Personalia

Peter J. and Betty Klassen have resigned as senior pastor couple of Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, Ont., effective the end of July, after serving there since 1991. They have accepted the call to become senior pastor couple at Clearbrook MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C., effective Oct. 1. Previously, they pastored the Christian Fellowship Chapel near Orillia, Ont. for 14 years and Bridgeway Community Church, Swift Current, Sask. for eight years. Betty, a native of Yarrow, B.C., took teacher training and taught a few years before attending MB Bible (now Concord) College, Winnipeg. Peter has a B.Th. from MB Bible College, a B.A. from Waterloo Lutheran (now Wilfrid Laurier) University in Waterloo, Ont. and an M.Div. from Ontario Theological Seminary in Toronto. They have two grown children. Former senior pastor couple John E. and Leona Klassen are serving Clearbrook MB Church in the interim until Sept. 30.

Ed Buller has been hired as associate pastor of youth at Fort Garry MB Church, Winnipeg, effective July 1. Previously, he was an associate pastor of Portage Ave. MB Church, where he led the youth, drama and worship ministries. He also was on the Missionfest '98 executive and coordinated the youth program for that inter-denominational missions conference. Presently, he is on the special events planning committee for Winnipeg Harvest, a food bank and social service agency. He is a graduate of Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute and has a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg. He and his wife Laurie have two children, Benjamin, 4, and Alyson, 5 mos.

Johannes Stolz has been hired as senior pastor of Vancouver MB Church, effective May 1. Previously, he pastored North Kildonan MB Church in Winnipeg, 1994-98, Central MB Church in Winnipeg 1992-94 and Springfield Heights Mennonite Church in Winnipeg 1985-1991. He attended Bible school in Brake, Germany, later teaching 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 Providence Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Man. His first wife, Ilse passed away Dec. 25, 1997. On Jan. 2, 1999, he married Marie Louise Fast, a lawyer.

Bill Glasspell has resigned as part-time interim pastor at Regal Heights Community Church, Moose Jaw, Sask., effective Apr. 30, after serving for two years. He has been hired as senior pastor of Vauxhall (Alta.) MB Church, effective May 1. Previously, he was pastor of Evangelical Free Church in Terrace, B.C. and of a church plant in Seven Persons, Alta. for nine years; served with Shantymen International for five years; was a supply preacher for Associated Gospel Church, Davidson, Sask.; and flew search and rescue and reconnaissance aircraft for the air force for 13 years. He has a Master of Ministry degree from Briercrest Biblical Seminary, Caronport, Sask. and a diploma from Prairie Bible School, Three Hills, Alta. He and his wife Sandra have three children: Eric, 25, studying at Briercrest; Geoffrey, 19, studying at the University of Regina; and Jennifer, 17, who after high school is planning a missions trip to England and Scotland.

Walter and Margaret Reimer were installed as interim pastoral couple of Steinbach (Man.) MB Church on Jan. 31. The Reimers are taking over the ministry of Norm Neufeld, who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant in January. During the installation service, John B. Epp brought greetings from the Manitoba MB Conference. Pictured are (l-r) John Epp, Margaret and Walter Reimer, youth pastor Scott Koop and membership chair Randy Dueck.

Phil and Janine Gunther were commissioned Mar. 14 as new pastoral couple of Parliament Community Church, Regina. Henry Braun, assistant moderator of the Saskatchewan MB Conference, brought greetings from the Conference. Saskatchewan MB Conference Minister Ralph Gliege spoke on "Standing in the Gate", based on Jeremiah 31:1,2,8. He challenged the Gunthers to stand "in the gate", being ready as God brings opportunities; to minister "at the gate", from his areas of strength; and to proclaim "the message" in a well-balanced, bold and clear way. Gliege also challenged the congregation to support and encourage their pastor. The service concluded with prayers of commissioning by church moderator Peter Suderman, deaconess Jackie Stenzil and Ralph Gliege. The ladies' ministries presented Janine with a bouquet of flowers. A fellowship lunch and cake followed. Pictured are (back, l-r) youth ministry couple Wally and Arlene Schroeder, deacons Jackie and Bob Stenzil; (front) Ralph and Grace Gliege, Janine and Phil Gunther, and Peter Suderman.

Clinton Bell has resigned as pastor of St. Ann's Community Church, St. Ann, Ont., effective May 30. He has been appointed part-time director of church extension for the Ontario MB Conference, effective July 1 (see MBH, News, Apr. 2). He will be working out of his home in Waterloo, Ont. A member of Waterloo MB Church, he was elected to the Ontario MB Conference Board of Church Extension in 1997 and has served as its chair. Previously, he pastored an independent church in Zion, Ill., Emmanuel Missionary Church, Elmira, Ont., 1973-79; and Didsbury (Alta.) Missionary Church 1979-81. He has taught at Mountainview Bible College and has been a Christian radio broadcaster for 10 years in South Bend, Ind., Detroit, Mich. and Wingham, Ont. In 1980, he suffered a heart attack, and in 1981 he moved back to Waterloo. His wife Lorraine died 10 years ago. In June 1990 he married Mary. He has three grown children living in the US.

Paul Woods has resigned as the stewardship ministries representative of the Canadian MB Conference for British Columbia south, effective in June, after serving for five years. He has a B.A. in pastoral ministries from Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Sask. Previously, he owned an insurance brokerage in St. Catharines, Ont. 1984-89 and was involved in construction and accounting in Parry Sound, Ont., his home town. Paul and his wife Melodie, are members of attend Arnold Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C. and have three sons, Nathan (Nate), 22, Adam, 20, and Luke, 17. They are open to further ministry.

Cam Rowland has resigned after six years as youth pastor of Niverville (Man.) MB Church, effective June 30. In 1995, he graduated with a B.A. from Providence College, Otterburne, Man. He plans to go to MB Biblical Seminary in the fall to complete a Master's degree. During his ministry, he chaired the Manitoba MB Conference youth committee, served on the Canadian MB Conference YNET ministry team and was on the planning team for NYC '99. He and his wife Holly have two children, Harrison, 3, and Toby, 1.

Steven Wiebe has resigned as pastor of Emmanuel Community Church, Pierceland, Sask, effective May 2. He began his ministry with the church in April 1994. He has a B.A. in pastoral ministries from Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, Sask. He will seek other employment and training in the near future and later plans to attend seminary. He then hopes to re-enter pastoral ministry.

Myron Penner has resigned after a year-and-a-half as senior high and college and career pastor at Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C., effective Aug. 31. He plans to study full-time towards a Master of Christian Studies at Regent College, Vancouver. He has a B.A. in biblical studies from Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford. Previously, he was a pastoral intern in the church for three months in 1996, and he and his wife Andrea have been leaders with the college and career for the last three years. They joined the church in 1995. Andrea is a grade three teacher at Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford.

Hope Fellowship Church in Saskatoon marked the fifth anniversary of its charter service with the Saskatchewan MB Conference on Jan. 23. Reflections took the church back to the group of 40 who gathered under the leadership of Abe and Mary Unrau. The church of about 150 on Sunday mornings uses a cell-based church concept. It has two zones and is budding a third. The pastor couple is Terry and Wanda Froese.

Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man. ordained Dwayne Dyck Apr. 11 as a missionary to the youth of Brandon. Representatives from the church and Youth For Christ and Manitoba MB Conference representative Aubrey Krahn laid hands on Dwayne and his wife Roxanne and prayed for them. Kyle Jantzen of Saskatoon delivered the sermon. Dwayne grew up in Newton (Man.) Community Fellowship Church, and attended Winkler (Man.) Bible Institute 1988-90, MB Bible (now Concord) College 1990-91 and Brandon University 1991-94. Presently, he is assistant director at Youth For Christ in Brandon, where he has been working since January 1992. He served as an intern in Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church in summer 1990. Currently, he is chair of the Missions and Outreach Committee and serves on the church council at Richmond Park Church. Pictured are (l-r) senior pastor John Unger, Roxanne Dyck, Dwayne Dyck and youth pastor Merlin Enns.

Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C., held a missions conference Mar. 4-10. Called "Global Impact </#213>99", the conference included keynote speaker Ron Carlson of Christian Ministries International and the musical drama team "Souled Out" from Columbia Bible College. During the conference, Carlson spoke about cults. On Saturday morning, 125 men came out to the men's breakfast to hear Ray Heppner of SIM and Warren Janzen of SEND. At Saturday's luncheon, 180 women heard from Dorothy Janzen, Ruth Heppner and Tamara Schroeder. The quartet "Oricles" sang at both functions. Sunday morning, choir members dressed in international clothing and sang about how God loves every nation. A Power Point presentation of the 27 missionary families sent out and supported by the church was given.

Twenty workers participated in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pa., March 2-12. Twelve are beginning overseas assignments, seven are beginning assignments in North America, and one is a national worker from Bangladesh. Gordon Lamb of Aldergrove, B.C. is beginning a two-year assignment in Abbotsford, B.C., where he will work as co-manager of the MCC furniture store. Previously, he was employed as an environmental protection officer for the B.C. government in Surrey. He is a member of East Aldergrove MB Church. He and his wife Susan have two children, Deanne and Stephen.

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