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Doug Braun completed his ministry as pastor of Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. in May after serving for three-and-a-half years. Previously, he was a church planter in Vernon, B.C. for a year-and-a-half and was associate pastor at West Portal MB Church in Saskatoon for five years. He has a B.Th. from Okanagan Bible College and is studying towards a master’s degree. His wife Karen is assistant national director for Mothers Who Care, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ that encourages mothers across Canada to pray for their children’s schools, teachers and school administrators. The Brauns have two sons, Caleb, 8, and Logan, 6. They are open to further ministry.
Jay and Kay Neufeld are retiring at the end of December 2001, completing a ministry totalling 42 years. Currently, they are associate pastor couple at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., a position they have held for eight years. Prior to moving to Abbotsford, the Neufelds served for a year as interim pastor couple at Grace Christian Fellowship in Langley, B.C., Hillside Community Church in Aldergrove, B.C. and Leamington (Ont.) MB Church. They began their ministry by serving with the B.C. MB Conference Board of Home Missions for five years and then pastored two churches (Niagara Falls Christian Fellowship and Vineland MB Church) in Ontario for nine years, Garden Valley (Kan.) MB Church for six years, Dinuba (Calif.) MB Church for four years, Elmwood MB Church in Winnipeg for five years and East Aldergrove MB Church in Abbotsford for four years. Jay has a B.R.E. from MB Bible (now Concord) College and an M.Min. from Providence Theological Seminary. The Neufelds have five children and 10 grandchildren.
Wilf Richert has resigned as senior pastor of Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Chapel, effective May 31, after serving for two-and-a-half years. Previously, he was senior pastor at Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. for three years, was interim senior pastor at East Aldergrove MB Church in Abbotsford, was associate pastor at Yarrow (B.C.) MB Church for seven years and was associate pastor at North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John, B.C. for six-and-half years (where he had previously served a pastoral internship). He has a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and a B.R.S. from MB Bible College in Winnipeg. He has studied at Coaldale (Alta.) Bible School, MB Bible Institute (Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford), MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. and Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. He and his wife Lorena have a son Kelly (married to Karis). Sons Byron, 20, and Colin, 16, died in a motor vehicle accident in 1989. The Richerts are seeking God’s direction for future pastoral ministry.
Anthony Cheung became full-time lead pastor of Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace Chinese Church on May 7, after serving as interim pastor for a month. Previously, he worked at the National Archives of Canada in Burnaby, B.C. for five years, was a medical librarian for the Department of National Defence for 20 years and taught at Toronto Western Hospital’s Attison School of Nursing for three years. He has a B.N. from the University of Windsor, a B.A. from the University of Waterloo, an M.L.S. from the University of Toronto and an M.R.E. from Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Langley, B.C. He and his wife Rebecca have two grown children.
Cornelius and Bernadine Plett retired from their ministry as pastor couple at Snow Lake (Man.) Christian Centre Fellowship on May 31, after serving for seven years. Previously, Cornelius pastored Douglas Mennonite Church in Winnipeg for six years, Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church in Winnipeg for 14 years and a church plant in Burns Lake, B.C. for five years, and taught at Steinbach (Man.) Bible College for five years. He studied at Steinbach Bible College and MB Bible College in Winnipeg and has a bachelor’s degree from Fresno (Calif.) Pacific College and an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno. The Pletts have four children and 13 grandchildren. They are planning to live in Steinbach and are open to doing interim ministry work.
Grant Galpin, church planter and pastor of Saddleridge Community Church in Calgary, was featured in the Feb. 24 issue of the Calgary Herald. Galpin told the newspaper, which gave the story two-thirds of a page, including a large photo, that he was surprised at how eager residents of the city’s northeast are for worship. Late last year, Galpin polled the residents of three separate neighbourhoods (Saddleridge, Arbour Lake and Airdrie) in order to find where the most support for a church would be. While the response rates in Airdrie and Arbour Lake were promising – 21% and 27% respectively – the response rate in Saddleridge was 46%. Currently, the church plant is organizing cell groups with 8-14 adults each that meet in homes. The church worships together in a community centre once a month and plans to begin weekly services in October. Grant and his wife Carol have two children, Nathanael and Kayleigh.
Mark Friesen has resigned as youth pastor at Cedar Park MB Church in Delta, B.C., effective July 8, after serving for three years. Previously, he worked during the summer months at Stillwood Camp (formerly Columbia Bible Camp). He has a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. He is planning to study at Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS) in Langley, B.C. He and his wife Rachel have a daughter, Janessa, 1, and are expecting their second child.
Brent Peters will be serving a youth pastoral internship during the summer at Cedar Park MB Church in Delta, B.C., beginning June 25. He has completed his first year of studies at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. and is planning to return in fall. He is a member of the church.
Leonard Klassen has resigned as associate pastor of youth ministries at King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective June 30, after serving for six years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Christian education from Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford. Previously, he served a pastoral internship at Nechako Community Church in Vanderhoof, B.C. He is planning to further his education through MB Biblical Seminary at Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. He is married to Bonnie. They are open to further ministry.
Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.
Culloden MB Church in Vancouver welcomed 3 new members Apr. 1, 2 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) Frieda Neufeld (cf), Crystal Broyles (b), Chantel Pal (b) and pastor George Baier.
Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon welcomed 10 new members Apr. 22, 9 by baptism and 1 by transfer. Pictured are (back, l-r) Satya Panigrahi (b), David Stirling (b), Mandy Summach (b), Amy Adair (b), Andrew Willms (b), Melanie Loewen (t), pastor Bruce Enns; (front) pastor Kevin Wiens, Coral Brodzki (b), Andrea Enns (b), Crystal Reddekopp (b), Jennifer Dyck (b) and pastor Tim Thiessen.
Newton (Man.) Community Fellowship welcomed 4 new members by baptism May 27. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Neil Block, Jacie Allard, Ben Krahn, Steven Klassen, Curtis Rance and pastor Hugh Froese.
South Langley MB Church in Langley, B.C. welcomed 4 new members by baptism Apr. 8. Pictured are (l-r) Mark Esau, Corey Rempel, pastor Wes Dahl, Rebecca Kroeker and Kyle Veer.
Fairview-Louth MB Community Church in St. Catharines, Ont. welcomed 3 new members by baptism Apr. 8. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Jeff Lockyer, Shirley McInnes, Shawn Moffat, Emily Buma and pastor Mike Krause.
Waldheim (Sask.) MB Church welcomed 7 new members by baptism Mar. 18. Pictured are (l-r) Marilyn Spence, Leanne Hiebert, Trevor Hiebert, Narina Zurewell, Kirby Wendland, Brent Gabona, Trisha Foth and pastor Clarence Peters.
Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 7 new members by baptism Apr. 29. Pictured are (back, l-r) pastor Tim Wiebe, pastor Michael Dick, Curtis Nikkel, Jared Horch, Chris Zacharias, Ray Pohoda, pastor Ross Johnston; (front) Annabelle Thurley, Brianna Doerksen and Jacqueline Quiring.
Murrayville Community Church in Langley, B.C. welcomed 13 new members May 13, 2 by baptism, 1 by transfer and 10 by confession of faith. Pictured are (back, l-r) James Johnson (cf), pastor Ron van Akker, John Hait (cf), Joel Derksen (cf), moderator Phil Priebe, Henry Roberts (cf), Dale Staryk (cf); (front) Brenda Johnson (b), Karen Hait (b), Brigitte Derksen (cf), Herb Derksen (cf), Trish Roberts (cf) and Suzanne Staryk (cf). Not pictured are John Bauman (cf) and Melanie Bauman (t).
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Last modified August 2, 2001.
© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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