Personalia

Paul Fast is retiring at the end of May after 20 years of pastoral ministry. He taught elementary school for four years; earned a B.Th. from MB Bible College; taught at Bethany Bible Institute for two years; earned a B.A. from Waterloo Lutheran University; taught high school for 11 years, including six years at Eden Christian College in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.; earned an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary; pastored South Langley MB Church for nine-and-a-half years; served as church planter at North Langley Community Church for seven years; and then served as church planter at Murrayville Community Church in Langley, B.C. for the past three-and-a-half years. He also served on the Ontario MB Conference Board of Church Extension for 10 years and the B.C. MB Conference Board of Church Extension for 12 years. He and his wife Betty have three grown children and five grandchildren. They are open to short-term assignments such as interim pastorates and longer-term part-time assignments.

Lorlie Barkman has resigned as senior pastor of Westwood Community Church in Winnipeg, effective April 30, after serving for over eight years. A graduate of Bethany Bible Institute and MB Bible College (B.R.S), he has also studied at Wheaton College and Regent College and studied commercial art. He had worked part-time as a political cartoonist and commercial artist, then pastored Regal Heights MB Church in Swift Current, Sask. for 10 years and served as TV producer for MB Communications for 15 years. His wife Deanna works in private health care nursing. The Barkmans plan to remain in Winnipeg, where Lorlie will give time to project ministries.

Don Boddy has resigned, effective April 30, as pastor of St. Boniface Evangelical Christian Church in Winnipeg. He has served for over two years in the position and before that served for 16 months as a pastoral intern in the church. He has a B.A. from Provident College in Otterburne, Man. and has also served for two summers as pastor of Barwick (Ont.) Community Church. He and his wife Heather have one daughter, Emma, 5. They are seeking further ministry opportunities.

John Hua became pastor in charge (lead pastor) of Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace Chinese Church on Jan. 1. He earned a bachelor's degree from Northwest Baptist Theological College in Langley, B.C. and an M.Div. from the China Graduate School of Theology in Hong Kong, then pastored Richmond (B.C.) Peace Chinese Mennonite Church for six years. For the past year, he has been studying counselling at Associated Canadian Theological Schools in Langley, B.C. His wife Birdie also has an M.Div. from China Graduate School of Theology. She earlier served for one year as pastor of training and acting pastor in charge of the Port Moody Church. They have one daughter, Ivana, 5.

Isaac Chang is serving as interim pastor in charge of Burnaby (B.C) Pacific Grace Chinese Church. He has served as an associate pastor at the church for five years. Previously, Burnaby Pacific Grace Chinese Church and its daughter church, Port Moody Pacific Grace Chinese Church, had been operating as a single congregation, with one pastor in charge. Now, the two have decided to become separate congregations.

Terry Goertzen became full-time associate pastor of youth and family ministries at Jubilee Mennonite Church in Winnipeg on Jan. 1. He had been serving in the position on a half-time basis for a year. He has a B.Th. from Okanagan Bible College and served for four years as youth pastor at Cornerstone Mennonite Church in Saskatoon. He is now working part-time toward an M.Div. through the Winnipeg Theological Consortium (through Concord College). He and his wife SuAnn have two children, Michal, 3, and Brodie, 7 months.

Tim Champ became full-time minister of worship and adult ministries in Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C. on Jan. 1. He had been serving in the position on a part-time basis throughout 1997. He has been running an ice cream vending and concession business since moving to Chilliwack five-and-a-half years ago. He and his wife Christyn formerly lived in Ontario where he earned a B.R.E from London Baptist Bible College and worked in an office furniture store and Christyn worked as a registered nurse. They have three children, Sarah, 7, Rachel, 4, and Lucas, 2.

Doreen Wall was made half-time children's ministries pastor in Broadway MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C. in October. She had been serving in the position on a part-time interim basis since January, 1997. She has studied at Briercrest Bible College for two years and has been involved in church ministries as a volunteer for a number of years. Most recently she was working as production manager at a wholesale nursery. She and her husband Tim have two children, Janine, 9, and Lucas, 6.

Arlene Schroeder has been appointed youth worker in Parliament Community Church in Regina, effective Jan. 1, working 30 hours a week. She had been interim senior high youth worker, at 20 hours a week, since August, 1997. She has studied for one year at Briercrest Bible College. She and her husband Walter previously served as volunteer youth sponsors in Philadelphia MB Church, Watrous, Sask. for nine years and in the Parliament Church for one year. They have three children, Jeromey, 17, Jeanette, 15, and Jon, 13.

Karen Woodard has been appointed half-time interim children's pastor at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. from Jan. 1 to the end of August, 1998. She has a B.A. in education from Central Michigan University and has worked in various capacities with Campus Crusade for Christ for 20 years. She and her husband Mike, B.C. regional director for campus ministries with Campus Crusade, moved to Abbotsford two years ago. They have four children, Mark, 17, Joy, 16, Faith, 15, and Erin, 13.

Leslie Bushman has been serving as minister of children's ministries at West Portal MB Church in Saskatoon on a 30%-time basis since June, 1997. She has a nursing degree and worked as a nurse at one time and is a long-time member of the church and volunteer in children's ministry. She and her husband Ron have two children, Jonathan, in first-year university, and Janice, in grade 10. Andrew Klassen became minister of worship in training at West Portal MB Church in Saskatoon on Oct. 1. He is a graduate of Bethany Bible Institute and has done a worship internship at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. He also works part-time with Puzzlemaster. He is being trained by Phil Nickel, who has been volunteer worship leader at the church for five years. They are currently sharing a 30%-time position. The other part-time minister at the church is Terry Friesen, who has been three-quarter-time youth pastor for two years. He also works as a supply teacher.

Arnold and Anne Baerg retired as part-time ministers of pastoral care at Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church in June, 1997, after serving for 10 years. Arnold previously worked for 32 years as a teacher, school counsellor and vice-principal for 32 years. Ann worked half-time with handicapped children in the Rotary Centre in Kitchener-Waterloo. They both then studied for half a year at MB Biblical Seminary before starting their pastoral ministry. They have two grown children and five grandchildren. They are spending some time in British Columbia and the US before returning to Waterloo, where they plan to be active in ministry on a volunteer basis.

Paul McLeod became pastor of music and worship at Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church on Jan. 5. He has a B.A. in administration from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music and a B.Ed. from York University. He was involved in worship on a volunteer basis at Spring Garden Baptist Church in Toronto for five years, was part-time worship pastor at Donway Baptist Church in Toronto for two years and was full-time music pastor at Spring Garden Baptist Church for five years. He has provided teaching, speaking and music at conferences and retreats, including serving as the pianist at the 1987 Urbana missions conference. He and his wife Jean ran music camps for high school students at Ontario Pioneer Camps for five summers. Jean is a speech language therapist at Fergus (Ont.) Hospital. The McLeods have one son, Timothy, 22 months.

Paul McIlwraith became associate pastor of youth at Waterloo (Ont.) MB Church last July 28. For the past 10 years, he has been a teacher and guidance counsellor with the Waterloo County School Board. He has a B.A. and B.Ed. from the University of Western Ontario and is working toward an M.Div. at Ontario Theological Seminary. His wife Carolyn is a part-time teacher. They have four children, Leah, 6, Scotty, 4, and Tess and D.J. (David), 21 months.

Steinbach (Man.) MB Church held a commissioning service for youth pastor Scott Koop on Dec. 7. Guest speaker for the evening was Mike Kehler, youth pastor of the Christian Fellowship Church in Steinbach. Many friends from Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg, including senior pastor Cal Bergen, were present to wish blessings on Scott and his wife Natalie in their new ministry.

Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon has a number of staff serving as directors of various departments for the 1997-98 year. Lisa Braun is half-time interim children's ministries director, replacing Jolaine Stangeland, who is on a one-year leave of absence. Joel Mowchenko is serving as full-time director of college and career ministries for a year; he served as an intern at the church last year. Michele Harder is serving as three-quarters-time co-director of college and career ministries. Val Priebe is serving as half-time director of junior high ministries; her husband Garry is a volunteer youth sponsor. Kevin Unger is serving as three-quarter-time director of senior high youth ministries for a year; he served as part-time co-director of senior high youth ministries last year. Melody Hunter is serving as half-time co-director of senior high youth ministries for a year. She served as part-time director of senior high youth ministries last year.

Herb Brandt ended his formal pastoral ministry career by preaching his "last" sermon Jan. 4 in Fraserview MB Church in Richmond, B.C. He reflected on his more than 37 years of leading, preaching, pastoring and "sharing the love of Jesus", before giving the people of Fraserview his "prayer wish" from Ephesians 3:14-19. In the middle of the sermon, between the reflection and the prayer wish, he paused and handed to Dan Unrau, current senior pastor of Fraserview, the keys to his office and his B.C. government Certificate of Registration (his license to conduct marriages), saying, "I don't need these any more." Herb and his wife Anne will continue to attend Fraserview and serve as volunteers as health and energy allow. Herb was a long-time pastor, serving most recently as senior pastor and then pastor of care and seniors at Fraserview, and had also held a number of positions in MB conferences, including moderator of the General MB Conference. Dan Unrau observed, "Herb and Anne have been God's gift to Fraserview and this denomination."

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