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The Canadian Conference of MB Churches (CCMBC), together with the Quebec MB conference (L’Association des Églises des frères mennonites du Québec – AEFMQ), is deeply saddened to announce the sudden death of Éric Wingender, 54, vice-president and professor of theology at ETEM (École de Théologie Évangélique de Montréal). Éric succumbed to a massive heart attack on Oct. 5.
“The evangelical world has lost a great man, known for his exceptional ability to contextualize the Christian faith within Quebec culture, and his bold vision for a re-engineered church in Quebec,” says Gilles Dextraze, executive director of AEFMQ. “Higher education has lost a pillar and thinker. And his family has lost a dear husband, father, brother, and son.”
“He so loved to teach!” says Jean Martin, director of Institut Biblique V.I.E., and academic dean at IBVIE and ETEM. “For many years, Éric contributed directly to the transformation of men and women called to live out the gospel in word and action among the Quebec people he so cared for.”
Wingender received an MDiv in pastoral studies from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Cal., and served as pastor of the MB church in Ste-Rose, Que., from 1988–1990. He joined the faculty of ETEM in 1996.
The Canadian and Quebec conferences express deepest condolences to Éric’s wife Farrah, and their three sons Jean-François, Sydney, and Spencer.
A funeral was held Oct. 15 at St. James The Apostle Church, Montreal. Donations may be made to ETEM, designated to the Éric Wingender Foundation.
—Canadian Conference of MB Churches news release.
Go to doradueck.wordpress.com for an online tribute, or send condolences to info@etem.ca.
Lee Francois felt that Vancouver’s Willingdon Church was always his secure spiritual home. He came to faith there. For 13 years, he served as a pastor there. His wife Ilona felt the same.
But they gave it up for Crossridge, a new plant they spearheaded in Surrey, B.C., southeast of Vancouver. Its first service was held Sept. 25, 2011.
Lee and Ilona moved to Surrey 10 years ago. They quickly became active in neighbourhood life: coaching ball and involving themselves with others. Bit by bit, they “started to get a heart for Surrey.” Finally, convinced it was a call from God, they talked first to the elders at Willingdon, then to Church Planting BC, about starting a church near their home.
But the harder they looked, the more they couldn’t see! There was nowhere they could meet, no suitable premises to rent. “We thought we had everything figured out scientifically,” says Francois, “but it came to nothing.” By July 2011, their stress had increased because they knew they needed to start in September.
Just five kilometres to the east is Cloverdale, business heart of the sprawling municipality of Surrey. One of its historic buildings, dating to the 1940s, is the Clova Theatre, still in business, with a seating capacity of 300 people.
They approached the theatre manager directly, and he said, “Yes! I’ve been waiting for a church to call.” He agreed to the few needed space adjustments. Just across the street was a perfect place for Sunday school – the Cloverdale Learning Centre, a building with many classrooms, and a positive attitude toward renters.
Throughout the process, Lee, Ilona, and the two other Willingdon pastors who shared in the project (Andy Frew, now Crossridge associate pastor, and Rebecca Withrow, now children’s deacon) met with supporters each month for six months to talk about vision and mission and the detail of starting up a church from scratch.
It was time. Augmented by well-wishers from Willingdon, 200 adults and about 60 kids attended the first service. The next week, 110 adults and 45 young people came – far more than the team had expected.
“I’m not a prototypical church planter,” Francois says. “God did a work in me, and in all of us, to get us here.”
Lee and Ilona Francois worried about how their four children would accept the change, but stopped when their oldest, Josh, age 11, asked, “Dad, do I get to help?”—BMc
 2011 Nov. 3–6: “Enduring Values: Lasting Impact,” Business as a Calling MEDA convention, Lancaster, Pa. Nov. 15–17: Church Planting Congress, Calvary Temple, Winnipeg. Nov. 26–27: Christmas @ CMU, Winnipeg. 2012 Feb. 15–17: Pastors Credentialing Orientation, Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, Ont. Feb. 17–18: ONMB convention Feb. 29: Church Works Conference, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C. Mar. 2–3: MBCM convention, North Kildonan MB Church, Winnipeg. Mar. 16–17: ABMB convention, Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church. May 4–5: BCMB convention June 6–8: Pastors Credentialing Orientation, MBBS-ACTS, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. July 11–14: Gathering 2012, Winnipeg. .jpg){kind=small} |
