Personalia

Reda and Tahany Hanna became the new pastor couple at Arabic Evangelical Church in New Westminster, B.C. on July 1. Both trained as pharmacists in their native Egypt. Reda then worked as a pharmacist in Kuwait 1977-93. He felt a call to the ministry beginning in 1989, and in 1993 began ministering to refugees during the Iraqi invasion. He immigrated to the US in 1993 and earned a bachelor's degree from an Assemblies of God college in Louisiana in 1994. He then planted two Arabic fellowships in New Orleans, La. and hosted an Arabic television program shown in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, La. and Hattiesburg, Miss. The Hannas have three children, Ann Marie, 15, Angie, 13, and Andrew, 22 months. The church meets Friday afternoons in New Westminster, but also holds a Bible study and youth meeting on Saturday evenings in Surrey, B.C. and a Bible study on Friday evenings in Abbotsford, B.C.

Myron Koop resigned Aug. 12 after five years as associate pastor in Fort Garry MB Church in Winnipeg. He is staying at home with his two children, Mallory, 2, and Thomas, 9 months, while his wife Susan works as a nurse at St. Boniface General Hospital. Koop is considering options for the future. Previously, he worked for one year in Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church and for three years with Youth For Christ in Winnipeg. He has a B.R.E. in pastoral studies from Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Sask.

Ramsy Unruh has been hired as full-time worship pastor in Eastview Community Church in Winnipeg, starting Nov. 1. For six years he was minister of music at Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C. (See MBH, July 17.)

Darren and Val Willems have been hired as pastor couple in LaSalle (Man.) Community Church, beginning Oct. 15. Started by Manitoba MB Conference Missions and Church Extension in 1995, the church is currently meeting in an elementary school and has an attendance of 65 people. Ray and Chris Klassen were the pastor couple, hired on an interim part-time basis to serve the church until a full-time pastor was needed. Ray will stay on for one month to ensure a smooth transition. Willems has a B.Ed. from the University of Winnipeg and an advanced Diploma of Christian Ministries from Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. He taught three years at Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Man. 1993-96 and served as youth pastor in Steinbach (Man.) Evangelical Fellowship Church 1997-98. The Willemses have three children, Justin, 6, Levi, 3, and Kurtis, 2.

B>Tracy Wiebe started working as half-time worship coordinator in McIvor Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg, in September. Originally from Arnold Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., Wiebe has been working at Briercrest Bible College as a residence director and studying for her M.A. in music. In British Columbia, she has worked for MCC Supportive Care Services, and she has done mission assignments with various mission agencies.

Maria Klassen, a member of Westview Christian Fellowship in St. Catharines, Ont., left Sept. 9 for a one-year volunteer assignment in England. She will be working at Glyndley Manor, Ellel Ministries, a Christian healing retreat centre. Her duties will include housekeeping and playing piano for the worship team. In Westview, she was involved with the worship team, Sunday school teaching and youth leadership. She is a graduate of St. Catharines Collegiate, where she was instrumental in starting up a Christian club that met weekly for fellowship and worship.

Fifteen people from Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines, Ont. spent a week in October doing volunteer work in the warehouse of Ten Thousand Villages in Akron, Pa. The group helped price the handicrafts from around the world. David Penner coordinated the group. This was the tenth time he has led a group to Pennsylvania to help the nonprofit operation.

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