Johannes Stolz has resigned as senior pastor of North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg, effective Dec. 31. In 1994, he came to North Kildonan MB Church after serving two years as pastor at Central MB Church in Winnipeg. Previously, he pastored Springfield Heights Mennonite Church in Winnipeg 1985-1991 and then spent eight months as intern at the MB church in Lage, Germany. A native of Switzerland, he went to Bible school in Brake, Germany at age 18 to avoid military service. He later taught there for six years. In 1979, he came to Canada. He has a B.R.S. from MB Bible (now Concord) College and an M.A. in Christian education from Winnipeg Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Man. His wife Ilse died Dec. 25, 1997 after a long illness. He plans to remarry in early 1999 and will be living in the Vancouver area. He is open to further ministry.

Brad Wilson has resigned after five years as youth pastor of Leamington (Ont.) MB Church, effective Sept. 30. Previously, he was employed in social work, and also had extensive volunteer and missionary experience. He has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Western Ontario. He is pursuing an M.A. in pastoral ministry. He and his wife Dianne have three children, Jacob, 5, Drew, 3, and Rachel, 1. They are open to further ministry.

Gordon Willison has resigned after six years as pastor of Glenbush (Sask.) MB Church, effective Sept. 6. He has a B.Th. from Canadian Bible College in Regina and has studied at Word of Life Bible School in Regina. Previously, he served in Prison Fellowship, hospital visitation and street ministry in Regina. Beginning Sept. 13, he began to pastor the Alliance church in Gull Lake, Sask. He and his wife Carla have three children, Jamie, 7, Danae, 6, and Gordon, 3.

Harry Strauss has been hired as senior pastor at Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon, beginning Feb. 1, 1999. Strauss is presently senior pastor of Parliament Community Church, Regina, until the end of December. Previously, he pastored a Baptist church near Saskatoon for six years and was associate pastor at Forest Grove Community Church for over three years. He and his wife Judy have four children, Stephanie, 19, Jason, 16, Jeffrey, 13, and Curtis, 10. (See MBH, June 12.)

Linden (Alta.) MB Church hosted a farewell for Rudy and Mary Heidebrecht July 26. Rudy served as interim associate pastor until the end of July. Many people expressed their deep appreciation for the couple's service, and they were presented with a wall plaque commemorating their year in Linden.

Armstrong (B.C.) Bible Chapel held a commissioning service for pastor couple Greg and Monica Schmidt Aug. 16. Greg recently graduated with an M.A. in church ministry from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. The Schmidts have two children, Talea, 5, and Ryan, 2. Ike Bergen, B.C. MB Conference minister, spoke, basing his message on I Peter 5:2-3 and Hebrews 13:17.

Boissevain (Man.) MB Church recently heard several short-term missions reports. Erin Martens was in India with Youth Mission International; Erin Harder was in Honduras with Teen Mission International; Joe Hammond was in East Palo Alto, Calif. with City Team Ministries; and Kelvin Hildebrandt is working with a First Nations community in northern B.C. The church also sent numerous youth workers to camps, including Simonhouse Bible Camp and Gospel Light Bible Camp. Three young men were involved with Christian Athletes Hockey Camp in Brandon, Man. Henry and Pearl Dueck worked for Mennonite Disaster Service in Arkansas and Florida during the winter.

Ed Epp has been appointed director of international operations for Mennonite Economic Development Associates, beginning Nov. 2. Since May 1992, Epp has been director of Mennonite Central Committee's Middle East programs. He and his wife Norilynn served as MCC's co-country representatives for Lebanon and Jordan 1987-89 and as teachers in China 1984-86. Epp will be responsible for managing MEDA's small business development programs in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Nicaragua, Romania and Bolivia, as well as exploring new program development. He has a B.Ed. from the University of Winnipeg. The Epps are members of Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg.

Betsy Headrick McCrae became Mennonite Central Committee's East Asia program director Sept. 1. She replaces Ann Martin. Since 1993, Headrick McCrae served as MCC's Vietnam country co-representative. Previously, she served with MCC in Akron, Pa. and in Congo. She had been involved with the Brussels (Belgium) Mennonite Centre and had been an Overseas Missions Associate with Mennonite Board of Missions of the General Conference Mennonite Church. She has a B.A. in small business from San Francisco State University in California. She will work at 80% time. Diana Gehman, East Asia administrative assistant, will coordinate MCC's China programs. Bruce McCrae has been named MCC director of administration and resources, starting Aug. 3. He replaces Berry Friesen, who has become executive director of Pennsylvania Hunger Action, a public education and advocacy group in Harrisburg, Pa. McCrae has a B.A. from Yale University in New Haven, Conn. and a law degree from the University of California in Berkeley. Previously, he has worked as a lawyer in Brussels, Belgium and in Minneapolis, Minn., and has served with Habitat for Humanity, Disciples of Christ in Congo and Action Reconciliation in West Berlin, Germany. Bruce and Betsy have two daughters, Rita, 14, and Ellen, 11.

Lendrum MB Church in Edmonton celebrated God's gifts through arts and music by holding a spring choir concert and arts festival June 7. The arts festival featured the congregation's needlework, photography, painting, woodworking and literary works. The choir concert featured a 45-voice mixed choir as well as solos and a quartet from the University of Alberta music faculty. A particularly memorable piece was the spiritual, "He never failed me yet", performed a capella.

Lendrum MB Church in Edmonton hosted its third annual Klondike breakfast for the community, which included music, drama and a devotional. Approximately 200 people attended. A three-man band, consisting of accordion, banjo and harmonica, played a variety of gospel and east coast folk music. The drama presented the message of salvation through pantomime. A small ladies' choir sang as well. Steve Kuntz, associate pastor, delivered the devotional message. Each year, the church uses the breakfast as an opportunity to meet its neighbours.

Jake Enns has been hired as the new pastor of Thompson (Man.) Christian Centre Fellowship, effective Oct. 1. Since 1996, he has been pastor at Lynn Lake (Man.) Gospel Church. Previously, he served as interim pastor at Lakeside Gospel Chapel in St. Laurent, Man., teaching intern at Alymer Bible School in Orwell, Ont. and pastoral intern in Gospel Fellowship Church at Steinbach, Man. He has a B.R.S. in church ministries from Steinbach Bible College and a Master of Theological Studies from Heritage Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Ont. He and his wife Kathy have four children, Kyro, 7, Kacylia, 5, Natalia, 4, and Jaris, 2.

George and Mary Baerg completed their interim responsibilities in Thompson (Man.) Christian Centre Fellowship at the end of June. Since Oct. 1, they have been serving in an interim position at Rosemary (Alta.) Mennonite Church.

Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. held a farewell Sept. 27 for George and Mary Baier, who had served the church for the past six years in music, preaching and visitation ministry. They will begin a ministry to seniors at Culloden MB CHurch in Vancouver in November.

Eldon and Myrna DeFehr became associate pastor couple at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on Oct. 1. Eldon studied four years at Prairie Bible School; taught two years at Peace River Bible Institute; earned a B.A. from Waterloo Lutheran University and a B.Th. from MB Bible College; taught music in public school in Portage la Prairie for two years; and then served on the the faculty of Winkler Bible Institute for 25 years, including seven years as academic dean and the last seven years as president. Since leaving Winkler four-and-a-half years ago, he has been serving as assistant director of ESLI International in Langley, B.C., has done contract teaching in communications for Trinity Western University and has been a pastoral elder at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. Myrna currently serves as office supervisor for Burden Bearers in Langley, B.C.

Korky Neufeld began serving as half-time pastor of evangelism and discipleship at The Meeting Place at Abbotsford (B.C.) on Sept. 1. He has a B.R.E. and B.Th. from Briercrest Bible College and served as associate pastor at Culloden MB Church in Vancouver 1987-91. Since then, he has been self-employed in the construction industry and also served for five years as elder of outreach and evangelism at Richmond (B.C.) Bethel MB Church. For the time being, he will continue to work part-time in the construction industry. He and his wife Cynthia have four children, Josiah, 11, Janessa, 7, Jesse, 4, and Jaden, 2.

Ron Geddert began serving as half-time director of ministry at The Meeting Place at Abbotsford (B.C.) on Sept. 1. He has a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan and has studied one year at MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Ca. He served for eight years as part-time college and career pastor at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon, worked as a contractor, was executive editor of the MB Herald for six years and for the last four years has been director of MB Biblical Seminary's B.C. Centre. He will continue as half-time director for the Centre until Dec. 31. He and his wife Joy have three children, Jeremy, 20, Rhoda, 17, and Joel, 10.

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