Personalia

Mark and Karolyn Burch became senior pastor couple of Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C. on Feb. 1. They completed five-and-a-half years as senior pastor couple of Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. at the end of January, and earlier served for 18 months as associate pastor couple at Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ont. They are both graduates of Briercrest Bible College. They have three children, Jocelle, Karlene and Timothy.

Wayne and Susanne Driedger have resigned as associate pastor couple for senior high youth ministries at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective Feb. 16, after serving for seven-and-a-half years. Wayne has a B.R.E. from Briercrest Bible College. He has also studied at MB Biblical Seminary and Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. He plans to return to school full-time to complete his M.R.E. at Canadian Baptist Seminary (part of the ACTS consortium) by May. The Driedgers will then be open to further ministry opportunities. They have two children, Austin, 3, and Tiara, 2, and are expecting their third child in August. Lyndon and Doretha Plett, associate pastor couple for junior high youth ministries at Central Heights, will run both youth programs until another youth pastor can be hired. To fill the gap, Scott Thoutenhoofd will serve as full-time interim youth worker at the church until August. A recent graduate of Mennonite Educational Institute, he has been serving as a volunteer youth sponsor at the church.

Hildegard Bandsmer, who has been associate pastor for children's ministries at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. for the past 11-and-a-half years, is having a sabbatical this spring. Between Jan. 30 and May 15, she will be attending conferences and studying at MB Biblical Seminary B.C. Centre, Regent College and Associated Canadian Theological Schools.

Vic and Maria Peters are the new pastor couple at Valleycliffe Christian Fellowship in Squamish, B.C., effective Jan. 19. Most recently, Vic was involved in construction in the Fraser Valley in B.C. He previously served as pastor of Boundary Community Church in Midway, B.C. for two years, and as pastor at Hillside Community Church in Aldergrove, B.C. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Abe and Alvina Klassen have resigned as senior pastor couple of Elmwood MB Church in Winnipeg, effective June 30, after serving eight years. Previously, they were church planters in Prince Albert, Sask. for three years and pastored West Portal MB Church in Saskatoon for 17 years. Before that, he was a high school teacher in Ontario. He has served as Saskatchewan MB Conference moderator and has done graduate work for training interns. He currently serves on the General MB Conference Board of Faith and Life. He has a B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. His wife Alvina is an elementary school teacher. They have two grown children. They are open to further ministry.

Roxanne Collie has resigned as associate pastor of children's ministries at Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C., effective Feb. 2, after three-and-a-half years of ministry. She has a B.A. from Briercrest Bible College. She plans to work at a health and fitness club in Kelowna while being available for itinerate teaching and speaking opportunities, specializing in children's ministry.

Jubilee Mennonite Church in Winnipeg added four members by baptism in 1996, including Tim Elias, MaryAnn Labun, Tristan Isaak and Connie Peters.

Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Chapel baptized five new members Jan. 5, including Trevor Davis, Brian Goodwin, Rina Koreman, Kelvin Ogden and Wesley Oomen. Two others, Shannon Thiessen and Russell Klassen were baptized at an earlier date. They were all received into membership Jan. 12.

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