Personalia

Dan and Heather Schroeder are the new youth pastor couple at Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective March 1. This is a single full-time-equivalent position which they will share equally. They were married in September. Dan is studying part-time at Northwest Baptist Theological College in Langley, B.C. He has worked for B.C. Tel for the past ten years. He attended one year at Briercrest Bible College in 1985 and has attended classes at Kwantlen College in Richmond, B.C. since 1995. He has volunteered with Campus Life Youth for Christ, with the Center for Student Missions in Los Angeles and as a youth sponsor at Culloden MB Church in Vancouver. Heather has a B.A. in Christian education from Wheaton College and is working on Masters level courses at Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary. She has several years of experience in camps, church youth work and church daycare work. She was the leadership training coordinator at Columbia Bible Camp the last two summers, and for the past two years has been youth pastor at Bellingham (Wa.) Christian Reformed Church.

Mike Klassen has resigned as associate pastor of adult ministeries at Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective in June, 1997, after serving almost three years. He also worked as an electrician for 14 years. He earned a B.R.E. through Trinity Western University, Fraser Valley College and Columbia Bible College and has an M.Div. from Associated Canadian Theological Schools. His wife Teresa has studied at Fraser Valley College and Trinity Western University and has served as a secretary at the Mountain Park Church and also in the B.C. MB Conference office. The Klassens have three children, Alecia, 4, Mikaela, 2, and Joshua, 1, and are expecting their fourth child in July. They are seeking God's direction for further ministry.

Gary and Joyce Sawatzky were commissioned as pastor couple at Dalmeny (Sask.) Community Church Oct. 20, 1996. Previously, they planted churches at Cranberry Portage, Man., Thompson, Man. and Regina. Pictured are (l-r) Wendy, Greg, Joyce, Gary, Carrie and Tim Sawatzky.

Steinbach MB Church has celebrated the ordination of John and Frieda Arendt for ministry. Reuben Pauls, Canadian MB Conference executive minister, spoke on Galatians 6:1-10, encouraging all to continue "fulfilling the law of Christ". Manitoba Conference assistant moderator John Epp led the ordination ceremony. The celebration included music by the choir and a fellowship time in the lower auditorium, where the Arendts received words of affirmation. John Arendt has a Master's degree in Christian education from Providence College and Seminary and has a B.R.S. from MB Bible College. He has served as interim pastor at Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren in Cranberry Portage, Man. for two summers. He is currently involved in a visitation and care-giving ministry.

Siegfried and Yvonne Klassen of Scott Street MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont., along with their four children, Rose, Ailin, Ivan and Steven, are returning to Uruguay for their eighth year of ministry after spending a few months in Canada. The Klassens work with Operation Mobilization where Siegfried is in charge of the administration for O.M. in Uruguay and plans the summer campaigns. Yvonne is a homemaker and is also studying Spanish so she can lead Bible studies and work with local women. The Klassens were given a farewell at the church March 2, when time was given for informal questions and encouragement.

Walther Lee will become pastor of Abbotsford (B.C.) Chinese Christian Church in May. He graduated from Overseas Bible Seminary in Hong Kong, pastored with the Salvation Army in Hong Kong for four years and then pastored Heng On Baptist Church in Hong Kong for seven years. He and his family came to Canada two years ago to study. He will graduate with an M.R.E. from Northwest Baptist Theological College in April, and has been serving an internship at Bethel Chinese Christian MB Church in Vancouver. He and his wife Barbara

have three children, Mavis, 9, Shirley, 3, and Erwin, 1.

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