Home MB Herald B.C. calls long-time pastor as conference minister

B.C. calls long-time pastor as conference minister

0 comment

“I’ll be looking for opportunities to teach and equip – to bring alignment around the gospel,” said Rob Thiessen. “We can all get along if we keep the centre hot and clear.” With those words at the B.C. convention, Thiessen set the stage for his new role as B.C. conference minister. (While most other MB provincial conferences are now helmed by executive directors, B.C. has retained the shepherd/teacher function for the director role.)

“When leadership said, ‘We want someone to pastor the pastors and shepherd the flock – we don’t want an executive,’ I felt the target moving onto my head,” said Thiessen, who was affirmed by delegates with more than 80 percent approval.

With a desire to see young leaders raised up and equipped to lead in the local church, Thiessen sees himself serving in this role “until God raises up the next generation to pass the baton to. Pray for grace and mercy for me.”

Currently pastor of North Langley (B.C.) Community Church, Thiessen has ministered to that congregation for 17 years. He previously pastored Orchard Park Bible Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Thiessen has served the B.C. conference on the board of pastoral ministries, and most recently on the executive board as provincial moderator. He studied at Columbia International University, S.C., and MBBS-Fresno, where he graduated with an MDiv. He was ordained at Willingdon (MB) Church, Burnaby, B.C., in 1988, and is currently enrolled in a DMin program at Western Seminary, Portland, Ore. Thiessen and his wife Janet have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

Thiessen will officially step into his new role in the fall, with Ron Toews serving as interim conference minister until then.

—Laura Kalmar

You may also like

Leave a Comment