Personalia

David Macfarlane will become senior pastor of Chilliwack Central MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C. on Sept. 1. He was born in Uruguay, raised in Argentina and became a Christian through a short-term missionary at age 23. He studied marketing and then worked with American Express in Argentina and Toronto. He entered ministry at Islington Evangel Centre in Toronto, serving as Christian education coordinator for five years and senior pastor for 11 years; in that time, the church grew from a small congregation to 1500. For the past three-and-a-half years, he has been pastor of Richmond (B.C.) Christian Fellowship. He is a member of the executive of Vision 2000, helps train workers for Terry Winter crusades and leads marriage seminars on "Rediscovering Intimacy". His wife Diana has worked as an executive secretary, and for the past three years has been a part-time secretary and librarian at White Rock Christian Academy. The Macfarlanes have three daughters, Susan, 16, Heather, 14, and Victoria, 10.

Walther and Barbara Lee became pastor couple of Abbotsford (B.C.) Chinese Christian Church in May. After graduating from Overseas Bible Seminary in Hong Kong, he pastored with the Salvation Army for four years and in a Baptist Church for seven years. The Lees then came to Canada. Walther completed his M.R.E. at Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in April. During his studies, he served as a Sunday school teacher and leader of the university students fellowship in Bethel Chinese MB Christian Church, Vancouver. The Lees have three children, Mavis, 10, Shirley, 3, and Erwin, 1.

Betty Sider, wife of Elgin Sider, tentmaking church planter at Aennofield Community Church in Fort St. John, B.C., suffered a serious stroke the first weekend of August. By mid-August she had regained consciousness, but her right side was paralyzed and she could not talk. She was then transferred to Vancouver for therapy. The Aennofield church had just begun having worship services this summer.

Keith and Lois Wiggin resigned as pastor couple of West Vancouver Bible Church July 15, after serving since November, 1996. Keith is a graduate of Barrington College in Rhode Island and Northeastern Bible College in New Jersey and has an M.Div. from Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Langley, B.C. He has worked in youth ministries and with Campus Crusade and has pastored churches in San Diego, Calif., Victorville, Calif., Brantford, Ont. and Vancouver, and for seven-and-a-half years was senior pastor of Chilliwack Central MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C. The Wiggins are seeking further miniistry.

Cameron Stuart became associate pastor for adult ministries at Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on Aug. 15. He studied at Dallas (Tex.) Bible College, earned a B.A. in theology and pastoral ministries at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask., worked as Youthquake administrator at Briercrest and then served two-and-a-half years as associate pastor of youth at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon. For the past year, he has been studying toward an M.C.S. degree at Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Michelle have two children, Brennan, 4, and Jillian, 1.

Scott Lanigan has resigned as youth pastor at Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective Sept. 28, after serving for over four years. He has a B.A. from Briercrest Bible College. He and his wife Carla are pursuing further church ministry.

Tom Peachy has resigned as pastor of Tofield (Alta.) Gospel Church, effective the end of August, after serving for four years. He and his wife Faith have three grown children. They are seeking the Lord's guidance as to a future ministry.

Terry and Reina Carter became the new pastor couple of Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church on Aug. 15. They were previously involved in a Brethren in Christ Church in Calgary. Terry has a B.A. from Briercrest Bible College and is working toward a Masters degree. The Carters have three children, Shauna Lee, Amanda Lyn, 14 and Brett Terry, 11.

South Abbotsford MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. commissioned 28 people for summer missions on July 6. Included were Jamie Beck serving with Athletes in Action; Jeannette Nikkel serving with Youth Mission International in Lithuania; Robin Hiebert serving at Columbia Bible Camp; Matt Ewert, Dan Kim, Ailene Mobach and Leanne Giesbrecht serving with Oak Tree day camps; Randy and Paula Thompson and family, Norm and Lori Nickel and family, Tammy Fernandes, Dustin Freund, Andrea Brhelle, Mike Sasyniuk, Randi Born, Christa Hiebert, Patricia Isaak and Trevor Hutt serving with YMI SOAR in Fresno, Calif.; Samara Pauls serving with vacation Bible school; Ricardo Leguizamon, Leanna Mundy, Ron Janzen, Doug Janzen, Steve Janzen, Toni Friesen, Bonnie Sawatsky and Debbie Toews serving with Mission Impact International in Argentina.

Randy and Sheri Dueck will become youth pastor coule at Port Rowan (Ont.) MB Church on Sept. 1. they were long-time youth workers at Orchard Park Bible Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., before moving to Regina, where Randy earned a degree from Canadian Bible College. They have two teenage children, Jason and Julie.

Patrick Bolan has been appointed interim music pastor at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., beginning in August, for a one-year term. He has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Utah and a Mastor of Church Music Degree from Western Theological Seminary in Portland, Ore. He has served for two years as Director of Music at Park City Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City., Utah, and for two years as Director of Music at Oak Grove Community Church in Portland, Ore. His wife Lisa has a degree in child psychology from Western Washington University.

Del Cunningham, a student at Columbia Bible College, served as an intern at Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. this summer. He was baptized in the Bakerview church on June 29.

Steve Harder resigned from his position at MB Communications in Winnipeg on March 14, after serving there since 1980. He began as an assistant recording engineer and later served as technical director and audio production services coordinator. Upon resigning, he began training in computer services, becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Recently, he launched Steven Harder Computer and Network Services, targeting small to medium-sized businesses. He and his wife Mary have three children, Bonnie, 14, Rhonda, 12, and Curtis, 8.

Merlin Enns became youth pastor at Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man. on Aug. 15. He is a graduate of Bethany Bible Institute and has worked with inner city kids and as a volunteer drama coordinator. He has also worked with the Youth Beyond Bounds program in Chilliwack, B.C. (an initiative of the B.C. government's Ministry of Education) and with the federal government Stay in School Initiative in Waterloo, Ont. He has also served as a mentor for young men.

Waldheim (Sask.) MB Church welcomed six new members by baptism April 20: Tara Reimer, Anthony Willems, Bridget Moynihan, Erich Petkau, Meredith Block and Eric Williams. Corinne Gabona was baptized in August, 1996. The church also held a dedication service May 4 for a new addition to the church building. Two large rooms and four Sunday school rooms were added and the kitchen was renovated to accommodate the needs of a growing congregation.

Bruce Gordon has resigned as president of Focus on the Family Canada. The organization announced the resignation in its June newsletter. In the July newsletter, board chair Mark Boehmer wrote, "Dr. Gordon's decision to resign was the result of much prayerful consideration by both him and the board concerning the future of Focus Canada's leadership needs."

Norman Jantzen was elected president of Mennonite Trust Ltd. at the annual meeting March 13. Jantzen replaced Isaac Klassen, who served as president since 1989 and as director 1985-89. Gerald Willems of Hepburn, Sask. was appointed advisor representing the Saskatchewan MB Conference. He replaces Elmer Andres, who served 1989-1997. Mennonite Trust is sponsored by the Conference of Mennonites in Saskatchewan, the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Mennonite Brethren Conference.

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