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In June Marcus Tso joined South Vancouver Pacific Grace Chinese MB Church in Vancouver as pastor for
English-speaking ministries. He was born in Hong Kong, came to Canada in 1979 and became a Christian through the ministry of Newbern Chinese Alliance Church in Vancouver. He received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia and worked as a professional engineer for a number of years before completing an M.Div. degree at Regent College in April of this year. He and his wife Daphne have been married since 1993.
Rob Griffioen, senior high youth pastor at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., is shifting responsibilities to become pastor of young adult ministries at the church. He has a B.A. from Briercrest Bible College and an M.A. from Briercrest Seminary. He began service in Central Heights July 1, 1999, after serving for a year as interim pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Hope, B.C. He and his wife Judy will continue to minister to senior high youth at the church until a new youth pastor is found. They have four teen-age children.
Eugene Harder is retiring as pastor of New Hope Community Church in North Vancouver, B.C. at the end of March 2001. He has served the church for 13 years, and now is planning to continue his Internet ministry at eugeneharder@home.com. Previously, he worked for 18 years in construction and land development in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, pastored Mission (B.C.) Baptist Church for two years, pastored Departure Bay Baptist Church, Nanaimo, B.C., for six years, and started a Baptist church in Edson, Alta. He has a B.Th. from Northwest Baptist Theological College, Langley, B.C. He and his wife Sonia have three daughters and 12 grandchildren.
Laura Kalmar began serving as full-time pastor of children’s ministries at Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C., on July 15.
Previously, she was an elementary teacher in a Christian school for three years, served as a summer pastoral intern at The Meeting Place in Winnipeg, co-led Youth Mission International’s summer SOAR program, and was interim children’s program director at Butler MB Church, Fresno, Calif. She also has written curriculum for Kindred Productions. She has a B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., and an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno. She came to know the Lord through the ministry of Willingdon Church, Burnaby.
Abe Klassen resigned as pastor at Lanigan (Sask.) Christian Fellowship at the end of August, after serving seven years. He began serving as lead pastor at Steinbach (Man.) MB Church on Sept. 1. He has a B.A. from Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Sask. Currently, he is working towards a master’s degree from Canadian Theological Seminary, Regina. He and his wife Kathy have two sons, Justin, 19, and Jason, 17.
Dave and Nicole Ens have accepted the position of senior pastor couple at Richmond Park MB Church, Brandon, Man., effective January 2001. Previously, Dave was youth pastor at McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg for five years. He has a B.R.S. from Concord College in Winnipeg and is currently working towards an M.T.S. at Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. Nicole is a high school teacher currently working at home. They have one daughter, Megan, 1.
Merlin Enns has resigned as youth pastor at Richmond Park MB Church, Brandon, Man., effective Aug. 1, after serving three years. Previously, he worked with Youth for Christ in Abbotsford, B.C. for one-and-a-half years. He has a Bachelor of Christian Ministries from Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. He is considering God’s will for his future.
Fiona Chan is serving as full-time children’s minister in Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace Chinese Church, her home church. She has a B.A. from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., and an M.R.E. from Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary (ACTS) in Langley, B.C. She is engaged to Way Ho Wu.
Kevin Downey is serving as a part-time youth pastor at Fleetwood Community Church in Surrey, B.C. under the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program. He is also working part-time for Focus on the Family. He has studied at Northwest Baptist Theological College in Langley, B.C., and is working towards a B.R.E. from Canadian Bible College in Regina. He and his wife Brenda have one daughter, Jordyn.
Mike Lewis is serving a one-year pastoral internship at Discovery Community Church in Campbell River, B.C., with a primary focus on youth and music, through the B.C. MB Conference Pastoral Apprenticeship program. Previously, he was a pastoral intern at Prairie Chapel in Arnold, B.C. for eight months and worked three summers with youth at his home church, Neighbourhood Church in Nanaimo, B.C. He also has served on Souled Out, a ministry team from Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. for four years, and recently returned from a one-month mission assignment teaching English as a second language in Thailand with Youth With A Mission. He has a B.A. from Columbia Bible College.
Jeffery Seeger resigned from his pastoral internship at Garden Valley Community Church in Kelowna, B.C., effective Aug. 15, after serving since January. He is planning to pursue a career in the movie and television industry and has been studying at the Interior Film and Television Training Centre. Seeger has been a part of the Garden Valley Church for five years, running the drama department, “The Harvest Players”. He came to know Christ through the ministry of that church.
Randy Grieser has been appointed admissions counsellor at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, effective in August. This past year he worked as a conflict resolution consultant in Winnipeg and previously was assistant pastor at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, Man. for two years. He has a B.Th. from Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg and a B.A. in conflict resolution from Menno Simons College in Winnipeg and has also studied at Michigan State University.
Dan Wohlgemut has been appointed admissions counsellor at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, effective in August. Previously, he served on an MCC assignment in South Africa. Originally from Kitchener, Ont., he is a graduate of Concord College in Winnipeg and the University of Winnipeg/Menno Simons College.
North Langley Community Church in Langley, B.C. recently baptized Renna McCready, Randy Allan, John Johnstone, Jennifer Johnstone, Brett McAllister and Sarah Nierychlo.
Mennonite Brethren writers won two of seven first-place awards and three of 10 honourable mentions in Faith Today’s annual God Uses Ink writing contest. The contest spotlighted some of the best Canadian Christian writing published in 1999, and the winners were announced at the God Uses Ink writers’ conference in Guelph, Ont. in June. MB winners were Harold Jantz for his personal essay, “Welcoming and yet not affirming” (MBH, Nov. 5, 1999) and Dan Unrau of Richmond, B.C., for his book, Rogues, Rascals & Rare Gems (Kindred Productions). Honourable mentions include Lorlie Barkman of Winnipeg for Remember, Dad? – A Journey into Memory Loss (Kindred Productions); Helen Grace Leschied of Abbotsford, B.C., for Lead, Kindly Light (Essence); and Gordon Nickel, formerly of Calgary (currently on assignment in India with MBMSI), for Peaceable Witness Among Muslims (Herald Press).
Twenty workers participated in a leadership seminar held at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. June 5-16. Ten are beginning overseas assignments; 10 are beginning or continuing North American assignments. Jim and Ellie Huebner of Waterloo, Ont. are beginning a five-year assignment as program coordinators for Appalachia in Whitesburg, Ky. Jim previously worked as president of Business Intelligence Solutions Inc. in Waterloo. He has a master’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Previously, Ellie was a teacher with the Waterloo District School Board. She has a B.Ed. from the University of Manitoba. They have three children, Jessica, Joshua and Kristina. The Huebners are members of Waterloo MB Church.
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Last modified September 15, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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