Personalia

Ross Johnston became associate pastor for young families, care groups, counselling and outreach events at Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on April 1. He has a B.Th. from Canadian Nazarene College in Winnipeg and an M.Div. and M.R.E. from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. For the past six years, he has been a member of Mountain Park Community Church in Abbotsford, and has been involved in parachurch ministries, counselling and business. Prior to that, he pastored a Nazarene church in Calgary for nine years and a Nazarene church in Abbotsford for six years. He is currently chair of the Valley Christian School Board, and has been a member of the US and Canadians boards of Bob Larson Ministries for 18 years. His wife Beverley is a Sunday school curriculum consultant and an elementary school teacher. They have three children, Heidi, 16, Kent, 12, and Michelle, 11.

Matthew Todd became English ministry pastor at Port Moody (B.C.) Pacific Grace Church on Mar. 22. He has an administrative and marketing management certificate from British Columbia Institute of Technology, a bachelor’s degree in pastoral theology from Western Pentecostal Bible College, a B.A. in psychology and sociology from Simon Fraser University, and a Master of Christian Studies from Regent College. He has been an English ministries pastor in Italian-English congregations for several years, did pulpit supply in cross-denominational and cross-cultural settings for eight years, was in a travelling music ministry for several years, and has served and preached among Chinese congregations for eight years. He and his wife Linda have an eight-year-old son, Sheldon.

Tim van Brummelen has been hired as full-time worship pastor at Willow Park MB Church, Kelowna, B.C., effective in July. Previously, he taught three years at Mennonite Educational Institute elementary school, Abbotsford, B.C., and five years at Abbotsford Christian school. He has a B.A. and a B.Ed. from Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C., and a teaching certificate from Simon Fraser University. He has written choral music and worship choruses, including "Rejoice", "Lord of the Heavens" and "Your Love is Amazing to Me". He also has written songs for publishers in Nashville, Tenn., for several worship CDs produced by Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, and for Kindred Production's "More than Music" CD. For the past 14 months, he has been serving as part-time worship leader at The Meeting Place at Abbotsford. He and his wife Melanie have three daughters, Elise, 7, Jessica, 5, and Vanessa, 19 months.

Les Riediger has resigned as pastor of Westview Community Church, Grassy Lake, Alta., effective this summer, after serving five years. On Sept. 1, he will become senior pastor at North Peace MB Church, Fort St. John, B.C. Previously, he pastored Borden (Sask.) MB Church for five-and-a-half years, was associate pastor at Westwood MB Church, Prince George, B.C., for three years, was associate pastor at Steinbach (Man.) MB Church, and was a pastoral intern at Chilliwack (B.C.) Central MB Church. He has a diploma from Bethany Bible School, a B.R.S. from MB Bible (Concord) College, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg and an M.A. from MB Biblical Seminary. He and his wife Marilyn have two daughters, Carissa, 9, and Janelle, 7.

Al Thiessen has resigned as associate pastor of Richmond (B.C.) Bethel MB Church, after serving 13 years. Previously, he was involved in construction for 15 years. He has studied at Briercrest Bible School, Caronport, Sask., and has taken some courses from Regent College, Vancouver. He and his wife Herta have two grown sons, Eric and Mark. They are open to further ministry.

Eighteen workers participated in orientation at Mennonite Central Committee's office in Akron, Pa., May 4-14. Eight are beginning overseas assignments, nine are beginning assignments in North America, and one is a national worker from Bangladesh. James and Marci Loewen of Kenora, Ont., are beginning three-year assignments working in peace education and support services at Jamaica Theological Seminary. James has a master's degree from the University of Calgary. Marci has a B.A. in psychology from Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. They are members of Dalhousie MB Community Church, Calgary. Kevin Tiessen of Winkler, Man., is beginning a one-year assignment working as an agriculturalist with MCC's Youth Internship Program in Congo. He has a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Manitoba. Previously, he worked as a laboratory technician with Ag & Agri Food Canada in Morden, Man. He is a member of Winkler (Man.) MB Church.

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