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Lorlie Barkman autographs copies of his book Remember, Dad? at an author presentation evening put on in February by McNally-Robinson Bookstore in Winnipeg. Published by Kindred Productions, the book is a poignant ride down the challenging path of care for his aging father who suffered memory loss. According to the publisher, the Ontario Alzheimer’s Association has recommended that its chapters throughout the province use Barkman’s book for both caregivers and for those suffering from memory loss. Barkman, 59, has 19 years of pastoral experience. He produced the children’s television series “Third Story” for over 15 years. Currently, he produces television spots for Word of Faith and works for Family Life Network in Winnipeg. He also ministers in personal care homes through interactively recalling memories for his audience through his spontaneous drawings.
Rudy Siemens retired as administrator of Pleasant Manor in Virgil, Ont. this spring, after serving three-and-a-half years, and will be retiring as administrator of Tabor Manor in St. Catha-rines, Ont. on Oct. 31, after serving 10 years. He is married to Elsie. Tabor Manor includes an 80-bed home for the aged and a complex of 124 apartments. Pleasant Manor includes a 40-bed nursing home and a 100-apartment senior citizen complex. Both facilities are operated by the Ontario MB Conference; with Siemens’s retirement, the two sites will be managed by different administrators. Tim Siemens began serving as
administrator of Pleasant Manor in Virgil, Ont., on Mar. 13. Previously, he worked 10 years with developmently challenged seniors at Bethesda Home in Virgil. He has a B.A. from Brock University and an M.S.W. in social administration and social policy from McMaster University. He and his wife Rachel have two children, Janelle, 3, and Braedon, 1. The Siemens are members of Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont.
Ben Wohlgemut has been appointed administrator of Tabor Manor in St. Catharines, Ont., effective Sept. 1. Currently, he is dean of students at Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask., where he has taught for the past 18 years. He has an M.A. in education administration from the University of Saskatchewan and an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif. He and his wife Margaret have four children.
Thom Gessner resigned in mid-March as pastor of young adult ministries at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., after serving since October. He has studied four years at Northwest Baptist Theological College. He and his wife Kristy have one daughter, Emileigh, 3. Thom intends to return to secular employment and to remain an active lay member of the church.
David Dick has resigned as pastor of Northgate MB Church in Dawson Creek, B.C., effective at the end of May, after serving since Sept. 1, 1999. Previously, he worked for Community Futures Development Corporation and for Westfair Foods in Kelowna, B.C. He has pastored First Mennonite Church in Kelowna, Gateway Community Church, Canora, Sask., and Niagara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship. He also was a church planter in Germany with MBMS International. He and his wife Friedrun have three children, Philipp, 15, Christopher, 11, and Julia, 7. They are open to further ministry.
Barbara Johnson completed a one-year family ministry and prayer counselling internship at Willingdon Church, Burnaby, B.C., Mar. 31. Her supervisor was John Wiens, and the internship was through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program. Johnson will be continuing to serve part-time until the end of the year. Trained in the tourism and hospitality field at Georgian College, Barrie, Ont., she relocated to British Columbia six years ago. She has also studied at Heritage Seminary, Cambridge, Ont., and at Bodenseehof, Germany. She also served in a one-year mission assignment in Namibia. She is preparing for a vocation in missions.
Dave Follack began as interim pastor at Sunrise Community Church in Edmonton on Apr. 1. For the past eight years, when he wasn’t pastoring, he has been a self-employed carpenter. He has served as interim pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Sherwood Park, Alta. for 11 months, First Baptist Church in Lacombe, Alta. for 11 months, Steele Heights Baptist Church in Edmonton for 11 months, Braemar Baptist Church in Edmonton for two years and Hillview Baptist Church in Edmonton for six months. He previously taught at North American Baptist College in Edmonton for 18 years. He has a B.R.E. and a B.Th. from North American Baptist College and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. He and his wife Valerie have two grown daughters, Lorien and Kristi.
Victor Stobbe is retiring at the end of June after serving as pastor of Hays (Alta.) Gospel Chapel for four years. Previously, he pastored Hillside Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. for five-and-a-half years, an independent church in Big Creek, Calif. for five years, Mountainview MB Church in Mission, B.C. for eight years, a Full Gospel Church in Castlegar, B.C. for three years, a Full Gospel Church in Chilliwack, B.C. for three years and Miocene (B.C.) Community Church for six years. He is a graduate of MB Bible Institute and Fresno Pacific College and has studied two years at MB Biblical Seminary. He also served with Youth With A Mission for two years. He and his wife Helen have four children and 14 grandchildren. They are open to doing interim pastoral work in the Williams Lake, B.C. area.
Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. held its annual missions conference Mar. 5-7. Keynote speaker was Johannes Reimer, director of the Evangelical Institute of Missiology in Germany. He stated that Christians by their very nature are missionaries; the task for Christians is to concentrate on “being” missionaries. Thirteen other mission agencies were represented at the conference as well.
On Nov. 21, Glencairn MB Church in Kitchener, Ont. baptized Marylynn Arthurs, Brenda McComb and Heather Rennie.
Mennonite Health Services of Goshen, Ind. has awarded nine Elmer Ediger Memorial Scholarships. Each recipient receives $1,300 US for the 2000-01 academic year for studies in health-related service to people in the fields of mental health, counselling or developmental disabilities. Among the recipents, Jason Ediger of Winnipeg is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of Manitoba. He is a member of McIvor Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg. Carmen Dyck of Abbotsford, B.C. is pursuing a master’s degree in counselling from MB Biblical Seminary/Associated Canadian Theological Schools.
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Last modified May 4, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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