News
Blaine Lake MBs increasingly appetizing
New director for Centre of MB Studies appointed
Ultra-marathoner quits job for Kenyan street kids
Five Questions
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Blaine Lake MBs increasingly appetizing
Small towns around Saskatoon affected by boom
With Saskatoon predicted to double in size by 2020 due to the development of oil fields and mines, small towns like Blaine Lake 80 km away are heading for a change.
“With the boom, the atmosphere is different,” says Gerry Epp, who’s pastored Blaine Lake’s Gospel Chapel for the last 24 years. He and his wife Eleanor have been a constant presence in the town of mostly Russian and Ukrainian nationality.
“There are no houses and no lots left to buy in these communities,” says Vivian Nemish, a reporter who covers Hague, Hepburn, Osler, and Waldheim areas for Valley News. While husbands often fly off to diamond, uranium, or gold mines for weeks at a time, children and mothers are left with the comfort of quiet homes.
Gerry and Eleanor, almost at marathon numbers in their ministry, say their work of building relationships is slowly producing fruit. “When we first came we had an attendance of maybe 14. I’d say it took 12 years for the people to start trusting us here.”
Now with an average of 60 to 70 in attendance, Blaine Lake Gospel Chapel is building a fellowship hall with kitchen and a large room for youth in the new basement.
“Last summer, we had 40 children from our community in our VBS. And the new facility gave us lots of room to accommodate the different stations.” says Epp. For some children it’s the only Englishspeaking church program available.
“The building project is vital to the community,” says Nemish, who attends a Ukrainian Catholic Church. “The Mennonites are the ones that are expanding.”
As the only evangelical church in the neighbourhood, part of the trust comes from the fact that both Gerry and Eleanor work at jobs outside the church as well: Gerry with developmentally disabled people in Waldheim and Eleanor teaching piano. “I always say to my kids – ‘that’s where you go if you need help,’” says Nemish, of the Epps.
The community-oriented Gospel Chapel has a strong sense of fellowship, and you can find 30 people after the service still visiting or sharing a potluck. Conference minister Ralph Gliege calls the church “one cell group.”
Lately, they’ve been holding a successful gourmet dinner series as a fundraiser for the expansion, as well as selling cookbooks. They also have special events in their church open to the community like a Valentine’s supper, Mother’s Day brunch, men’s breakfasts, and Christmas hampers, to name a few.
With the new influx of families, Blaine Lake is not the only one to see a resurgence of interest in church. Nemish says attitudes are changing. “People are finding it an important part of their life now.” —AS
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New director for Centre for MB Studies appointed
Doug Heidebrecht has been appointed as the new director for the Centre for MB Studies, a ministry of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. Heidebrecht will replace Ken Reddig, who earlier this year announced his retirement, effective June 2008.
The Centre serves the Canadian conference through preserving historical records and telling past and present discipleship stories of the Mennonite Brethren, and will become more intentional in engaging dialogue around the issues facing the church today.
Heidebrecht is no stranger to the conference. He has served on the faculty of Bethany College in Hepburn, Sask. for the past 15 years, teaching Old and New Testament studies; worked with the Board of Faith and Life recently on the topic of women in ministry leadership; and served as communications board chair and member for eight years.
Heidebrecht is “passionate about engaging people in theological and historical conversations at a practical level,” says Cam Rowland, director of communications. “His gift of teaching people and helping them think critically about what they believe will be an asset to the Centre and conference.”
Together with his wife, Sherry, with whom he has two adult children, Heidebrecht will be moving from Saskatchewan to Winnipeg this summer.
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Ultra-marathoner quits job for Kenyan street kids
Since Kenya’s civil unrest early this year, inflation has risen to 19 ercent, making the urchase of basic goods a nightmare for residents and over-crowded refugee cam s. In res onse, a Canadian businessman is quitting his job to raise funds for an or hanage based in Nairobi.
Winnipeg’s Arvid Loewen from North Kildonan MB Church will enter Race Across America (RAAM) in June, one of North America’s toughest cycling ultra-marathons, stretching more than 3,000 miles from California to Maryland.
In 2005, Loewen cycled from B.C. to Halifax on a tandem bicycle, s ecially constructed with a non- edaling seat in the back for three or hans from the Mully Children’s Foundation (MCF), an organization that rescues street kids in Nairobi.
“I have always had a heart for children. A few years ago God ointed me in the direction of MCF. Everything I have seen and heard about MCF motivates me to be ersonally involved and give others the same opportunity.”
MCF’s director, Charles Mulli (sic), was abused and abandoned as a child in Kenya and barely managed to survive. He gave his life to Christ as a teenager, started businesses as an adult, and became a multi-millionaire. Then God called him to sell all he had to rescue street children. Mulli was obedient to that call, and today MCF cares for more than 600 children.
Loewen’s fundraising efforts have come at a well-a ointed time. “There has been dis lacement of hundreds of thousands of families,” says Mulli, “including relatives of children at MCF. Some have been killed, leading the children to suffer ost-traumatic stress.”
Loewen says he’s willing to enter the race for these children, a race that fewer than 200 eo le have ever finished in its 26-year history. “RAAM is a com letely different category. There is nothing that I have done in the ast that is even close to the hysical and mental demands of RAAM.”
Both Mulli and Loewen have given everything to reach street children in Kenya with the love of Jesus Christ. They are exam les of what it means to give the way Jesus wants us to give. To give without limit.
Donations can be made at www.sokeimact.com or www.mullychildrensfamily.org.
New director for Centre of MB Studies appointed
Ultra-marathoner quits job for Kenyan street kids
Five Questions
____________________________________________________________________
Blaine Lake MBs increasingly appetizing
Small towns around Saskatoon affected by boom
With Saskatoon predicted to double in size by 2020 due to the development of oil fields and mines, small towns like Blaine Lake 80 km away are heading for a change.
“With the boom, the atmosphere is different,” says Gerry Epp, who’s pastored Blaine Lake’s Gospel Chapel for the last 24 years. He and his wife Eleanor have been a constant presence in the town of mostly Russian and Ukrainian nationality.
“There are no houses and no lots left to buy in these communities,” says Vivian Nemish, a reporter who covers Hague, Hepburn, Osler, and Waldheim areas for Valley News. While husbands often fly off to diamond, uranium, or gold mines for weeks at a time, children and mothers are left with the comfort of quiet homes.
Gerry and Eleanor, almost at marathon numbers in their ministry, say their work of building relationships is slowly producing fruit. “When we first came we had an attendance of maybe 14. I’d say it took 12 years for the people to start trusting us here.”
Now with an average of 60 to 70 in attendance, Blaine Lake Gospel Chapel is building a fellowship hall with kitchen and a large room for youth in the new basement.
“Last summer, we had 40 children from our community in our VBS. And the new facility gave us lots of room to accommodate the different stations.” says Epp. For some children it’s the only Englishspeaking church program available.
“The building project is vital to the community,” says Nemish, who attends a Ukrainian Catholic Church. “The Mennonites are the ones that are expanding.”
As the only evangelical church in the neighbourhood, part of the trust comes from the fact that both Gerry and Eleanor work at jobs outside the church as well: Gerry with developmentally disabled people in Waldheim and Eleanor teaching piano. “I always say to my kids – ‘that’s where you go if you need help,’” says Nemish, of the Epps.
The community-oriented Gospel Chapel has a strong sense of fellowship, and you can find 30 people after the service still visiting or sharing a potluck. Conference minister Ralph Gliege calls the church “one cell group.”
Lately, they’ve been holding a successful gourmet dinner series as a fundraiser for the expansion, as well as selling cookbooks. They also have special events in their church open to the community like a Valentine’s supper, Mother’s Day brunch, men’s breakfasts, and Christmas hampers, to name a few.
With the new influx of families, Blaine Lake is not the only one to see a resurgence of interest in church. Nemish says attitudes are changing. “People are finding it an important part of their life now.” —AS
____________________________________________________________________
New director for Centre for MB Studies appointed
Doug Heidebrecht has been appointed as the new director for the Centre for MB Studies, a ministry of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. Heidebrecht will replace Ken Reddig, who earlier this year announced his retirement, effective June 2008.The Centre serves the Canadian conference through preserving historical records and telling past and present discipleship stories of the Mennonite Brethren, and will become more intentional in engaging dialogue around the issues facing the church today.
Heidebrecht is no stranger to the conference. He has served on the faculty of Bethany College in Hepburn, Sask. for the past 15 years, teaching Old and New Testament studies; worked with the Board of Faith and Life recently on the topic of women in ministry leadership; and served as communications board chair and member for eight years.
Heidebrecht is “passionate about engaging people in theological and historical conversations at a practical level,” says Cam Rowland, director of communications. “His gift of teaching people and helping them think critically about what they believe will be an asset to the Centre and conference.”
Together with his wife, Sherry, with whom he has two adult children, Heidebrecht will be moving from Saskatchewan to Winnipeg this summer.
____________________________________________________________________
Ultra-marathoner quits job for Kenyan street kids
Since Kenya’s civil unrest early this year, inflation has risen to 19 ercent, making the urchase of basic goods a nightmare for residents and over-crowded refugee cam s. In res onse, a Canadian businessman is quitting his job to raise funds for an or hanage based in Nairobi.
Winnipeg’s Arvid Loewen from North Kildonan MB Church will enter Race Across America (RAAM) in June, one of North America’s toughest cycling ultra-marathons, stretching more than 3,000 miles from California to Maryland.
In 2005, Loewen cycled from B.C. to Halifax on a tandem bicycle, s ecially constructed with a non- edaling seat in the back for three or hans from the Mully Children’s Foundation (MCF), an organization that rescues street kids in Nairobi.
“I have always had a heart for children. A few years ago God ointed me in the direction of MCF. Everything I have seen and heard about MCF motivates me to be ersonally involved and give others the same opportunity.”
MCF’s director, Charles Mulli (sic), was abused and abandoned as a child in Kenya and barely managed to survive. He gave his life to Christ as a teenager, started businesses as an adult, and became a multi-millionaire. Then God called him to sell all he had to rescue street children. Mulli was obedient to that call, and today MCF cares for more than 600 children.
Loewen’s fundraising efforts have come at a well-a ointed time. “There has been dis lacement of hundreds of thousands of families,” says Mulli, “including relatives of children at MCF. Some have been killed, leading the children to suffer ost-traumatic stress.”
Loewen says he’s willing to enter the race for these children, a race that fewer than 200 eo le have ever finished in its 26-year history. “RAAM is a com letely different category. There is nothing that I have done in the ast that is even close to the hysical and mental demands of RAAM.”
Both Mulli and Loewen have given everything to reach street children in Kenya with the love of Jesus Christ. They are exam les of what it means to give the way Jesus wants us to give. To give without limit.
Donations can be made at www.sokeimact.com or www.mullychildrensfamily.org.
—Paul Boge is the author of Father to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story
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Five Questions
Church: Esperanza Multicultural Church
Pastor: Daniel Bongarra
Location: Burnaby, B.C.
What's your church mission statement?
We are followers of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and guided by God’s Word to minister together. We are committed to honouring God through worship, personal lifestyle, caring for one another, equipping one another for ministry, and communicating God’s love to the world.
What makes your church unique?
We work to reach the Hispanic community. I don’t believe in traditional church structures – our services are very warm and engaging for new people. I preach practical, contemporary sermons. Everyone in the church is part of the family. We have a radio program for the Latino community that even Catholics and non-religious people listen to (Buenos Dias Vancouver on 96.1 FM – Mon., Wed., Fri. 7–8 am). It has news, music, interviews, brief sermons, and incoming calls. That means I’m not just working for one church.
What was a defining moment for your congregation?
Our church came from a very conservative model. In July 2006, I encouraged members to get out and serve in different areas, and since then, things have been very different.
If you could choose a famous Christian to come and speak, who would it be?
Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, or John Stott.
What would your neighbours miss about you if you left your community today?
Since our members come from all different neighbourhoods and Latino communities around Burnaby, that’s hard to say. Only about 10 percent come from this specific area. www.esperanzachurch.org
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____________________________________________________________________
Five Questions
Church: Esperanza Multicultural ChurchPastor: Daniel Bongarra
Location: Burnaby, B.C.
What's your church mission statement?
We are followers of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and guided by God’s Word to minister together. We are committed to honouring God through worship, personal lifestyle, caring for one another, equipping one another for ministry, and communicating God’s love to the world.
What makes your church unique?
We work to reach the Hispanic community. I don’t believe in traditional church structures – our services are very warm and engaging for new people. I preach practical, contemporary sermons. Everyone in the church is part of the family. We have a radio program for the Latino community that even Catholics and non-religious people listen to (Buenos Dias Vancouver on 96.1 FM – Mon., Wed., Fri. 7–8 am). It has news, music, interviews, brief sermons, and incoming calls. That means I’m not just working for one church.
What was a defining moment for your congregation?
Our church came from a very conservative model. In July 2006, I encouraged members to get out and serve in different areas, and since then, things have been very different.
If you could choose a famous Christian to come and speak, who would it be?
Tony Campolo, Brian McLaren, or John Stott.
What would your neighbours miss about you if you left your community today?
Since our members come from all different neighbourhoods and Latino communities around Burnaby, that’s hard to say. Only about 10 percent come from this specific area. www.esperanzachurch.org
