PERSONALIA

St. Vital MB Church in Winnipeg changed its name to Crossroads MB Church during a congregational vote held Aug. 16. Part of its mission is expressed in its logo: "A place where God meets people". The church recently relocated to the renovated building of the former St. Boniface Evangelical Christian Church (See MBH, Aug. 28).

Ron Friesen began service Aug. 1 as pastor of young adult ministries at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon. On May 31, he completed eight years as senior youth pastor at Willingdon Church in Burnaby, B.C. In his spare time, he also served as a chaplain for Vancouver Fire and Rescue and coached basketball at Moscroft Junior Secondary School. He previously served for a year as youth pastor at Fraserview MB Church in Richmond, B.C., for eight years as youth pastor at Dalmeny (Sask.) Bible Church and as part-time youth pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Omaha, Neb. He has a B.Sc. from Grace University in Omaha and an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. He and his wife Nancy have two sons, Cody ,6, and Luke, 5, and twin 3-year-old daughters, Mikayla and Janaya.

Thirty-two workers participated in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa., Aug. 4-14. Fifteen are beginning overseas assignments, and 17 are beginning North American assignments. Glenn Kachmar of Victoria, B.C., is beginning a three-year assignment as a science resource teacher in Egypt. He has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Victoria; was last employed as a teacher in Victoria; and is a member of Saanich Community Church.

Thirty-one people participated in a SALT International orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. July 5-10. SALT (Serving And Learning Together) is a one-year program for young adults interested in living, learning and working overseas. Krystal Amendt of Fort St. John, B.C., is beginning a one-year assignment in Paraguay. She is a member of North Peace MB Church in Fort St. John. Stefani Barg of Christina Lake, B.C., is beginning a one-year assignment as a church worker in the Congo. She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of British Columbia; was last employed as a hydrometallurgy research assistant and as a public assistance staff person in a conference centre; and is affiliated with Grand Forks (B.C.) Gospel Chapel. Andrew Janzen of Abbotsford, B.C. is beginning a one-year assignment in Paraguay. He is a member of Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford. Mark Schneidereit of Rosedale, B.C., is beginning a one-year assignment as a retail shop coordinator in the Gaza Strip. He is working on a bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia; was last employed as a lumber salesman; and is a member of Harrison (B.C.) Gospel Chapel.

Fifty-seven young people from 27 countries are participating in Mennonite Central Committee's International Visitor Exchange Program in 1998-99. An orientation was held Aug. 1-6 at Blooming Glen (Pa.) Mennonite Church. IVEP is a one-year cultural exchange and vocational training program bringing young people from around the world to work among US and Canadian Mennonites. Most participants spend six months living in one US or Canadian location, meet for a mid-term reunion, then spend six months volunteering at a second location. Among them, José Engel of Bogotà, Colombia is beginning a six-month assignment as a graphic designer and maintenance worker at Columbia Bible Camp in Lindell Beach, B.C. Rita Atola of Zarqa, Jordan is beginning a six-month assignment as a secretary at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. Evelyn Bertuzzi of Santa Fe, Argentina, is beginning a six-month assignment as a teacher's assistant at Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford. Aogu Kurokawa of Osaka, Japan, is beginning a six-month assignment as a teacher's assistant with Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford. Miroslav Peyter of Zakarpatskaja, Ukraine is beginning a six-month assignment as a radio producer assistant with MB Communications in Winnipeg.

Twenty-two US and Canadian young people have begun a year in Europe with the Intermenno Trainee program. They began the year with an Aug. 14-16 orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa. Participants spend a year in the Netherlands, Switzerland or Germany, working and living with European Mennonites. Most participants spend six months in each of two locations. Mark R. Mathies of Waterloo, Ont., is beginning his term in Espelkamp, Germany, where he will work as a hardware store assistant with the Hildebrandt family. He will likely move to another placement in the same country for the second half of the year. He was last employed as a landscaping worker for Moser Outdoor Maintenance; is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo; and is a member of Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church.

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