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Quebec volunteers put the pieces together
“It gives me a lot of joy to do this,” says Manon Desjardins, a volunteer in the MCC Quebec material resource centre in suburban Montreal, as she knots quilts. “Maybe someday I will work in an orphanage, but for now I’m touching a little part of my dream.”
In 2009, MCC Quebec expanded its material resource centre – now located on the second floor of Église Chrétienne Évangélique de Saint-Eustache – to provide space for congregations to work together to make blankets and assist with preparation of MCC kits. Currently, all volunteers are from the Saint-Eustache (MB) church.
Jeanne-Mance Bolduc began coming to the work sessions because she wanted to learn how to sew.
Marie Marthe St. Cyr first came to Canada as a visitor from Haiti in 1980 and became a permanent resident of Canada in 1986. “I do this because I want to send something to people in poor countries,” she says.
The French expression, rendre l’utile à l’agréable, guides Johanne Rochon’s thinking when she sews blankets for people in need. “It has to be nice and useful at the same time,” says the retired school teacher.
Woodrow (Sask.) Gospel Chapel celebrated 100 years June 26–27.
Congregation started by Mennonite immigrants from North Dakota.
Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church celebrated 100 years July 30–Aug. 2.
Congregation started by Mennonite immigrants from Nebraska.
Kelstern Community Church, Hodgeville, Sask., celebrated 100 years July 3–4.
Originally Elim MB Church of Kelstern; merged with Gnadenau MB Church at Flowing Well, Sask., in 1968.
Fourth Avenue Bible Church, Niverville, Man., celebrated 80 years May 2.
Initially, MB and General Conference Mennonite immigrants from Ukraine met together. A building for Niverville MB Church was constructed in the 1940s.
Black Creek MB Church celebrated 75 years July 30–Aug. 1.
Formally organized on Jan. 6, 1935, Black Creek MB Church was established exactly 75 years after the birth of the MB church in Russia.
Click here to read a brief history of the Black Creek church, prepared by the anniversary commission.
Kelowna (B.C.) Gospel Fellowship celebrates 50 years Oct. 8–10.
Begun as a Mennonite Church Canada congregation, Kelowna Gospel Fellowship migrated to the MB family in 2004.
Name: Daniel Beutler
Position: BFL secretary; Alberta conference executive director
Church: New Hope Community Church, Calgary
Family: married to Maureen, 2 children
Why I think theology is important: Our understanding of the significance of the gospel we proclaim is to transform the way we live.
Name: Jean Bieri
Position: Quebec representative
On the board since: 2008
Profession: lecturer and dean at ETEM, editor of Le Lien
Church: Église Chrétienne de Saint-Laurent, Montreal
Why I think theology is important: Because it allows us to have a deeper understanding of the things of God and helps us to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Name: Brian Cooper
Position: Vice chair, B.C. rep
Profession: pastor of family ministries at Northside Community Church, Mission, B.C., and adjunct professor at MBBS-ACTS
Family: married to Connie, 2 children
Most important theological issue facing MBs today: We need to understand how we read Scripture. We do not escape theology when we read the Bible; we need to do theology well so we can read Scripture well.
Name: Pierre Gilbert
Position: MBBS rep
Profession: Associate professor of biblical studies and theology at CMU and MB Biblical Seminary, program coordinator at Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies
Church: Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg
Family: married to Monika, 3 adult children
Why I think theology is important: Good theology is faithful to Scripture. It sheds light on the ideological aberrations of our culture. It is therefore always polemical. It seeks to persuade those who embrace the lies inherent to human ideologies to turn to the Truth we have received in Jesus Christ.
Name: John Willems
Position: Alberta rep
Profession: pastor at Crestwood MB Church, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Family: married to Blenda, 4 adult children
Most important theological issue facing MBs today: Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Cabinet shuffle: Vidya Narimalla has moved from vice chair to chair of the BFL; Brian Cooper is now vice chair.
“It gives me a lot of joy to do this,” says Manon Desjardins, a volunteer in the MCC Quebec material resource centre in suburban Montreal, as she knots quilts. “Maybe someday I will work in an orphanage, but for now I’m touching a little part of my dream.”
In 2009, MCC Quebec expanded its material resource centre – now located on the second floor of Église Chrétienne Évangélique de Saint-Eustache – to provide space for congregations to work together to make blankets and assist with preparation of MCC kits. Currently, all volunteers are from the Saint-Eustache (MB) church.
Jeanne-Mance Bolduc began coming to the work sessions because she wanted to learn how to sew.
Marie Marthe St. Cyr first came to Canada as a visitor from Haiti in 1980 and became a permanent resident of Canada in 1986. “I do this because I want to send something to people in poor countries,” she says.
The French expression, rendre l’utile à l’agréable, guides Johanne Rochon’s thinking when she sews blankets for people in need. “It has to be nice and useful at the same time,” says the retired school teacher.
—Gladys Terichow, MCC Canada
Woodrow (Sask.) Gospel Chapel celebrated 100 years June 26–27. Congregation started by Mennonite immigrants from North Dakota.
Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church celebrated 100 years July 30–Aug. 2.
Congregation started by Mennonite immigrants from Nebraska.
Kelstern Community Church, Hodgeville, Sask., celebrated 100 years July 3–4.
Originally Elim MB Church of Kelstern; merged with Gnadenau MB Church at Flowing Well, Sask., in 1968.
Fourth Avenue Bible Church, Niverville, Man., celebrated 80 years May 2.
Initially, MB and General Conference Mennonite immigrants from Ukraine met together. A building for Niverville MB Church was constructed in the 1940s.
Black Creek MB Church celebrated 75 years July 30–Aug. 1.
Formally organized on Jan. 6, 1935, Black Creek MB Church was established exactly 75 years after the birth of the MB church in Russia.
Click here to read a brief history of the Black Creek church, prepared by the anniversary commission.
Kelowna (B.C.) Gospel Fellowship celebrates 50 years Oct. 8–10.
Begun as a Mennonite Church Canada congregation, Kelowna Gospel Fellowship migrated to the MB family in 2004.
The board of faith and life (BFL) provides spiritual guidance and direction in matters of faith, theology, ethics, and Christian living, and upholds biblical and ethical integrity through the MB Confession of Faith. The BFL also provides resources (e.g. pamphlet series) and events (e.g. study conferences and pastors credentialing orientation).—Eds.
Name: Daniel Beutler
Position: BFL secretary; Alberta conference executive director
Church: New Hope Community Church, Calgary
Family: married to Maureen, 2 children
Why I think theology is important: Our understanding of the significance of the gospel we proclaim is to transform the way we live.
Name: Jean BieriPosition: Quebec representative
On the board since: 2008
Profession: lecturer and dean at ETEM, editor of Le Lien
Church: Église Chrétienne de Saint-Laurent, Montreal
Why I think theology is important: Because it allows us to have a deeper understanding of the things of God and helps us to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Name: Brian CooperPosition: Vice chair, B.C. rep
Profession: pastor of family ministries at Northside Community Church, Mission, B.C., and adjunct professor at MBBS-ACTS
Family: married to Connie, 2 children
Most important theological issue facing MBs today: We need to understand how we read Scripture. We do not escape theology when we read the Bible; we need to do theology well so we can read Scripture well.
Name: Pierre GilbertPosition: MBBS rep
Profession: Associate professor of biblical studies and theology at CMU and MB Biblical Seminary, program coordinator at Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies
Church: Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg
Family: married to Monika, 3 adult children
Why I think theology is important: Good theology is faithful to Scripture. It sheds light on the ideological aberrations of our culture. It is therefore always polemical. It seeks to persuade those who embrace the lies inherent to human ideologies to turn to the Truth we have received in Jesus Christ.
Name: John WillemsPosition: Alberta rep
Profession: pastor at Crestwood MB Church, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Family: married to Blenda, 4 adult children
Most important theological issue facing MBs today: Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Cabinet shuffle: Vidya Narimalla has moved from vice chair to chair of the BFL; Brian Cooper is now vice chair.
