Transitions
Dan Nighswander began as pastor of dual-conference Jubilee Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, Aug. 1. Dan was previously executive director of Mennonite Church Canada, and finished a 3-year term with MC Canada Witness in South Africa. He is married to Yvonne and they have two grown daughters. Youth pastor Martin Blumrich has transitioned into an associate role.
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After 5 years as pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Flin Flon, Man., Scott Koop accepted a call to be lead pastor at Selkirk (Man.) Community Church, beginning Aug. 16. Scott and Natalie have two children.
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Nineteen workers were commissioned for service after participating in a leadership orientation at Mennonite Central Committee offices in Akron, Pa., June 9–26. Among them, Annie and Jean Victor Brosseau, of Église chrétienne evangélique de St-Eustache, Montreal, began an assignment as Western Europe representatives for MCC. They will be based in Germany. They previously worked for MCC in Montreal. Annie was editor of Le Lien from 1989 to 2002.
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Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask., has added two new staff to the student development department. Erica Ray is associate dean of women. She has a BA from Bethany, and participated in MBMS International’s Missionary Training Institute. Nick Boschman is athletics and recreation director. He has a BA from Bethany and was recently employed cabinet-making in Saskatoon. ______________________________________________________________________
Bert (Robert) Bell left Stewardship Ministries at the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches after 5 years as stewardship representative for Manitoba and the Maritimes, to join Family Life Network, where he will serve as director of development and church relations. Bert has previously worked for United Way, the Royal Bank, and as a pastor for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. ______________________________________________________________________
Paul Heidebrecht has been appointed director of MCC Canada’s Ottawa office. Founding director Bill Janzen retired in 2008 after 33 years of service. Paul will liaise between MCC’s work around the world and the Canadian government, and work alongside partner organizations to advocate for change. An engineer by trade, he also studied theology at AMBS, Elkhart, Ind., and Marquette University, Wisc., where he was most recently teaching. Paul and his wife Carmen Brubacher have 4 children.______________________________________________________________________
Due to a new approach to pastoral duties at the multi-service congregation, Bakerview Church in Abbotsford, B.C., released associate pastor of outreach ministries Peter Laurie after a membership meeting vote June 16. Responsibility for outreach will now be shared among pastoral
staff, and through them, the congregation.
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Correction: The postal code for the MB Church of Manitoba’s new office is R2L 1L2.
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Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the print version of the Herald but not in the online version.
Elm Creek (Man.) MB Church welcomed 4 new members by baptism Apr. 26, 2009. Pictured are (l–r) Melodie Janzen, Desiree Eberling Penner, Kelli Wiebe, Carley Schmidt, pastor Noel Hudson.
Dalhousie Community Church, Calgary welcomed 5 new members June 7, 2009, 3 by baptism, 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) Keith Mills (b), Sandi Smith (b), pastor Brad Huebert, Alyssa Morley (b), Marion Enns (cf), Galen Enns (cf).
River East MB Church, Winnipeg, welcomed 3 new members by baptism, June 7, 2009. Pictured are (back, l–r) pastor Nathan Koslowsky, Aaron Geddert (b), pastor Connie Epp, (front) Sarah Baker (b), pastor Gerry Derksen, Becky Longhurst (b).
Hays (Alta.) Gospel Chapel welcomed 2 new members by baptism June 28, 2009. Pictured (l–r) are pastor Leo Siemens, Charlene Preston, Michael Wall.
Arnold Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., welcomed 6 new members Nov. 23, 2008, 3 by baptism, 3 by transfer. Pictured are (l–r) Troy Underwood (b), Bruce Tetrault (t), Karen Tetrault (t), Lisa Ego (t), Ryan Rempel (b), Drew Bergen (b).
Greendale MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C., welcomed 3 new members by baptism June 14, 2009: Hannah Rast, Kendra Kirkwood, Coral Beecham.
South Abbotsford Church, Abbotsford, B.C., welcomed 10 new members May 10, 2009, 5 by baptism, 5 by transfer/testimony. Pictured above are (back, l–r) pastor Ed Balzer, pastor Graham Schultz, pastor Dan Nicholson, (middle) Amy Buhler (t), Adiena Loewen (t), Rudy Loewen (t), Adrian Presnilla (b), Rachel Fast (b), (front) Lucas Klassen (b), Paul Sahota (b), Elise Thiessen (b), Victoria Loewen (t). (Elise Thiessen was baptized July 5, 2009.) Pictured below are (back, l–r) pastor Ed Balzer, pastor Harinder Sahota, pastor Graham Schultz, (front) Amanpreet Sahota (b), Mandeep Lakhesar (t), deacon Marilyn Schroeder.
Richmond Park MB Church, Brandon, Man., welcomed 1 new member by baptism May 17, 2009. Angie Nickel is pictured with pastor Dave Ens.
Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., welcomed 9 new members by baptism May 31, 2009. Pictured are (back, l-r) Darren Suderman, Mike Nelson, Eric Strom, Jannelle Dyck, Josh Clark, (front) Carly Nelson, Steve Emard, Rod Rafter, Natasha Busch.
Kelowna (B.C.) Gospel Fellowship Church welcomed 11 new members, May 3, 2009, 3 by baptism. Pictured are (back, l–r) Allison Engel, pastor Mike Penninga, Tina Wiens (b), Shea Nicholson, Steve Van Strien (b), Peter Kroeker, (front) Kyle Ward, Justina Ward, Lindsay Nicholson (b), Colleen Enns, Lillian Kroeker, Stacey Loewen, pastor Kevin Loewen.
Vauxhall (Alta.) MB Church welcomed 5 new members June 7, 2009, 3 by baptism, 2 by transfer. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Elroy Senneker, Melodie Wiebe (b), April Senneker (b), Cassandra Olfert (b), Wanda Melnychuk (t), Dana Wall (t).
Northside Community Church, Mission, B.C., welcomed 9 new members May 31, 5 by baptism, 4 by testimony: Paul Algra (t), Lindsay Algra (t), Gerald Dyck (t), Margaret Dyck (b), Laura McDougal (t), Darrell Morrow (b), Stephanie Morrow (b), Robert Pugh (b), Timothy Stockbrugger (b).
South Abbotsford Church, Abbotsford, B.C., welcomed 2 new members July 5, 2009. Pictured are (back, l–r): pastor Ed Balzer, pastor Graham Schultz, (front) deacon Anne Dyck, Lindsey Horner (b), deacon Nettie Regehr. Missing: Elise Thiessen (b).
Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church welcomed 2 new members by baptism June 7, 2009. Pictured are (l–r) pastor Randy Dueck, Tracy Bartel, Tannis Chartier, pastor Bob Klassen.
Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., welcomed 4 new members June 7, 2009, 1 by baptism, 3 by confession of faith: (left) Harley Loewen (b), Susan Rafter (cf), Andy Wittenberg (cf), Alexa Wittenberg (cf).
