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Winnipeg, Man.
New hats for MBC/Family Life Network staff


At MB Communications/Family Life Network, several staff stepped into the year 2000 wearing new hats. As of January 1, Delbert Enns is executive director, David Balzer is associate director and Dorothy Siebert is publications manager. Lorlie Barkman joins the staff as ministries representative.

Enns Balzer Siebert Barkman

Enns is committed to building a creative staff unified in its passion for God. “At Family Life Network we’re not ashamed of spiritual and moral absolutes” he says. “We’re saying that people matter to God and that people need an encounter with God. In our post-modern world, people are asking what do you believe in? So I say, take the risk, let’s share what God can do. Let’s not waste time on discussing issues.”

A believer in fasting and prayer, Enns says, “Like Nehemiah who wept over Jerusalem’s broken walls, we as a staff are overcome with passion for people who live without the security of spiritual walls and gates in their lives. We want to work together with local churches to give dignity to each person while offering life in Christ.”

Associate director David Balzer is also continuing as English program producer, a role he’s held since June 1997. Besides the responsibility for two weekly radio programs (“Connecting Points” and “GodTalk”), he speaks at evangelistic events, seminars and worship services across Canada. He has undergraduate degrees in administration and religious studies and an M.A. in speech communication. Before joining FLN, he was admissions counsellor at Concord College in Winnipeg and an associate pastor. A son of missionary parents, he grew up breathing the air of radio stations in Ecuador and Germany. His connection with FLN goes back to the 50s and 60s when his father directed choirs for MBC. Balzer and his wife Kathryn have three young children.

Another second-generation staff member, Dorothy Siebert, began as news writer for FLN in January 1999. Her father, J.M. Schmidt, was director of MB Communications 1950-63. She now oversees all printed materials. Her experience includes many years as a freelance writer and 10 years in evangelism and church-planting with MBMS International in Colombia. She is currently pursuing a masters’ degree in biblical studies and completing her first book, a biography of missionary statesman Albert Enns of Paraguay, father of Delbert. She and her husband Harold have four children.

No stranger to MBC/FLN is Lorlie Barkman, who takes on the new role of ministries representative. A graduate of art school, he worked with MB Communications 1975-1989 as producer of the successful children’s television series, ”The Third Story”. He pastored for 19 years in three MB churches in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and has chaired the MB Board of Resource Ministries. In 1999, he published the book, Remember, Dad?, a first-person account of a challenging family story told through words and drawings. The story and drawings also appeared as an exhibit at the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in Winnipeg.

With the increasing number of invitations for team members to join local churches in their evangelistic and missionary efforts, Barkman will be an active link between FLN and local churches. He also continues to pursue his gifts as a visual interpreter. Many team members’ stories of God’s work in people’s lives have come to life through his on-the-spot drawings. He and his wife Deanna have three married children and one grandchild.

 – MBC/FLN release

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Last modified May 4, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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