Personalia

Tom Warner became senior pastor of Boissevain (Man.) MB Church on Sept. 2. He has studied at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask., and has a B.Th. from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ont. and an M.A. in biblical counselling from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. He has pastored for three-and-a-half years at Calvary Mennonite Church in Ayr, Ont., for two years at Calvary Mennonite Church in Monetville, Ont., for eight-and-a-half years at Erie View United Mennonite Church in Port Rowan, Ont. and for four years at Brussels (Ont.) Mennonite Fellowship. He and his wife Andrea have five children, Tom, 21, Jeremy, 19, Matthew, 17, and Rachel and Stephen, both 13.

Art Kliever resigned as senior pastor of Selikirk (Man.) Community Church, effective July 15, after serving the church since its founding 13-and-a-half years ago. Previously, he pastored a church in Ochre River, Man. for three years, served as associate pastor at McDermott Ave. Baptist Church in Winnipeg for one year, planted a church in Balgonie, Sask. for three years, pastored a Baptist church in Oak Bank, Man. for three years, replanted a Baptist church in Beausejour, Man. for seven years and then replanted Maples MB Church in Winnipeg for four years. He has a B.Th. from MB Bible College. He and his Elsie have three married daughters and one grandson. They are open to further ministry.

Henry P. Klassen has been senior pastor of Gospel Chapel Fellowship in Grand Forks, B.C. since Feb. 10. He has a B.R.E. from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alta., a B.R.S. from MB Bible College, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and an M.Div. from Providence College in Otterburne, Man. He has previously served as an instructor at Peace River Bible Institute for 12 years and as an associate pastor at North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg for four years. He and his wife Judy have two children, Nathan, 16, and Janelle, 12.

Don Watt became interim pastor of New Hazelton (B.C.) Community Gospel Fellowship on Sept. 7, for a six-month term. He has a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia and an M.Div from MB Biblical Seminary. He previously served as a Presbyterian student minister in Ontario for three years, taught elementary school in B.C. and Saskatchewan for eight years and was an alcohol and drug addiction counsellor for the Salvation Army at Miracle Valley in Mission, B.C. for 16 years before taking early retirement in 1991. He and his wife Justina have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Al Enns will become senior pastor of King Road MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on Jan. 1, 1998. He is completing four years as associate pastor for German-speaking people at North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg. He previously served as the first pastor of Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church for eight years, taught for 12 years at Bethany Bible Institute, was registrar at MB Bible College for two years, served with MB Missions/Services in Germany for two years and then was associate editor of the Mennonitische Rundschau for a year and a half. His wife Sue is a nurse. They have theee grown children and seven grandchildren.

Wayne Driedger began service Aug. 26 as associate pastor for youth and home groups at Sunwest Christian Fellowship in Calgary, joining senior pastor Willy Reimer and half-time pastor of worship Dan Bergen. He previously served for seven-and-a-half years as senior high youth pastor at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. He completed his master's degree at Canadian Baptist Seminary in Langley, B.C. last spring, and also has a B.R.E. from Briercrest Bible College. He and his wife Susanne have three children, Austin, 3, Tiara, 2, and Julianna, 2 months.

Jack To became pastor of Mountainview Grace MB Church in Calgary on Sept. 1. He previously served for three years as a Chinese congregation church planter with Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, B.C. for three years and as English-speaking pastor for Evangelical Formosa Church in Orange County, Calif. for seven years, and for the past few months has been working as a mental health therapist at a mental Health hospital in California. He has a B.R.E. from Prairie Bible College, an M.C.S. from Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina and an M.A. in marriage, family and child counselling from Pacific College, Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif. His wife Rose has a B.Ed. from the University of Alberta, an M.R.E. from Canadian Theological Seminary and a post-graduate teacher certificate in English as a Second Language from the University of California at Irvine. She has been teaching freshman writing at the University of California at Irvine, and is also writing a book on training Sunday school teachers. The Tos have two children, Josiah, 6, and Rachel, 2.

Rudy and Mary Heidebrecht began a one-year term Sept. 1 as half-time interim associate pastor couple of Linden (Alta.) MB Church, returning to the town Rudy had lived in until he was 15 years old. The Heidebrechts had retired June 30 after serving for 23 years as senior pastor couple of Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church.

Keynes and Ellen Kan returned to Hong Kong last summer to pastor a church there. Keynes had served as the founding pastor of the twin congregations Burnaby (B.C.) Pacific Grace Chinese Church and Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace Chinese Church. He had also served as the first editor of the Chinese Herald. Associate pastor Isaac Chang is now serving as acting senior pastor of the Burnaby Church, and Birdie Hua as acting senior pastor of the Port Moody church.

Rick Friesen has been serving as youth pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Surrey, B.C. since last March. He has a diploma from Bethany Bible Institute and a B.R.E. from Columbia Bible College. He previously served internships at Crestwood MB Church in Medicine Hat, Alta. and West Abbotsford Mennonite Church, but has been working in construction in Surrey for the last 15 years. He and his wife Susan have two children, Nathan, 5, and Hannah, 3.

Parliament Community Church in Regina held a farewell for youth pastor couple Dan and Helen Harder July 27. Youth worker Josh Becker and a youth worship team led in worship, and various youth presented snapshots of the Harders in humourous skits. Bobby Jo Stenzil and associate pastor Garry Paul gave tributes, and there was an open mike session for others to share as well. The service was followed by refreshments and the presentation of a gift to the Harders. Dan is returning to studies at Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina.

Parliament Community Church in Regina held a farewell for associate pastor couple Garry and Lillian Paul on Aug. 17. The service was chaired by Bob and Gwen Friedrich. Gwen spoke a tribute and sang a solo. Personal tributes were made to Garry by Gerald Epp, to Lillian by Eileen Reimche and to their daughter Jessica by Sara Bien, a member of the senior youth group. Refreshments and a gift presentation followed the service.

Vern Heidebrecht, senior pastor of Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., will be travelling to Calgary about every six weeks for the next year. He is going at the invitation of the Alberta MB Conference Church Extension Commission. He will meet with the pastors of urban MB churches in Alberta to help them with goal-setting, visioning and planning.

Tim and Angel Fehr and their son Bryce left for South Africa on July 10 to begin serving as missionaries with Teen Missions International. They are members of Richmond Bethel MB Church in Richmond, B.C.

Sixteen workers participated in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters, in Akron, Pa., Aug. 5-15. Five are beginning overseas assignments, and 11 North American assignments. Donald and Maha Sukkau of Vanderhoof, B.C. are beginning three-year assignments as teachers in Egypt. Donald has a B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., and Maha earned a secretarial diploma in Egypt. Donald was last employed as a school teacher in Vanderhoof, and Maha as a library assistant. The Sukkaus are affiliated with Nechako Community Church in Vanderhoof. Their children are Angel and Elizabeth. Martha and Wally Kroeker of Boissevain, Man., are beginning a two-year assignment as the host and hostess for MCC in Akron. Wally has previously served with MCC in B.C. and has a master's degree in mission from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. Martha and Wally were last employed as pastor couple of Boissevain MB Church, where they remain members.

Sixty-five young people from 30 countries are participating in Mennonite Central Committee's International Visitor Exchange Program in 1997-98. IVEP, a one-year cultural exchange and vocational training program, promotes international friendship through person-to-person contact between young people from around the world and North American Mennonites. Most participants spend six months living in one North American location, then six months volunteering at a second location. Among them, Moureen Aritonang of Jakarta Utara, Indonesia, is beginning a six-month assignment as a library assistant at Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Sask. Benard Kinayia of Ngong Hills, Kenya is beginning a six-month assignment as a teacher's assistant at Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford, B.C.

Thirty-one North American young people began a year in Europe with the Intermenno Trainee program with an Aug. 11-13 orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. Program participants spend one year in a European country, working and living with European Mennonites; most spend six months each in two locations. Among them, Jeremy Koop of St. Catharines, Ont. is beginning his term in Pratteln, Switzerland, where he will work as a farm labourer with the Heid family. He attended Eden High School in St. Catharines and attends Grantham MB Church in St. Catharines. Miriam Prachnau of Abbotsford, B.C. is beginning her term in Karlsruhe-Thomashof, Germany, where she will work as a kitchen aide at the Bibelheim Thomashof. She was last employed at a Huskey gas station as a gas jockey. She attended Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford and attends West Clearbrook Community Church. Jacqueline Stoutenburg of Surrey, B.C. is beginning her term in Gocklingen, Germany, where she will work as a farm labourer with the Nuss family. She was last employed as a coach at GEMS Gymnastics. She attended Kwantlen College in Surrey and is a member of Panorama Community Church in Surrey.