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New pastors for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada congregations (2011/2012)

RENE BAERGEN was installed in September as interim pastor of Hispanic Ministry at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, with primary responsibilities related to the 50 member Spanish-language group within the congregation. Rene has been a pastoral intern previously (at Aberdeen Evangelical Mennonite Church in Winnipeg and at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener) and has been active at First Mennonite in a leadership capacity for some time. He is a doctoral student in New Testament at the Toronto School of Theology (B.Th. CMBC; BA Wilfrid Laurier; MA University of St. Michael’s College) and has taught most recently at seminaries in Toronto (Emmanuel College) and Lima, Peru (Recinto Universitario Teológico - UBL). He is married to Anna Janecek, who is also on staff at FMC in a worship capacity, and the two have three young daughters- who sometimes feel like they live at church.

LINDA BRNJAS, ordained Oct 23rd, 2011, has been the pastor at Bethel Mennonite Church (Elora) since September, 2003 when she and her husband, Steve were called by the congregation to co-pastor the congregation of about 100 people. Steve and Linda co-pastored for six years at which time Steve resigned and the church underwent a LifeCyle of the Church process assisted by ARC (Associates Resourcing the Church). Linda has continued on as the sole pastor. Previous to serving at Bethel, Linda was the Family Ministries Pastor with the Brethren in Christ church plant in Kitchener, Pathway Community Church. She holds a Bachelor degree with a double major in Music and Psychology; a Bachelor of Education (and Ontario Teacher's Certificate) and is currently finishing off a MTS (Masters of Theological Studies) at Conrad Grebel University College. She also is near completion of a Certificate in Conflict Management and Congregational Leadership (also through Grebel). As well as being happily married to Steve, they are the proud parents of eight children, one of whom is married with two children (and a third due in May 2012!) and another one who is due to be married in August 2012.

ALISSA BENDER, new pastor of the 100-member Hamilton (Ont.) Mennonite, was the associate pastor at Calgary First Mennonite Church from 2007-2010. While studying for her Master of Divinity at AMBS prior to that, she did pastoral internships at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford BC and Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Goshen IN. She was on the Young Adult Fellowship of MC Canada & MC USA for 5.5 years, and the MCEC Student & Young Adult Commission overlapping with that. She has also worked in bilingual client services in the years between her bachelor’s degree in French degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and MDiv at AMBS. “My family is mostly spread around Ontario so I'm grateful to be close to many of them again,” she says.

LOIS BUKAR is the new pastor, her first, of the 65-member Widemann Mennonite Church in Markham, Ont. Coming from a career in teaching, she taught theology (1 year) in Gindiri, Nigeria, English and Economics(1 year) in North Korea, English (4 years) at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, and was interim pastor (6 months) at Cairo Christian Fellowship. She taught English (3 years) in China with China Educational Exchange (CEE.) and taught English (2 years) in Lesotho with a Canada International Development Agency (CIDA) organization. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Divinity degree from AMBS (2005). Originally Lois Unrah from Steinbach, Man. (Evangelical Mennonite Church), she is married to Tromhan Bukar.

LISA CARR-PRIES was ordained Sunday evening, Oct. 2 as associate minister of the 250-member Waterloo North Mennonite Church after serving in that role for four years. Prior to that she was interim pastor at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church and prior to that associate pastor for youth and young adults at Charleswood Mennonite Church, Winnipeg. Earlier she was student pastor at St. Jacobs and summer camp coordinator for House of Friendship, Kitchener. In addition to her congregational duties, she is chair of MC Canada’s Christian Formation Council and a member of the General Board. During the year 2005-2006, she visited all of the MCEC’s congregations promoting the Herald Press “Gather Round” series. She holds a master of Theological Studies degree from Conrad Grebel University College, after earning bachelor’s degrees in theology and church music at Columbia Mennonite Bible College, Abbotsford, BC. She is a licensed Kindermusik educator. Married to Dave, they are the parents of three children—Laura, 16, Noah, 13 and James, 11.

BEN CASSELS, new associate minister of Youth and Young Adults at the 250-member Waterloo North Mennonite Church, began his duties Aug. 16. He has been a youth worker at The Dwelling Place, Kitchener, a youth pastor at Glencairn Mennonite Brethren Church, Kitchener, and most recently a Christian outreach worker with Christian Mission Aid in Jonglei State, South Sudan. Holding a bachelor of theology degree from Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, he is currently enrolled in a master of Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo. He is married to Kendyll Cassels, a registered nurse. His coming to Waterloo North ended a year-long search after Chip Bender resigned as youth minister.

JENNY CSINO began her duties August 1 as interim pastor of Christian Education at the 314-member Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo. She was formerly a volunteer, running breakfast and kids clubs, volunteering in day and overnight camps and teaching Sunday school. This is her first paid position. Currently working on a Master of Divinity degree at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, she is a 2006 graduate of Emmanuel Bible College with a degree in Christian education and Children’s Ministry and a 2004 graduate of Canadian Children’s Ministry Institute. She recently celebrated a 5th wedding anniversary with her husband, Dave.

GORDON DRIEDGER, coming from Altona (Man.) Mennonite Church after 12 years as pastor, is the new pastor of the 50-member Petitcodiac (NB) Mennonite Church. Prior to that he was earning his M.Div. degree at AMBS after serving the Ottawa Menonite Church for six years as youth and youth adult minister. He also holds a BA of theology and history. He is married to Pam, a chaplain at the Saint John Regional Hospital; they have three children—Mika, 16, Calin, 11 and Ian, 10.

NORM DYCK, formerly executive secretary for the Church Engagement Council of Mennonite Church Canada, is the new pastor of the 232-member Listowel Mennonite Church. He made the move from Winnipeg and began his duties mid-August. He comes to the position with eight years of experience as pastor of the Graysville (Man.) Mennonite Church. Before entering the pastoral ministry he served as lay minister for the Steinbach Mennonite Church while working in sales at Loewen Windows in Steinbach. A graduate of Canadian Mennonite University, he is currently working on his Master of Divinity degree, likely transferring to Conrad Grebel University College. Listowel is searching for an associate pastor; Esther Snider is the church’s administrative assistant. Married to Rose, the couple has four sons--Malachi, Jonah, Elijah, Nehemiah.

PAUL DUECK is serving part-time as pastor of the 35-member Windsor Mennonite Fellowship, having served previously as music pastor at the Leamington United Mennonite Church and music teacher at the United Mennonite Educational Institute. Before 1990 he also taught music at Swift Current Bible Institute, CMBC and CEMTA (Mennonite Seminary in Asuncion, Paraguay). Married to Linda Winter, they were both involved as provincial youth pastors for the United Mennonite Church of Ontario from 1980-1984. He is a graduate of CMBC with a Bachelor of Church Music as well as a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music - Voice Performance. Linda is an ESL teacher with the Public Board of Education. “My parents are Henry and Helga Dueck. My dad was very active as a pastor throughout his life; he died September 11, 2010.”

SEAN EAST, coming to the West Hills Mennonite Fellowship in Lisbon, Ont., after changing careers as an accountant, is giving leadership to a diverse congregation of 60-65 persons with different faith and social backgrounds. About to celebrate its 20th anniversary, West Hills is a church plant into Baden out of Steinmann Mennonite Church. It has been meeting in the former United church building in Lisbon, Ontario (about 10 minutes outside New Hamburg/Baden) since early in 2002 after arson claimed the Baden Mission building that was owned by Wilmot Mennonite where the church was first meeting. “Our services are informal with a lean towards contemporary praise and worship while still maintaining some connection to traditional hymns, and our defining quality is a real sense of community and family that comes from a smaller worship body with a lot of genuine sharing and prayer during our services,” says Sean. He has been accepted into the masters of Theological Studies program at Conrad Grebel University College and plans to pursue the Applied Studies program on a part time basis while working in ministry, having completed one of the 16 required courses. He has been married to Jacquie (Gingerich) for 10 years; they have 3 children – TJ (5), Daniel (3), and Rebekah (1) – who were all adopted from South Korea. They live on a one-acre property just outside of Baden and New Hamburg.

FRANK FROESE is the quarter-time Youth Ministry intern for the 700-member Leamington United Mennonite Church while working his day job as a technical specialist for Greenhouse Vegetables with Enza Zaden, a Holland-based seed company which grows new varieties of vegetables in trial stages. Frank provides an information channel between growers and Enza Zaden. He and his wife, Nettie, became youth sponsors in 2005, and have continued in the same ministry in various different capacities. He is currently enrolled in the Pastoral Studies Distance Education program at AMBS. The only Canadian-born of 12 siblings, Frank’s siblings and parents were born in Mexico.

ASHENAFI FULASE is the pastor of the Freedom Gospel Ethiopian Church serving the Greater Toronto Area. The 42-member emerging congregation meets in the Danforth Mennonite Church facility, their attendance reaching as high as 62 per Sunday. Pastor Fulase served in Ethiopia as a church planter and key leader in the Assembly of God Evangelical Church for five years before coming to Toronto and serving Freedom Gospel for the past six years. Husband to Hiyot Tesfye and father of two boys, Lewi and Yisachor, he been described by friends as a “very ambitious pastor with a vision of preaching the good news to Ethio-Canadians and others.” He says his congregation is struggling financially. He has a one-year Bible college diploma earned in Kenya. He has also taken correspondence courses for three years here in Canada but has had to stop because of other responsibilities.

RYAN JANTZI is the new pastor of the Kingsfield-Clinton congregation, a church plant of Zurich Mennonite Church. Approximately 30 people meet in the home of one of the elders. Serving in his first vocational leadership role, Ryan was a pastoral intern at Zurich in the fall of 2006 and at Bethel Mennonite Church, Langley, B.C. throughout the year of 2010. He has also been involved in significant lay leadership over the years at his home church - Maple View Mennonite. He has studied at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary of ACTS Seminaries at Trinity Western University, and is currently in the process of earning his final three credit hours to complete an Master of Divinity degree. Prior to that he did a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Christian Ministry at Briercrest Bible College, Caronport SK. He is married to Brittany, a registered nurse at the hospital in Clinton; they are expecting their first child in August, 2011.

SARAH JOHNSON is the new pastor of the 250-member Ottawa Mennonite Church, her first full-time pastoral position. She has completed three internships--eight months at University
Church in Yale (2009-2010), the ecumenical protestant campus church
operated by the Chaplains' Office at Yale University; one four-
month unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Bethany Village (2009), a
retirement community in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and eight months at First
Mennonite Church, Kitchener (2004-2005). She is the author of the
Youth Worship Source Book published by Mennonite Publishing Network. She holds a BA degree in religious studies and an economics minor from the University of Waterloo, an M.T.S. degree from Conrad Grebel University College/UofW and a master of arts in religion degree from Yale Divinity School, with a concentration in Liturgical Studies.

CORNELIUS KLASSEN is the new associate pastor at Vineland Mennonite Church, a 300-member congregation—his home church. Having no previous experience as pastor, he has always been involved as youth leader, Sunday School teacher, deacon for many years, worship leader and has served on the search committee. Married to Joy, they have three married children and seven grandchildren.

SCOTT MABEE is the new pastor at Erie View United Mennonite Church, Port Rowan, ON, a congregation of between 40-50 regular attenders. A volunteer youth sponsor for 22 years at Houghton Brethren In Christ Church he has been a youth pastor for four years there with one year as interim senior pastor after that person resigned. Prior to his youth pastor experience, he worked for 27 years as a farm equipment automotive mechanic while volunteering as a youth sponsor at Houghton. He has completed all required

SUSAN NICKEL is the staff chaplain for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, a 300-bed community hospital system equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies for residents of Chatham-Kent, South Lambton and Walpole Island in southern Ontario. Her department is responsible for most of the bedside visiting, complemented by a group of dedicated faith leaders. In 2004-2006 she worked as staff chaplain at the London Regional Cancer program, in 2006-2008 as volunteer chaplain at University Hospital in London, and from 2009 to the present as staff chaplain at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. She holds a B.A degree in religious studies from Kings College/U.W.O, and a master of divinity degree from Winnipeg Seminary Consortium/Home College Canadian Mennonite Bible College. Born in Vancouver, but growing up in Chilliwack, B.C., she has been married for 25 years to John Braun, a statistics professor at University of Western Ontario. They are parents to We have two boys, Matthew, 16, and Phillip, 11.

DAVID PENNY, of Cambridge, was installed as interim youth pastor at the 310-member First Mennonite Church, Kitchener on Sept. 1. He was most recently in the Ministry Inquiry Program at Wanner Mennonite Church, Cambridge, and a staff member at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp as a counselor and Quest leader. Currently a student at University of Waterloo in the Honours History program and doing a minor in Religious Studies, he is a graduate of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and a former resident and associate of Conrad Grebel University College.

HANS PETERS, along with his wife, Oderay, have been involved with church planting and especially with the mission aspects and the setup of the administrative structure of churches for the last 27 years. This is his first year as a full-time pastor at Jane Finch Faith Community church in Toronto, a multicultural gathering of 20 to 40 people at the Toronto City Housing building. His education has consisted of a German Abitur and some university courses, additionally courses taken over the last 20 years, some at Emanuel Bible College, SEAN (Seminary by Extension to all Nations, a 3 year pastoral course) and a number of specialty courses “as the Lord has led us.” He and Oderay, recently celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary, were married in Quito, Ecuador, where both their daughters, Gisela and Carmen were born. “We lived in Quito for 5 1/2 years before moving to Canada in 1989. Both our daughters have finished their university education at Laurier and Waterloo.”

DAVE SARARUS, the new pastor of the Hanover (Ont.) Mennonite Church,
came to the 40-member congregation with his wife Juanita Laverty, and son Owen, after finishing theological studies via AMBS and Conrad Grebel. He graduated with a MA in Christian Formation focused on the Teaching Ministry. He has used this educational experience to help coordinate and lead Sunday School at his church, with both adults and children, as well as help lead an ecumenical VBS in our community. In conjunction with this, his

MIKE WILLIAMSON is the new pastor at the 700-member Leamington United Mennonite Church, coming from academia and working with youth. He served as the Academic Assistant for Heritage College & Seminary and a Youth worker at Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church. He holds a master of theological studies from Heritage Theological Seminary and is “happily married to Brandy Williamson since January, 2010.”

KYLE WIJNANDS will be licensed toward ordination as youth pastor of the Riverdale Mennonite Church in Millbank on Sunday, Nov. 13. Licensing toward ordination is a two-year process of learning and preparing for ordination. Kyle has filled this role for the past 2.5 years at Riverdale while also serving as a chaplain at a long-term care nursing home outside of Stratford. He holds a bachelor of Theology in Pastoral Studies from Emmanual Bible College and is currently working on a master’s of Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel University College. He is the oldest of three children whose parents are also serving in the life and ministry of the church.

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