Personalia

Phil Gunther has been hired as senior pastor of Parliament Community Church, Regina, starting Mar. 1, 1999. He has been pastor of the Mennonite Church in Carrot River, Sask. for over seven years. He has resigned as pastor of that church, effective Jan. 31. Previously, he was an associate pastor of Trissels Mennonite Church, Broadway, Va. He has a diploma in criminology from Fraser Valley College in B.C., a diploma in biblical studies from Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C., a B.A. from Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. and an M.A. from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va., and he is currently working towards an M.Div. from Canadian Theological Seminary, Regina. He and his wife Janine have three sons, Thomas, 8, Daniel, 6, and Aaron, 2.

John Klassen has been hired as pastor of Glenbush (Sask.) MB Church, effective Jan. 1. He grew up near Beechy, Sask. and attended Hillside Christian Fellowship most of his life. For the last seven years he was the church's moderator, and he has served the church in various lay positions. He has a B.Th. from MB Bible College, Winnipeg, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and a diploma of Christian education from Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Sask. He and his wife Charlotte recently retired from farming. They have two grown children.

Cliff and Edith Janzen have been hired starting Jan. 1 as senior pastor couple of Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, Sask. Recently, he resigned from Portage Ave. MB Church. (See MBH, Dec. 4.)

Jeremy Kliever has resigned as part-time youth pastor of Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church, effective Nov. 1, after serving for two years. Previously, he was a summer intern in Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C. He attended Bethany Bible Institute for three years and served as resident dean at BBI for one year. His wife Jacki is director of recruitment at BBI. Jeremy has taken on contractual work as a Web page designer.

Parliament Community Church in Regina held a farewell on Nov. 8 for pastor Harry Strauss and his family. Special music was provided by a mixed quartet and the ladies' ministries, of which Judy Strauss served as coordinator. Marianne Wiebe, Henry Braun and pastor Strauss shared reflections and comments about his 10 years of ministry. This was followed by a noon meal and an informal program, including music and humorous skits reflecting Strauss's experiences in the church. Individuals from the congregation had opportunity to share their thoughts and wishes, and the Strausses were presented with a gift from the church. Strauss has accepted a call to be senior pastor of Forest Grove Community Church, Saskatoon.

Rick Zerbe Cornelsen has been appointed part-time coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee Canada's Aboriginal Neighbours program (formerly called the Native Concerns program). Zerbe Cornelsen will help MCC workers across Canada collaborate on common tasks such as the summer gardening program and will monitor national issues such as the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. He and his wife Dori were MCC volunteers in Labrador 1985-87, and have also worked with aboriginal issues in B.C. They headed up MCC Manitoba's Open Circle prisoner visitation program 1991-97; Dori continues to coordinate that program. They attend Hope Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, and have two children.

Parliament Community Church in Regina baptized Marc Suderman and welcomed him as a new member Aug. 23.

Steinbach (Man.) MB Church held a missions conference Oct. 23-25. Booths were set up in the foyer, and pamphlets were handed out that encouraged attenders to step into the world of missions for either a short term or a long term. The theme was "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8). Neill Stitt, pastor of Albright Evangelical Church, Winnipeg, spoke on Friday and Saturday evenings. Samir and Lewiza Youssef shared their passion for presenting the gospel to Muslims. The video, The Harvest was shown, and the Town and Country Quartet sang. Reports on how God is expanding His Kingdom in Peru, Russia and Albania were given.

Steinbach (Man.) MB Church held a Halloween alternative on Oct. 31. Parents in the church and the community were invited to bring their children to the church for candy and games organized and run by the youth dressed in costumes. A life-sized inflatable whale was featured at a dramatization of the story of Jonah. Refreshments were served, and prizes were handed out.

On Oct. 18, Panorama Community Church, Surrey, B.C., welcomed Kay Adams and Kim Grylls as new members by baptism. The church held a baptism Sept. 27 for Karen West, Mayumi Hill, Dave Morgan, Ryan Moir, Kim Eidet, Tara Davidson, Kevin Davidson, Naomi Tilbrook, Alesya Drummond, Brandon Caspar, Laura Moes, Marc Westmacot and Jerod Blacklock. On Oct. 25. the church held a baptism for Holly Morden, Colin Bogelund, Steven Rice, Kylie Hutton, Rachel Wiebe, Emily Wiebe and Rachel Nickel.

Return to the M.B.Herald Vol. 37, No. 24 Home Page