Staff changes invigorate Canadian conference

This fall, the Canadian Conference of MB Churches introduced four new roles they hope will increase effectiveness in building disciples and growing churches.

Ewald Unruh has worked for the conference since 1992, most recently as Director of Leadership Development and Evangelism Canada. His new role addresses the goal of developing “healthy, growing churches reaching their worlds,” by focusing on church health, leadership development, and outreach.

“Our conference leaders have consistently believed that equipping churches to stay healthy and developing new leaders for church ministry are foundational to holistic church planting,” said Wiebe. “Ewald, who has proven his value through years of dedicated effort, will champion this holistic growth anew.”

Cam Rowland, Director of Church Health and Communications since 2003, has taken on the new title of Director of Communications. This frees Rowland to focus on building community within the denomination and hands the coaching aspect of the job to John Neufeld, working in the area of leadership development.

“I’m pleased to have Cam focus his skills in an area he’s passionate about and look forward to new avenues of community building,” said executive director David Wiebe.

Dave Jackson, recently senior associate pastor at Central Community Church in Chilliwack, B.C., was hired by Unruh to work with churches to refocus their mission statements and develop leaders.

In collaboration with provincial conference ministers, Jackson will oversee development of healthy churches, train and coach regional facilitators, work with transitional pastors, and facilitate overall church revitalization. Jackson has 10 years experience with Church Resource Ministries as well as Outreach Canada.

“I’m excited to have Dave on board,” says Unruh. “He knows first-hand the possibilities and pitfalls the journey towards health and success entails – both at the personal–pastoral level and at the congregational level.”

Jackson will work out of the MB Ministry Centre at the Canadian conference office in Abbotsford, B.C.

Andrew Siebert joins the MB Herald in the new role of assistant editor. Previously assistant editor at ChristianWeek newspaper in Winnipeg, he picks up for Dora Dueck who retired in July. Siebert has a passion for current culture, global issues, and Mennonite history and grew up in Colombia, where his parents served with MBMS International. He holds a BA in philosophy from the University of Winnipeg and a BA in social science from Providence College, Otterburne, Man.