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Asfow Bekele began serving as pastor of Grace Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Burnaby, B.C. on Aug. 1. He grew up in a Mennonite church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has done evangelism work, preaching and teaching and church planting in Ethiopia, Kenya, Italy and Canada. He helped plant Evangelical Ethiopian Church in Rome, Italy in 1988 and was part of a new church plant, Faith Gospel Church, in London, Ont. for five years. He has a B.Th. from Tyndale College in Toronto and studied engineering at Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology in London, Ont. He is married to Saron, whom he met in Toronto. Grace Ethiopian Evangelical Church was recently accepted as a church plant by the B.C. MB Conference Board of Church Extension. It has 16 members and an attendance of over 100.
John Moerman began serving a one-year term as full-time pastoral assistant at College Drive Community Church in Lethbridge, Alta. on June 1, after serving on a half-time basis for three months. Previously, he was an elder in the church for five years, was a social worker for Diversified Caseload in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in Alberta for three years and ran his own trucking business for 20 years. He has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Lethbridge. He is married to Jeanne, who is a secretary in a Christian elementary school in Lethbridge. They have three daughters, Naphtali, 20, Bethany, 17, and Janessa, 12
Al Enns is retiring as senior pastor at King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. at the end of May 2002, having then served the church for four-and-a-half years. Previously, he was associate pastor at North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg for four years, was associate editor of Mennonitische Rundshau for one-and-a-half-years, served with MBMS International in Germany for two years, was registrar at MB Bible/Concord College in Winnipeg for two years, taught at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. for 12 years, pastored Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church for eight years and served with MBMSI in the Chaco region of Paraguay for two-and-a-half years. He has a B.A. from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., a B.Div. from MB Bible College and an M.Th. from Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Susan have three grown children, Myrna, Eileen and Robert, and nine grandchildren.
Andrew Dyck is completing his ministry as associate pastor at King Road MB Church at the end of December 2001, after serving for five years. He will take a sabbatical/study leave from January to April 2002 and then will become senior pastor on May 1. Previously, he served in a lay ministry at Westwood Community Church in Winnipeg for 14 years. He has an M.A. from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Va. and a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and is a graduate of MB Bible (now Concord) College in Winnipeg. His wife Martha also is a graduate of MBBC. They have three sons, Theodore, 13, Jonathan, 11, and Philip, 8.
George Baier has resigned as associate pastor at Culloden MB Church in Vancouver, effective Oct. 31, after serving for three years. On Jan. 1, 2002, he will become associate pastor of German ministries at King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. Previously, he was associate pastor at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford for six years, pastored Peachland (B.C.) Baptist Church for five years, pastored Central MB Church in Winnipeg for four years, served with MBMS International in Germany for seven years, was youth pastor at Clearbrook MB Church for two years and served with MBMSI in Congo for two years. He has a diploma in sacred music from MB Bible (now Concord) College in Winnipeg, a B.A. from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. and an M. A. from Winnipeg Theological (now Providence) Seminary in Otterburne, Man. He and his wife Mary have a grown daughter and three grandchildren.
Pictured are (l-r) Abe Konrad, Blake Wagner (former pastor of the church) and church moderator Dale Johnson praying over the Bergens. |
Foothills Community Church in Pincher Creek, Alta. held a commissioning service Sept. 16 for pastor couple Ernie and Irene Bergen. Alberta MB Conference minister Abe Konrad conducted the commissioning service. Previously, Ernie pastored Philadelphia MB Church in Watrous, Sask. for seven years, Lakeview Community Church in Killarney, Man. for nine years and Neighbourhood Life Church in The Pas, Man. for seven years. He has a B.A. from Fresno (Calif.) Pacific College and a diploma from Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask. They have three grown children, Tammy, Mark and Rachel, and two grandchildren.
Matthew Glezos began serving as a full-time assistant pastor in the area of children’s ministries at Willingdon Church in Burnaby, B.C. on Sept. 1, after serving part-time for four years. He has a B.A. from Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. and a B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. He and his wife Dawn were married Sept. 16, 2001.
Pictured are (back, l-r) Herb and Doris Kopp, Ruth Block, senior pastor Neil Block; and (front) Jeff and Nicole Banman. |
Newton (Man.) Community Fellowship Church held an installation service Sept. 16 for new youth pastor couple Jeff and Nicole Banman (see MBH, Sept. 28). Herb Kopp, Manitoba MB Conference minister, brought greetings on behalf of the MB churches of Manitoba and welcomed the Banmans to the pastoral team. Jeff, who grew up in the church, replaces Hugh Froese, who also grew up in the church and who is now studying at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif.
Ben Sprunger is planning to step down as president of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) when his third term ends in March 2003. Previously, he owned and operated Life Skills International, a consulting company offering educational programs, training seminars and information systems to help young people make healthy life choices and resist substance abuse; was chair and head of international operations in 21 countries for Quest International Inc., an applied research agency specializing in drug/alcohol abuse and conflict resolution programs; was head of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges; and was president of Bluffton (Ohio) College in the 1970s. Sprunger, who is turning 65 next summer, says he is looking forward to semi-retirement after serving over 30 years as a CEO. He and his wife Sue live in Worthington, Ohio.
Forty-six people participated in an orientation held at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. Sept. 4–14. Twenty-four are beginning overseas assignments; 22 are beginning North American assignments. Greg Schroeder of Abbotsford, B.C., most recently of Winnipeg, began a two-year assignment in June, working at the Winnipeg Harvest warehouse. He previously worked for EV Logistics in Abbotsford. He has a local area network degree from College of Business and Technology in Abbotsford. He is a member of South Abbotsford MB Church.
Tom Warner, pastor of Boissevain (Man.) MB Church, reached his weight goal at the end of August with a loss of 80 lbs. He started dieting in late winter, and accumulated sponsors along the way. Over $4,000 was raised for Boissevain and Morton Grow Fund.
Baptisms and new members
Note: Baptism photos appear in the paper version of the Herald but not in the online version.
Dalhousie Community Church in Calgary baptized and welcomed into its fellowship Luke Ratzlaff on Sept. 16.
Cedar Park MB Church in Delta, B.C. welcomed Joel Kaake (centre) by baptism June 3. He is pictured with pastors Mark Friesen and Dave Esau.
Vauxhall (Alta.) MB Church welcomed 4 new members by baptism Sept. 16. Pictured are (l-r) Clint Pierson, pastor Aaron Stout, Kim Cawley, pastor Bill Glasspell, Carla Wall, pastor Mark Siebert and Curtis Cawley.
Promontory Community Church in Chilliwack, B.C. welcomed 6 new members by baptism Sept. 2. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Brian Wiebe, Gary Fast, Val Fast, Ashley Horsman, Tracy Bergen, Loren Bergen, Brenda Human and leadership team member Anita Vermeer.
Abbotsford (B.C.) Chinese Christian Church welcomed 7 new members by baptism July 29. Pictured are (back, l-r) Esther Balzer, Jake Balzer; (middle) Becky Chan, Kitty Wong Angela Pham, Melissa Lam, Wendy Liu, Stephen Truong, John Chan; (front) Karen Hong and Erika Chan.
Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church welcomed 6 new members by baptism Apr. 15. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Jeff Peters, Jotham Penner, Amy Schellenberg, Sharlene Hamm, Amy Fehr, Heidi Janzen, pastor Ross Penner and Deanna Boldt.
Richmond (B.C.) Bethel MB Church welcomed 5 new members July 22, 4 by baptism and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) Brenda Dier (cf), Don Fairholm (b), Ron Cassidy (b), Bob Porteous (b), Heather Cassidy (b) and pastor Brad Julihn.
Main Centre (Sask.) MB Church welcomed 3 new members by baptism June 3. Pictured are (l-r) Bracham Holfeld, pastor Ken Epp, Garth Dueck and Tasha Dueck.
Forest Grove (B.C.) MB Church held a baptism for Robin Suffill (l) Aug. 15 at Lower Lake. Pictured with Robin is pastor Harvey Guenther.
Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. welcomed 10 new members on Pentecost Sunday (June 3), 1 by baptism, 8 by transfer and 1 by confession of faith. Pictured are (l-r) pastor Jay Neufeld, Ed Epp (t), Franz Unger (t), Mary Epp (t), Erna Unger (t), Shirley Reid (b), Joanne Enns (cf), Anna Koop (t), Anna Schroeder (t), Peter Koop (t), Ben Epp (t) and pastor Peter J. Klassen.
North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg welcomed 5 new members Aug. 26, 3 by baptism and 2 by transfer. Pictured are (l-r) pastor George Klassen, Herta Neufeld (b), David Rempel (t), Alexandra Rempel (t), Vicki Derksen (b) and Rebecca Froese (b).
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Last modified November 9, 2001.
© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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