Tom Koop began as senior pastor at Summerside Community Church, Edmonton, July 9. Tom has a BTh and BRE from Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener, Ont., and an MDiv from MBBS, Fresno, Cal. He has served in a variety of churches as youth and young adult pastor, including Waterloo (Ont.) MB, and Portage Avenue Church, Winnipeg; as professor and missions director at Winkler Bible Institute; and as teaching elder at Cornerstone Vineyard Church, Winkler, Man. Tom and Mary Jane have 3 adult children and one daughter-in-law.
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With 23 church planters to oversee, the work at Church Planting BC had grown too large for Gord Fleming alone. Mark Burch joined CPBC Oct. 1 as associate director, with a focus on strategies and coaching for urban church planting. Mark graduated from Briercrest Bible College and has studied at ACTS Seminaries and at Bakke Graduate University, Seattle. He spent the last 18 years as pastor in B.C., 5 ½ years at Arnold Community Church, Abbotsford, 12 ½ at Willow Park Church, Kelowna. Mark and Karolyn have 3 grown children and one granddaughter.
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Jamie Reimer concluded 7 years of ministry as youth pastor at Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont., in June. Jamie and his wife Naomi are pursuing new opportunities.
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Joy Klassen concluded 7 years of ministry as pastor of church ministries at McIvor Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg, Aug. 31. Joy and Alvin are moving forward with a non-profit women’s retreat ministry called Women Refreshed at the Well.
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Bob Capelle concluded 7 years as lead pastor at Herbert (Sask.) MB Church at the end of October. Bob and Betty plan to remain in Herbert for a time before looking for another pastoral assignment.
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Borden MB Church held its last service in their rural building, constructed 1952, at the end of October. Beginning in November, the congregation will meet in the community hall in Borden, Sask. The church, currently pastored by Tony Martens, was officially organized in 1906.
