellowship, St. Catharines, welcomed 3 new members by baptism Feb. 29. Pictured are instructor Rita Hildebrand, Amy Good, Angie Sheppeard, elder Willy Klassen, Tephanie Tipps and pastor Vic Ratzlaff.
• Southridge Community Church, St. Catharines, welcomed 7 new members by baptism recently. Pictured are (l–r) Gary Maskaluk, Tracey Maskaluk, Earl Lautenbach, Ali Gadula, pastor Mike Krause and Rebecca Roadnight. Not pictured are Aaron Hahn and Chris Triebe.
• Burnaby (B.C.) Pacific Grace (Chinese) Church welcomed 10 new members Apr. 18, 8 by baptism and 2 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l–r) deacon Leslie Tung. deacon Zion Wu, deacon David Sin, deacon Samuel Chui, pastor Enoch Yim; (third) Anny Ko (t), Yuk Sim Sung (t), Elsie Leung (b), pastor Darryl Crocker; (second) Maria Kowk (b), Kelvin Kwok (b), Pamela See (b), Florence Mok (b), deacon Shirley Ng (front) Esther Chan (b), Kay Chow (b), Mrs. Yu (b) and pastor Sabrina Bach.
• Orchard Park Bible Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., welcomed 6 members May 2, 5 by baptism and 1 by transfer. Pictured are (l–r) Michele Zoccoli (b), Melissa Jo Penner (t), Beth Friesen (b), Alicia Pendlebury (b), Lisa Friesen (b), Candice Falk (b) and pastor Henry Wiebe.
• Glencairn MB Church, Kitchener, Ont., welcomed 14 members May 30, 8 by baptism, 5 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Ross Penner, Lea Ann Snyder (t), Del Snyder (t), Tracey Madeley (b), Nick Biffis (b), Ruth Paterson (t), John Paterson (t), pastor Bill Stubbs, Sarah Peters (cf), Verne Sawyer (b), Matt Peters (t), Scott Cressman (b), elder Heinz Janzen, Alyssa Schwarzentruber (b), Amanda Klassen (b), Cheryl Swartz (b) and Rebecca Rueckwald (b).
• Killarney Park MB Church, Vancouver, welcomed 3 new members May 23 and 30, 1 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l–r) pastor David Chow, Eugene Park (b), Winnie Adrian, Fred Adrian and pastor Ken Peters.
• Community Fellowship Church, Newton, Man., baptized 4 youth Apr. 11. Pictured are pastor Jeff Banman, Ashley Morrison, Drew Klassen, Jaclyn Schmidt, Allison Morrison and pastor Ramsy Unruh.
• Elm Creek (Man.) MB Church welcomed 6 new members recently, 3 by baptism and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor John Willems, Jack Neufeld (cf), Glori-Ann Woodward (b), pastor Greg Wiens; (front) Ruth Neufeld (cf), Lisa Goethals (b), Dorothy Lawler (cf) and Glen Dooley (b).
• Heritage Mountain Community Church, Coquitlam, B.C. welcomed 6 members by baptism Mar. 7. Pictured are (l–r) Jennifer Nilsson, Nik Nilsson, Amanda Cootes, pastor Mark Tucker, Jennifer Fancy, Scott Bjerkness and Laura Carr.
• River East MB Church, Winnipeg, welcomed 9 new members May 16 and 30, 7 by baptism, 1 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Connie Epp, Erica Wideman (cf), John Derksen (t), pastor Gerry Derksen, pastor Christine Longhurst; (front) John Neufeld (b), Jordan Wiebe (b), Kurt Lemky (b), Ginger Dusk (b), Joshua Koslowsky (b), Jotham Koslowsky (b) and Lindsay Scott (b).
• Southridge Community Church, St. Catharines, welcomed 4 new members by baptism recently. Pictured are (back, l–r) Pat Beard, Ralph DeGroot; (front) Jill Derksen, pastor Mike Krause and Jodi DeGroot.
• Fourth Avenue Bible Church, Niverville, Man, welcomed 4 new members May 2, 1 by baptism, 2 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are pastor George Shillington, Bria Cattani (cf), Ed Klassen (t), Catherine Klassen (t) and Malyssa Wiens (b).