Personalia

Lorina Marsch, former editor of Mennonitische Rundschau, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Roland and Lorina have been in Dresden, Germany since December, 1997 under MBMS International. They resigned from the church July 27 and will be returning to Winnipeg to seek further medical treatment. Prayer for them would be appreciated.

Rob and Judy Griffioen became senior high pastor couple at Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on July 1. Born in Ontario, Rob worked at a variety of jobs in B.C., including seven years for Fletcher’s Fine Foods in Vancouver and a couple of years as office manager in an automotive shop in Abbotsford, B.C. The Griffioens were active in Baptist and Alliance churches and for a while attended Greendale MB Church in Chilliwack, B.C. Sensing a call to ministry in 1993, Rob earned a B.A. in biblical and general studies from Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Sask. and an M.A. in New Testament from Briercrest Seminary. He then served for a year as interim pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Hope, B.C. The Griffioens have four children, Sherri-Lynn, 16, Jonathan, 15, and Amanda and Amber, 13.

Reuben Pauls has been hired as pastor of River of Life Community (MB) Church, Sorrento, B.C., effective Aug. 1. He recently resigned as Canadian MB Conference executive minister, a position he held for the last four years (see MBH, News, May 28). Previously, he pastored Valleyview Bible Church, Kamloops, B.C., and was associate pastor in Elmwood MB Church, Winnipeg. He has a B.A. in business from Fresno (Calif.) Pacific College and an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno. He and his wife Martha have three grown children, Colleen, Steve and Mark; and two grandsons. River of Life Community Church, a one-and-a-half-year-old church plant, has about 80 attenders. For the last few months, Albert Baerg has been interim pastor of the church.

Jeff Peters has been hired as associate pastor of youth ministries at Hepburn (Sask.) MB Church, effective at the end of June. He recently completed his assignment at Warman (Sask.) MB Church, where he was "acting" pastor and served as an intern. He has a B.A. from Millar College of the Bible, Pambrun, Sask. Previously, he worked for a window and door retail store, the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and a farm implement manufacturer in Saskatoon. He is married to Connie.

Henry J. Wiebe has been hired as senior pastor of Vineland (Ont.) MB Church, where he has served as interim pastor for three-and-a-half years. Previously, he was the church planter of St. Ann's (Ont.) Community Church for 14 years and pastored Niagara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship for 14 years. He is a graduate of MB Bible (Concord) College, Winnipeg, and Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ont. Previously, he taught for the Niagara South Board of Education for 17 years. He and his wife Helen have three grown children and 11 grandchildren.

Joel Toews has been hired as full-time youth pastor at Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church, effective June 1. He is from Manitou, Man. Previously, he has been a camp counsellor and for a year program director at Pembina Valley Bible Camp. He has studied at Winkler (Man.) Bible School, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C., and Providence College, Otterburne, Man.; he has a B.A in youth ministries from the latter. He is married to Colleen.

Greendale MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C., held a commissioning service for Rick and Julie Lade on June 27. They became youth pastor couple at the church on June 1. Rick has a B.A. from Western Pentecostal Bible College, Abbotsford, B.C. As a teen, he was involved in the youth group in Glad Tidings Church, a nondenominational church in Chilliwack. Julie has a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia and has taught five years at High Road Academy, a private secondary school in Chilliwack. The Lades have two children, Connor, 2, and Jonas, 5 months. Pictured (l-r) are Dave Fast, Rick Lade, Julie Lade, Norm Born, senior pastor Reg Toews and Steve Ratzlaff.

Roger D. Thiessen has resigned as associate pastor of Fairview MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont., effective Aug. 1, after serving five years. On Sept. 1, he will become senior pastor of Westwood Community Church, Winnipeg. He has a B.A. from MB Bible (now Concord) College, Winnipeg, and an M.Div. from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif. He and his wife Wanda have two daughters, Kayla, 8, and Chelsey, 4.

George and Eileen Klassen have resigned as pastor couple of Salem MB Church, Freeman, S.D., effective July 12, after serving since summer 1994. George graduated from MB Bible (Concord) College, Winnipeg, and from MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Calif. Previously, he farmed in Manitou, Man. They have three children, Karen, Tammy and Philip. They are open to further ministry in Canada.

Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man., held a farewell supper for outgoing senior pastor couple John and Merrill Unger on May 23. Unger is the new president of Concord College, Winnipeg. At the farewell, people were given the opportunity to share their thoughts with the Ungers. John was presented with fruit, symbolic of the various ministries in the church, and a branch of spring blossoms, representing the fruit yet to be harvested from his ministry at the church. Everett Busink brought words of appreciation to John from the Brandon Ministerial Association. April Henderson presented a tribute to Merrill regarding the contributions she has brought to the church. Rob Holland presented John with a New York Rangers' hockey jersey with "Unger 99" on it. Ron and Colleen Funk and George and Jacquie Penner sang "He Leadeth Me" and a personalized version of "Goodbye, Farewell". The Ungers were also given a painting of their house in Brandon, done by Lois Dyck, and a pottery teapot. The Ungers were joined for the evening by two of their children and spouses: John and Mel Unger and Lori and Jon Unger Brandt.

Dave Worth has completed his work as executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, effective June 30, after serving 10 years. Altogether he has worked 29 years for MCC. He and his wife Linda have been appointed as interim coordinators for Habitat for Humanity in Jamaica for one year. The Worths have two grown children, Debra and Daniel.

Arli Klassen has been appointed executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, effective July 1. Previously, she worked two years with single mothers in Toronto, was MCC country representative in Lesotho 1990-94, was assistant director of MCC's African department in Akron, Pa. 1994-97 and worked for the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo 1998-99. She studied at MB Bible (Concord) College in Winnipeg and has a B.A. in sociology and religious studies from the University of Winnipeg and an M.S.W. from the University of Toronto. She and her husband Keith Regehr have two daughters, Alison, 11, and Jennifer, 10.

Dwight McLelland was baptized June 13 in Dalhousie MB Community Church, Calgary.

Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church held a baptism Dec. 6 for Andrea Dunn, Valerie Dyck, Jill Reimer, Lori Reimer, Dusty Wiebe, Rick Wiebe, Lori Young, Lorissa Young and Randy Young.

Jack Dyck, Stephanie Dunn and Brenda Grindell were baptized June 13 in Carman (Man.) Gospel Light Church.

Peter Klassen, a former professor who served over 25 years with Brandon University's Faculty of Education, was inducted into the faculty's Wall of Honour on June 25. He is a member of Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man.

The Coaldale (Alta.) Mendelssohn Community Choir under the direction of Randy Klassen performed the St. Paul Oratorio in the former Coaldale MB Church building on May 28 and 29. The Coaldale MB Church choir formed the core of the community choir, with additional singers coming from Coaldale and Lethbridge churches. Klassen followed the tradition of his grandfather, Franz C. Thiessen, who first introduced the oratorio to the Mennonite community in Russia and later directed choirs performing this piece in Rosthern, Sask., Winnipeg and B.C.'s Fraser Valley. On the same weekend, more than 200 people gathered at the former MB church building (now the Gem of the West Museum) north of town, when it was designated a historic site by the Alberta Historical Society. Seven thousand hours of volunteer work went into the renovation of the building. The building was constructed in 1939 in three-and-a-half months at a cost of $13,000.

Elmwood MB Church in Winnipeg held a commissioning service for new associate pastor couple Jacob and Mary Pauls on July 4. Herb Kopp, Manitoba MB Conference minister, spoke about the reality of an evil world, but emphasized the greater reality of the presence and power of God continuously surrounding Christians. Prayers were offered for the Pauls by Mary Unruh, chair of the deacon/care-giving board, by James Wiebe, assistant to the pastor, and by senior pastor Keith Poysti. The congregation responded with a promise to pray for and encourage the Pauls in their ministry. Jake has already begun his duties, preaching both in German and English.

On June 6, Elmwood MB Church in Winnipeg gathered to show its appreciation for Abe and Irene Neufeld. The Neufelds have retired from ministry after serving the church as associate pastor couple for the past five years. Words of thanks for their love, care, visits, counselling and preaching were expressed by staff and church members. Son Gary also paid tribute to them. Senior pastor couple Keith and Heidi Poysti thanked the Neufelds with words from Philemon: "I thank my God always . . . in my prayers . . . for your love and faith." The Neufelds' future plans are indefinite.

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