Cam Priebe is Outtatown director at Canadian Mennonite University, effective July 1. Until June, he served the Canadian Conference of MB Churches in leadership development with a particular focus on emerging leaders. Previously, he has worked with students and young adults as director of Ministry Quest at MB Biblical Seminary, Fresno, Cal., and as associate dean of students at Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask. Cam holds an MA in Christian Ministry from MBBS. Outgoing Outtatown director Paul Kroeker led the program since 2005.
Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C., affirmed Jim Toohey as pastor of family ministry, focusing on Faith at Home, young adults, and children’s ministries. He has previously served as Faith at Home pastor, and is recognized widely as a camp speaker. He also worked as production manager with the Jesus Film project for Power to Change.
Nathan Friedt has resigned as pastor of youth at Parliament Community Church (MB), Regina, as of July 17 and will begin ministry at Saanich Baptist Church, B.C., in August. He has served at Parliament Community Church for 3 years.
A widely known B.C. pastor who has been mentoring church planters in Metro Vancouver will return to pastoral church ministry this fall. Mark Burch left Kelowna’s Willow Park Church after 21 years of local church ministry to become associate director of Church Planting BC, working out of the Vancouver office. The two years he spent in that role was a time of great excitement and satisfaction in church planting, he says. However, he has a pastor’s heart for local church ministry and wants to return to pastoral work. His resignation takes effect at the end of the summer.
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Chris Friesen concluded 9 years of ministry (6.5 pastoral) at Lendrum MB Church, Edmonton, in June. He and Louise and their six children, who travel and perform as the Friesen Family Band, are taking on the role of resident hosts at Shekinah Retreat Centre north of Saskatoon, a ministry of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan. Co-pastor Michael Pahl also resigned as pastor at Lendrum, and has taken up a position as associate professor of theological studies at Cedarville University, Ohio.
After three years as associate pastor at Neighbourhood Church, Nanaimo, B.C., Ryan Dueck left at the end of June. He has accepted a position at Lethbridge (Alta.) Mennonite Church.
Due to health concerns, Ewald Unruh, director of church ministries for the Canadian Conference of MB Churches, is taking indefinite leave from his duties.
More than a year ago, Jon and Claudia Osmond planted Renew City Church in downtown Toronto. Effective April 1, the church plant closed; however, a small group, led by the Osmonds, will continue to explore being a neighbourhood community of faith, hope, and love in an unofficial capacity with the support of the Ontario Conference of MB Churches.
Although New Life Church (MB), Ottawa, officially closed its doors March 31, 2011, its members are merging with The Journey, a nearby MB church community, pastored by Dave Harder. Begun in 2003, New Life Church was led in recent years by bivocational pastor, Nick Parker.
