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Former Mennonite Central Committee worker George Klassen of Carman, Man., stands with the rower pump he designed. The rower pump was one of the items making up the Innovation Canada exhibition that opened July 1 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. Klassen worked with MCC in Bangladesh as an agricultural engineer in the 1970s. In 1977 he was asked to design a better pump to increase irrigation. At a cost of about $15, the pump features few parts, is made locally and is easily maintained. Farmers can often recover their expenses in one season with irrigation profits from half an acre. Irrigation makes it possible for Bangladesh farmers to harvest an additional crop during the dry season. At least 40,000 rower pumps are currently in use.
On Sept. 1 Ken and Joan Braun were invited to begin serving as lead pastor couple at Hyde Creek Community Church in Port Coquitlam, B.C. They previously served as associate pastor couple at North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John, B.C. 1993–2002. Ken has a B.A. in biblical studies and a Masters of Christian Education from Providence Bible College and Seminary in Otterburne, Man. The Brauns have three children: Nolan, 6, Aiden, 4, and Ethan, 2 months.
On Sept. 1, Heinz and Edith Ratzlaff were installed as lead pastor couple of Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. They had served as associate pastor couple at the church since Jan. 1, 2002. Outgoing interim lead pastor Jay Neufeld led the installation service, and Art Isaac (church moderator) and Myrna DeFehr (wife of associate pastor Eldon DeFehr) prayed the prayers of dedication.
On Sept. 22 at 5:00 p.m., Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. held an appreciation/retirement party for pastor Jay and Kay Neufeld, who have served the church for almost nine years. Originally they came to be associate pastor couple, and they had planned to retire at the end of 2001, but after the sudden passing of lead pastor Peter J. Klassen on June 10, 2001, they were asked to assume the role of lead pastor couple until a replacement could be found. In fall 2001, Jay had cancer surgery, but many prayers were answered and he was able to continue in ministry. The Neufelds plan to remain members of the church and to continue ministering through preaching and music. Kay has served as church organist and accompanist of the German choir.
Rod and Adeline Willems will become associate pastor couple at North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John, B.C. in mid-November. Rod has a B.R.E from MB Bible College in Winnipeg and has studied for one-and-a-half years at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. He has served as intern associate/youth pastor at Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church for a year, as part-time pastor of evangelism at Bethany MB Church in Fresno, as director of Redberry Bible Camp near Waldheim, Sask. and as associate/youth pastor at North Langley Community Church in Langley, B.C. for two years. For the past seven years he has been working in an agribusiness in Outlook, Sask. Adeline has worked in the office of MBMS International in Winnipeg for two years, as a receptionist/secretary at MB Biblical Seminary, as a secretary at Redberry Bible Camp and as an elementary school teacher’s aide in Outlook. The Willemses have one son, Ben, 10.
Dan and Trina Glover began serving as interim youth pastor couple at North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John, B.C. on Aug. 1. Dan has a B.R.E. from Peace River Bible Institute in Sexsmith, Alta. He served as an assistant faculty apprentice at PRBI for a year and also started a youth group in Spirit River, Alta. on a voluntary basis. He has worked in the oilfields for two years, done tree-planting for three summers, worked at Home Hardware in Spirit River, done landscape contracting for three years and managed a specialty coffee shop in Grand Prairie, Alta. for seven months. Trina has a Bachelor of Church Ministries degree from PRBI.
Phillip Hung Nguyen has been appointed pastor of care of Vietnamese MB Church of Love in Vancouver. This is a part-time position; he is also seeking other employment. The church was founded and led by pastor Camloc Lee, who suffered a stroke some years ago and is now retired. Current attendance is about 23. Nguyen escaped from Vietnam in 1985, served as a preacher in a refugee camp in Thailand for two-and-a-half years, was Sunday school superintendent at Vietnamese Alliance Church in Edmonton for 10 years, has been lay pastor and senior high youth sponsor at Vietnamese Mennonite Church in Edmonton for the past five years, served with Youth With A Mission connecting with house churches in Vietnam for two months and has worked as a quality assurance inspector at Inventronics in Edmonton. He has a diploma in computer engineering technology from NAIT in Edmonton and has studied at North American Bible College in Edmonton for a-year-and-a-half. He and his wife Trang have a daughter, Stephanie, 3.
Brian and Carly Fedyshen began serving as youth pastor couple at Maple Ridge (B.C.) Community Church on Sept. 1. Brian had completed a one-year internship with the church in April. Following that, they both attended Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School and completed a two-month mission experience in Estonia and Latvia. Brian has an undergraduate degree in political science, and Carly has an undergraduate degree in art history, both from the University of British Columbia. Prior to their internship, Brian and Carly had been volunteer youth workers.
Forty-five people participated in a SALT (Serving And Learning Together) and YIP (Youth Internship Program) orientation at Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pa. Aug. 17–23. Both are one-year MCC programs for young adults interested in living, learning and working overseas. Charles Brake of Winnipeg is beginning a one-year assignment in Ukraine. He graduated from Oak Park High School in Winnipeg, was last employed as a landscaper for T&T Seeds and is a member of Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg. Grace Low of Saskatoon is beginning a one-year assignment at a women’s centre in Jamaica. She has a degree in biblical studies from Bethany Bible Institute (now Bethany College) in Hepburn, Sask. and was last employed as a residence dean for Bethany Bible Institute. She attends Living Hope Church in Saskatoon.
Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.
On September 22, pastor Jay Neufeld baptized Jacob Reimer and welcomed him into the membership of Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C.
Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C. welcomed 34 new members recently, 26 by baptism and 8 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Duane Martens (b), Ryan Kroeker (b), Lindsay Maier (b), Robbie Maier (b), Clint Gruenier (b), Kate Grams (b), Lory Bloomquist (b), Monica Willard (b), Brock Busby (b), Dean Arnold (b), Beth Myers (b), Cindy Pearson (b), Colleen Sworak (b), Mike Vasko (cf), Tracy Vasko (b), Jan Mills (cf), Martin Mills (cf); (middle) Danielle Jantzen (b), Lori Demers (b), Robyn Janzen (b), Andrea Campbell (b), Wendy Stone (b), James Mayers (b), Marci Bodner (b), Elisabeth Tanner (cf), Tanya Cochrane (cf); (front) Ali Kalis (b), Sara Kroeker (b), Kelsey Neufeld (b), Joelle Burch (b) and Lesley Demers (b). Not pictured are John Aron (cf), Lynn Coburn (cf) and Dave Shaw (cf).
Orchard Park Bible Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. welcomed 9 new members Apr. 14, 8 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Craig Stilson (b), Alison Stilson (b), Rachel Bice (b), John Neufeld (b); (front) Jennifer Janzen (b), Laura Heinrichs (b), Angela Van Berkel (b), Phil Powless (b) and pastor Ray Russell. Not pictured is Rachel Andres (cf).
Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Church welcomed 3 new members June 2 by baptism. Pictured are (l-r) Cheryl Melney, Hope Vion, Troy Cairns and pastor Henry Wiebe.
Boissevain (Man.) MB Church welcomed 6 new members by baptism June 23 at Camp Koinonia. Pictured are (l-r) youth worker Geoff Unrau, KC Guenther, Mike Peters, Daniel Waldron, Darren Peters, youth worker Kelly Unrau, Carla Dueck, Rachel Warner and pastor Tom Warner.
Fraserview MB Church in Richmond, B.C. welcomed 2 new members June 23 by baptism. Pictured are (l-r) David Leahy, pastor Dan Unrau and Daryl Wilson.
Fraserview MB Church in Richmond, B.C. welcomed 2 new members July 14 by baptism. Pictured are (l-r) Glenda Cooper, pastor Dan Unrau and Adrienne Jolly.
Port Rowan (Ont.) MB Church welcomed 8 new members June 23, 7 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) pastor Sandy Young, Roberta MacIsaac (cf), Lisa Born (b), Kathy Burrill (b); (front) Kim Owens (b), Andrew Vranckx (b), Charity Born (b), Melissa Vranckx (b) and Adam Teigrob (b).
Evergreen Heights Christian Fellowship in Simcoe, Ont. welcomed 11 new members June 30, 8 by baptism and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Adel MacKay (b), pastor Richard Martens, Bethany Kordyjaka (b), Allen Klassen (b), Matthew Breedyk (b), Bonny Shellington (cf), Tammera Gladu (cf); (front) Judy Schipper (b), Ron Baguley (b), Lorna Baguley (b) and Chris Batty (b). Not pictured is Dan Conboy (cf).
Vauxhall (Alta.) MB Church welcomed 9 new members June 16, 7 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) Gordon Packer (cf), Connie Packer (cf), pastor Aaron Stout, Tracy Pepneck (b), Emily Unruh (b), Chelsea Lamond (b), pastor Mark Siebert, Avery Unruh (b), Anna Miller (b), Candace Olfert (b), pastor Bill Glasspell and Seth Unruh (b).
Parliament Community Church in Regina welcomed 4 new members June 9, 2 by baptism and 2 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) Jonathan Schmidt (cf), Steve Wilde (b), pastor Philip Gunther, Karen Crane (cf) and Don Crane (b).
Eastview Community Church in Winnipeg welcomed 3 new members by baptism June 2. Pictured are (l-r) Ted Monk (b), pastor Lorne Pearson, Cory Bell (b), pastoral apprentice Thom Dick, Laurelle Froese (b) and pastor Steve Dick.
St. Ann’s (Ont.) Community Church welcomed 2 new members by baptism June 9. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Mike Hotson, Ricky Hotson (b), Paul Stephenson (b) and church moderator/elder Martin Durksen.
Orchard Park Bible Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. welcomed 10 new members June 23, 7 by baptism and 3 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) Kevin Wall (cf), Audrey Wall (cf), Cherie Veenendaal (b), Joanne Powless (cf), Adam Epp (b), pastor Ray Russell; (front) Karen Epp (b), Jackie Neufeld (b), Michelle Ens (b), Heidi Dick (b), Rachel Andres (cf) (Apr. 14) and Christine Janzen (b).
Manitou (Man.) MB Church welcomed 10 new members June 16, 5 by baptism and 5 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l-r) Peter Fehr (b), Andy Grumbo (b), Jason Dueck (b), Heather Konrad (t), Marvin Dueck (t); (front) Debbie Fehr (b), Liz Grumbo (b), Mike Fehr (t), Diane Fehr (t), Marilyn Dueck (t) and pastor John Nikkel.
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Last modified November 21, 2002.
© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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