Pastoral Highlights - Meet the Pastors of MCBC

Here we feature our hard working and wonderful Pastors from various MCBC Churches and related ministries. Check back weekly for updates!

 

October 15th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Do Trung Hieu - Vietnamese Mennonite Church

Hello everyone in God's love!

 

My name is Do Trung Hieu. I am the Pastor of the Vietnamese Mennonite Church in Vancouver.

I am Vietnamese. I was born and grew up in a Christian family. I went to the church since I was a child and was baptized at the age of 18.

My childhood was very difficult. I lived with my family in the countryside far from the city.

I was born during the time when my country was at war, so my family and I went through many difficulties, hardships, hunger, danger...

In my family, I was the only one who finished high school. And because of difficult circumstances, I could not continue to study at university.

After graduating from high school, I had to work to make a living, but I did not forget to go to church to worship God.

At the age of 24, God called me to dedicate myself to serve Him, and so I responded. I decided to go to Bible school and got married. I have served God ever since.

Thank God for allowing me to serve God in Vancouver, Canada for almost 4 years. I was invited to replace a retired Pastor. The church has many elderly and retired people so the activities are very limited. However, I have tried to rely on God's grace to have activities for the church such as organizing Sunday Bible class, studying the Bible together every week in the morning.

We will have a Christmas Evangelism program on December 27 this year.

We need to pray for the Church to have more people serving God, especially the youth to have the time and a heart for praising and serving God.

- Do Trung Hieu (Peter)

October 1st
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Andrew Haak - Level Ground Mennonite Church

5 Fun Facts About Andrew:

1. Marie and I have been married for over 20 years and we have four children (Joelle, Conrad, Nadine and Shenae) spanning from elementary to high school age.

2. I grew up on a dairy farm and thoroughly loved it, though grass and cow allergies made it clear i was to go in a different career direction.

3. Because our first child (Josiah, 2007-2009) was born with a rare and complicated condition, I have a random assortment of dormant medical knowledge such as how to clean and change a trach.

4. The most nerve-wracking job I have ever had was running a dilapidated tractor-operated Zamboni once a week for a year while I was in Bible college.

5. My kids think my dad jokes are actually funny (most of the time).

 

A Quick update from LGMC:

It's been an exciting start to fall as we have in recent weeks kicked things off with a Community BBQ, welcomed four people into membership and celebrated a child dedication! Youth and children's ministry are returning to regular rhythms and our midweek Journey Groups will also begin to find their groove in the weeks ahead.

Through the course of the year we have been having intentional conversations related to the future of our building and property. We are fortunate to be in a season of health and stability which allows us to patiently, creatively and collaboratively look ahead and discern how God is leading us to be a welcoming community of grace and transformation for years to come. One practical step we are taking this fall is to assess the state of our building and property, which will greatly inform our conversations and decisions going forward.

Looking further ahead into the fall, one notable thing that LGMC does differently is that we include our budget meeting as a part of our worship gathering. We believe that participating in the business of the church is an act of worship, so for the last few years we have in November taken a Sunday morning to host a worship gathering that is styled as a lively and relational 'family meeting' around tables. For the most part, this has been really well received by our church family as it encourages more people to be involved and aware of what's going on. And this change has come with an unexpected added bonus: it's been our experience that visitors and newcomers who attend that day actually appreciate this approach because it allows them to see what we are all about as a church.

To our beloved family of churches: thank you for your prayers and partnership in Christ!

 

grace,

Andrew Haak
pastor of Level Ground Mennonite Church
Community Formation & Discipleship

September 17th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Silas Wang - Billy Graham Ministries

5 Fun Facts About Silas:

  • I am an indigenous Taiwanese.

  • I love singing hymns and playing guitar and piano.

  • My undergraduate major was in animal science.

  • I once participated in a singing competition on TV in Taiwan.

  • My favorite exercise these days is walking my dog

Life and Ministry Update:

After graduating from seminary last year, my home church decided not to hire a second full-time pastor. Through prayer and seeking God’s direction, in August I began serving full-time with Billy Graham Ministries as a Volunteer Coordinator, caring for the spiritual needs of our volunteers. It has been humbling to see how God is using the internet as a powerful tool to open doors for the Gospel across the world.

My family and I continue to worship at White Rock Mennonite Church, where we help lead a small group for young adults and young families. Please pray for my new ministry responsibilities, and that God will continue to raise up new leaders within our church.

- Silas Wang

 

August 6th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Jordan Pilgrim - Valley Road Church

 

5 Fun Facts about Jordan:

1. I have been married for 19 years and have three wonderful children Selah - 17 (She is now driving!!) Amali - 14 (She thinks she should be driving), Eli - 12 (is enjoying the life of being a passenger for now)  
2. I lived in England from 2007-2011 to work with youth, it was an amazing experience. Selah and Amali were both born in England. 
3. I have run a marathon.... Is that fun? It definitely wasn't fun at the time, but it is something I bring up all the time! 
4. I have a video on YouTube of me pulling a sliver out of my finger that has over 300,000 views. My father-in-law asked me if people recognize me from that video haha. 
5. I overpack for every trip I go on. You always need to be prepared! What happens if my second Marathon happens on this trip??  Or maybe I am invited to a dinner with a famous movie star this time around! Or the temperature drops to -20 on our mid-August camping trip. 

 

Valley Road Church – June/July Update

Hello from sunny Kelowna!

Summer is in full swing here at Valley Road Church, and we’ve been encouraged by all that’s been happening in and around our community.

Sunday Services – Summer Rhythm, Same Spirit We all know that summer can shift our weekly rhythms—with holidays, lake days, and family vacations—but we’ve been so encouraged by the consistency in our congregation. We have been encouraged by the energy and engagement on Sunday mornings!

On one Sunday, we invited our teens to stay in the service with the rest of the congregation, and instead of sitting in our regular rows of chairs, we gathered around tables and reflected together on the Lord’s Prayer together. This was one of our most enjoyable services to date!

Strong Lay Leadership – A Gift to Celebrate This summer marked a bit of a significant step for our young church—Lis and I were away for two Sundays in a row (for a family holiday and The Gathering in Ontario), and it was the first time both of us missed a Sunday service. This may not seem like a big deal, but for us, it was. Everything ran so smoothly while we were away! We’re so thankful for our committed leaders and volunteers who are making Valley Road their home. Our wonderful church family gave us the confidence to truly unplug and relax.

Baptisms! Two weeks ago, I had the profound honour of baptizing four women from different connections that we have made throughout the community. Three of them joined us for church the following week, and we’re excited to welcome them into our Alpha course this fall! The Gathering

Lis and I had the great pleasure to join so many of our MCBC delegation at The Gathering in Ontario at the beginning of the month. We were profoundly blessed to continue to see the beauty and love of Not only MCBC, but the entirety of MC Canada. We can truly say that we feel very much at home with our Anabaptist brothers and sisters.

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and partnership as we continue to grow as a community of faith

 

Jordan Pilgrim

Valley Road Church

July 30th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Wally Nickel - Living Hope Christian Fellowship

5 Fun Facts About Wally:

  1. I love mangoes and think they must have been the fruit that tempted Eve and Adam
  2. My parents have never called me by my given name, which, by the way is not Wally
  3. I've cheered for the Vancouver Canucks my entire life
  4. My love language is Reese's peanut butter cups
  5. I can read the Plautdietsch (Low German) Bible

 

Life and Ministry Update:

My new role as Living Hope's Interim Senior Pastor is a welcome homecoming. I previously had the privilege of being on the pastoral staff with Living Hope as an Associate Pastor and it's been fantastic getting reacquainted with many in the church community, as well as meeting new people. Living Hope has always been a very welcoming and friendly church, and after being away for a number of years, it's so good to experience that the DNA of this church is as strong as ever. If you are ever in the north Surrey area on a Sunday morning, I'd encourage you to come for worship and experience the welcome of Jesus through our diverse community.

Currently, we are gearing up to welcome the neighbourhood kids to our annual summer day camp. The theme this year is Mystery Island and our Children's Ministry Coordinator and summer Interns are designing and getting ready to decorate the church for the occasion. And let me tell you they are doing a great job! Being situated in a lower-income part of the city, it's a joy and great opportunity to invite kids to a week's worth of full days, including lunch, where they can be kids, have fun, get loved on, and learn about Jesus. Join us in praying that each child, whether it's our day camp or your church's, will leave knowing how precious they are in the eye's of their Saviour.

As the church searches for its next Senior Pastor, we also welcome your prayers on this front. And until that person begins the next chapter of Living Hope, I'll be doing a lot of the things I love most in ministry, which are working with the leadership/staff team and preaching. God has been gracious in bringing my wife, Sylvia and I back to this wonderful community and we're excited about what he has coming for his church.
 
- Wally Nickel
May God give us more and more grace and peace. (1 Peter 1:2)

July 23rd
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Susan Nickel - Spiritual Health Practitioner

5 Fun Facts About Susan:

  1. I once lived in Australia for a year—proof that I can survive giant spiders and drive on the other side of the road.
  2. I’ve worked as both a hairdresser and a spiritual care practitioner (and yes, both involve deep listening).
  3. I can juggle scarves! (It’s part coordination, part prayer.)
  4. I delight in conversations with people of all ages, and I always learn something new from children.
  5. I believe holy ground is everywhere—even in hospital hallways and over Zoom calls.

Life and Ministry Update:

I grew up in Greendale and moved away in 1981, living in Calgary, Switzerland, London Ontario, Winnipeg and even Australia before moving back in 2019. I have two married, adult sons—one in Quebec who just finished flight school, and one in Toronto, a data scientist with master’s degrees in math and statistics.

I have a 12-year-old grandson who is a source of great questions and joy. 

My background includes 20 years working in spiritual care—first at the London Regional Cancer Program, then in a small hospital for 10 years, and later in BC working in several care homes and palliative settings. Before that, I worked as a hairdresser. In both roles, I learned the value of presence and listening.

This work can be sad, but it’s profoundly meaningful. The connection of care is energizing. There are moments of deep hope: in time savoured with loved ones, in being anchored by one’s faith, or in rediscovering meaning even in the midst of loss. It is a privilege to be welcomed into people’s lives and to know I am standing on holy ground.

I try to remind people of their belovedness, their dignity and to reinforce their sense of worth, which can help restore their sense of meaning and purpose. Being heard can lessen distress and improve quality of life. For those from a faith background, I explore ways to deepen or enrich their relationship with God.  I continue to be amazed at what carries people through hard seasons, and how unique and sustaining each faith journey can be.

I retired from full-time chaplaincy about a year ago but continue mentoring spiritual care students and stay involved in hospital settings as opportunities arise. I’m also active on two MCBC committees: Calling and Credentialing, and Pastoral Care and Development Task Group. At first, I wondered if I was simply filling a spot—but over time, I’ve seen how my experience in church life and spiritual care has something to offer.

I’m especially passionate about helping pastors care for their own well-being—supporting them in sustainable rhythms so they don’t burn out. I’ve also found great meaning in the credentialing process. Hearing people’s call stories—how they’ve been nudged by God, affirmed by community, and given space to grow—reminds me of the Spirit’s creative work. Some came from mid-career changes, others from congregations that noticed their gifts early on. These stories inspire me and reaffirm God’s ongoing call to the church.

I’m grateful for the support of MCBC—for the pastor conversation groups, continuing education, and a growing sense of connection, even as someone whose ministry setting isn’t always traditional. At times I’ve felt outside the usual “pastor” circle, but I see bridges being built and appreciate the welcome.

Two years ago brought personal grief as both of my parents passed away.  I’ve leaned heavily on God, YUM church, and close friends to walk through it. In this season, I’ve felt a deep resonance with Jesus’ words from Matthew 11:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…”

It’s a message I’ve carried often to others—and now, more than ever, I carry it for myself.  It’s comforting to be part of this wider family of faith. 

Susan 

June 25th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Dan Forest ~ United Mennonite Church, Black Creek

5 Fun Facts about Dan:

  1. I have ministered in 7 different denominations: Pentecostal, Full Gospel, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite Brethren, Alliance, and now Mennonite.
  2. One of the best Christmas gifts I ever got was a 650pc puzzle from my wife, Amy, that was all one shade of grey.
  3. I have acquired a trove of useless talents: I can juggle, solve a Rubik’s cube in under a min, recite all the US State Capitals, make music by clapping cupped hands at my mouth, perform magic tricks, and the list goes on…
  4. I pastored at a church in New Zealand for two years and we had an amazing experience there.
  5. I don’t know how to burp. It happens to me randomly once or twice each year, and it’s something I always celebrate!


Things are going really well at our church in Black Creek. It’s been a perfect fit for my interests and gifts and weird sense of humour. We’ve found a good balance with Evie in preschool, Lucy finishing grade 3, and Amy working part-time as an activities coordinator at a local Retirement Community.

This past year, with help from Revitalization funds, we’ve been able to hire a part time Youth Ministry Worker to start up a youth bible study and weekly drop-in, which has been going great! We are still looking for someone to oversee our Children’s Ministry, however, as our long-time Children’s Worker retired last June. I’ve been filling in as much I can, but we really need someone able to devote more time and passion to our kids, so please be in prayer for that!

It’s been wonderful accepting new members into our congregation, and we have a baptism coming up soon. I love our welcoming and quirky community, come visit us if you’re ever on Vancouver Island!

- Dan

June 18th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Alyssa Hordyk ~ Living Hope Christian Fellowship

 
 
 
Fun Facts about Alyssa:
 
1) Living Hope has been my home church since birth. I’ve grown up at Living Hope, where I was baptized at the age of 13. Now, I have the joy of serving and bringing the next generation closer to God through my role here as Children's & Youth Ministries Coordinator. 
2) I am a Professional Flautist. I got my Music Degree from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, won multiple awards from the Richmond Music Festival, Chilliwack Lions Club Music and Dance Festival, and the Kiwanis Music Festival. Now I currently play with the Fraser Valley Symphony in Abbotsford BC. 
3) I have my own music studio! Flutter Flute Studio is where I teach all levels of Flute, beginner Piano & Voice lessons both In Person and Online with students of all ages. It’s one of my greatest joys to watch my students grow in confidence and creativity through their musical journeys.
4) I have been leading/directing/overseeing Living Hope’s Vacation Bible School for 10 years! I have a heart for organizing, directing, planning & decorating our VBS Camps. They bring such life in the Summer and God truly impacts everyone involved. 
5) I'm a huge Starbucks fan. Like… unashamedly. I’m on a first name basis at my local store. Starbucks is basically my second office (and my love language). Likely you will see me with a Venti Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso, Light Ice, in my hand. 
 

🌿 Ministry Update from Alyssa Hordyk

There has been a lot happening lately at Living Hope, and the hustle and bustle truly never seems to slow down.

On June 8th, we be said farewell to our beloved Pastor Frank Berto as he steps into retirement. This has been a bittersweet and emotional transition for our church family, and we are still very much in the midst of it. Please be in prayer for God’s guidance as we seek His direction for Living Hope in the coming summer and year ahead.

On a joyful note, both Children’s Ministry and Youth are thriving and full of energy! We just returned from an incredible Family Camp at Camp Squeah, where we had the joy of witnessing one of our Youth Leaders get baptized in the Emory River. After hiking down to The Pride, those from our congregation who were able to join gathered for this powerful and memorable moment.

It was a weekend filled with worship, laughter, and deep spiritual growth. We had 25 youth attend this year, and it was such a blessing to see them encounter God and grow in faith together.

We are also excited to share that VBS planning is underway! Each summer, we open our doors to 50–60 kids from our church and the surrounding community. This year, our theme is “Mystery Island”—a journey where kids will explore the questions: Who is God? and How can I approach Him or accept Him into my life? What does that look like? We can’t wait to welcome families back for a summer filled with joy, discovery, and fellowship.

Please continue to pray for our congregation as we walk through this season of transition. And especially pray for our Children and Youth—they are the rising generation, already beginning to step into leadership and take on responsibility within our church family. We are so encouraged by the ways they are growing in their understanding of God and their role in His Church.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Blessings,
Alyssa Hordyk
Children’s & Youth Ministries Coordinator
Living Hope Christian Fellowship

June 4th
MCBC Church Highlight

Richmond Peace Chinese Mennonite Church

What's going on at Richmond Peace Chinese Mennonite Church:

As some of you may know from past sharings from our church, we have been without a Lead Pastor since October 2023. While it has been difficult on so many levels, we have also experienced our Lord’s blessings in abundance during these trying times. God has blessed our congregation with numerous wonderfully gifted guest speakers for our Sunday Service which has brought us great reminders of our Lord’s faithfulness and encouragement.

In 2024, in addition to the regular activities such as Sunday worships, Sunday Schools for the different age groups, fellowships for the different age groups and Awana, we also held workshops on church transformation, techniques on how to evangelize, and for our music ministry. Another highlight of the year was our “fellowship breakfast battle” held across two Sundays in August, where fellowship for our core age groups are responsible for preparing breakfast for all, each on a Sunday, as a fun face-off challenge. We saw great participation both mornings and welcomed a number of newcomers to join our worship afterwards.

For 2025, our main focus is on walking a loving spiritual journey as a church body through spiritual revival to strengthen our bond as a family in Christ. All our activities are planned around this main theme, including the return of Gym Days starting in June (on a trial basis) and a worship/barbeque in August.

Thank you, MCBC and fellow churches, for your continued support! Please continue to remember our search for a Lead Pastor and a Youth Ministry Coordinator/Pastor in your prayers.

-RPCMC

May 28th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Lisa Heinrichs ~ Spiritual Health Practitioner

5 Facts about me (by the numbers):

  • 2: The age I began wearing glasses
  • 4: How many children my husband and I have (aged 9, 13, 15, and 17)
  • 6: The number of long-term care sites and emergency departments I cover as a Spiritual Health Practitioner with Fraser Health
  • 8: The years it took me to complete my Master of Divinity at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
  • 10: The number of chickens we have roaming our yard in Hope

 

I have now been working for Fraser Health as a Spiritual Health Practitioner for over a year. I work at four long-term care sites in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Hope, as well as supporting the emergency departments at Chilliwack General Hospital and Fraser Canyon Hospital. It is a challenging and rewarding job as I walk alongside people in some of their most difficult moments. At times, I feel spread thin, working at so many sites, but I also enjoy the variety and feel most grounded when I am sitting one on one with patients and hearing their stories. I am so grateful for the two church communities that encourage me in my faith and in my work: my home congregation of Langley Mennonite Fellowship, and Grace Baptist Church in Hope. Our faith teaches us that Jesus is present when we care for the vulnerable in our society (Matt. 25:40). This is one of the core beliefs that guides me in my work, and I seek to meet people wherever they are at to offer emotional or spiritual support. It gives me great joy to come to this work after eight years of study at AMBS, as 2025 marks my final year of studies. Please join me in praying for our healthcare staff who provide such wonderful compassionate care to patients and residents at their facilities.  

May 14th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Rachel Navarro ~ Emmanuel Mennonite Church

 
 
5 Fun Facts about Rachel:
 
1. My high school didn’t teach sewing, so I’m learning to sew my own clothes as an adult! So far I’ve made a tank top, skirt, collared shirt, a pair of shorts, and a pair of pants.
2. I grew up in a multi-cultural family. My mom is Canadian born to Irish & English immigrants, and my dad came to Canada from the Philippines as a young adult.
3. I hate corn (unless it’s popped!).
4. I love musicals! My first experience seeing one live was when my parents took our family to see Les Miserables at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre when I was 10.
5. I attended 7 different post-secondary institutions before finally finishing my bachelor’s degree in 2020.

What’s happening at EMC?
 
Since I began my role at EMC, there have been many highs and lows. Lately it feels like we’ve reached a much-needed season of stability after surviving a lot of crises! With the breathing room we’ve gotten from having a full staff team and great lay leadership, we’ve been diving into questions about our identity as a church and where we feel God is leading us. It’s daunting but exciting! 
Through the shaky seasons and the stable ones, I try to hold on to who I have always felt God calling me to be—someone who creates safe spaces where people (especially young people) can find belonging and explore who God made them to be. Youth group has always been my favourite vehicle for that, but recently I’ve seen it happening in our children’s program and our new young adults group. I’m here for all of it! There’s so much joy in seeing someone new not just being welcomed at the door but finding where they fit at Emmanuel. I hope and pray that we keep getting better at shepherding people through that process of discovery!

Grace & Peace,
Rachel Navarro
Family Pastor
Emmanuel Mennonite Church

May 7th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Graham McCarthy ~ Peace Church on 52nd


What’s been happening at Peace Church on 52nd?  

Peace church on 52nd has a strong community presence - between community meals, food hub, presence at local events, support of AA groups, recovery houses, and ESL teaching, we have a strong presence. Every spring and Summer, we have a community garden that beautifies our neighbourhood, and provides food for the community.  this last week we got together to get it started, and people really utilize our garden and picnic tables as a space of peace and rest.

Oftentimes, someone will knock on the door of the church and say "Someone told me that this is the place I can go to for help." and it is such a gift to have such a reputation.  We have been slowly growing, especially seeing more children attend with us.  This church hasn't had a children's program for quite some time, and we'd appreciate prayer for discernment and solutions to this gift! 

 

5 Fun Facts about Graham:

  1. Graham can make perfect eggs every time
  2. He performs Improv Comedy in Vancouver
  3. Recently, Graham has been creating a series of videos called "Vancouver's Forgotten Monuments"that have been quite well received online! 
  4. Graham first felt a call to ministry when he was 10 years old and performing for his church as a ventriloquist for children's time
  5. He worked on the Downtown Eastside for seven years before coming into church ministry
    Bonus Fun Fact: Graham recently got engaged to MCBC's Ministry Support Administrator, Katrina Froese! 

Follow what's going on at PC52 here: Facebook,  Instagram

 

April 30th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Ian Funk ~ Langley Mennonite Fellowship

 

 

 

 

 

What’s been happening at Langley Mennonite Fellowship?  I’d say that we are trudging along, putting in our best effort to be faithful and thoughtful followers of Jesus, sometimes struggling, sometimes stumbling, sometimes invigorated, sometimes creative, sometimes.... We started out our year in worship and discussion, exploring what Anabaptism means to us, 500 years into the Anabaptist story, learning from our past, aspiring to be open and welcoming, and visioning where our story will go. Out of our discussion, we came up with some aspirational statements which we would love to share with our MCBC family. If you walk through the LMF doors, I pray that you feel warmed and welcome, comforted by the beautiful quilts which currently surround our sanctuary.

5 Fun Facts about me.

  1. I’m still looking for my 2nd good sermon.

  2. I love singing in a local gospel choir (lots of clapping and dancing)

  3. I share my young daughter’s enthusiasm for the musical, Wicked.

  4. My son and I have been longsuffering Raptors fans

  5. 25 years on the operatic stage (where I met my wife, Tammy), I never played an onstage role as pastor or priest.

On a separate but related note...

To further share stuff about LMF, I have attached our summary statements from our Anabaptism at 500 discussion. I think that this set of proclamations is where we are in terms of our hopes for the church. This came out of an extended yet incomplete discussion. If it is an opportunity for conversation with the broader family of Christ at MCBC, we would welcome that.
 
 

- Ian Funk 

April 2nd
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church


MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church.

Karin (my wife) and I have been welcomed with open arms into Emmanuel church. Although we only knew a few people prior to saying 'yes' to this call, we have discovered an amazing group of individuals who are seeking after Jesus.

There have been numerous highlights in our first five months. Starting just before Christmas gave us a chance to visit most of the small groups and thereby enjoy their great hospitality. It was a wonderful way to connect with this community.

As we launched into the new year we focused on the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism and have been blessed with insightful lectures by Gareth Brandt. On January 21st, we had many guests join us desiring to know more about this significant birthdate.

Following that, we began a series entitled "The Making of a Movement", an exploration of the book of Acts. Over the course of 2025 we hope to explore and reflect on the many stories contained in this book. 

On March 16th we hosted the African Children's Choir and were blessed with their passion and joy. March 29th, our leadership teams met together for a half day retreat to rethink our church vision and to plan some strategic steps forward.

At the same time, while all of these engaging activities have been transpiring, we have had 5 funerals. Mostly they were long standing members of our church, but in one case it was a young mom. Life is filled with both joy and sorrow. So we are grateful for each day and this opportunity to journey with this great group of people.

As we move towards summer we look forward to getting to know the MC world a bit more through the lense of Gathering 2025 in Kitchener. Buen Camino (wishing you all a good journey).

Five Fun Facts about Ed:
 
- I'm a very big Blue Jays Fan. Would love to see them go far this year.
- Karin and I walked the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage in France & Spain (750kms) in July 2019
- We have two amazing grandsons - Eli & Toby - who are 6 & 8 and love sports
- A year ago I acquired my class 3 license and drove truck for 9 months with Valley Carriers 
- I've just completed a feature wall in my basement with an inset for an electric fireplace and a TV
 
- Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church
 

March 19th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Martin So ~ Chinatown Peace Church


MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Martin So

Updates from Chinatown Peace Church Chinese Congregation

Five New members transferred to our church in the last year. Four are quite active and the fifth is a senior. Her daughter, who lives in Abbotsford, drives into Vancouver every Sunday to drive her mom to church, and the daughter is quite active too.

Fun facts about Pastor Martin So

Pastor Martin speaks Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and was baptized in the Chinese Church in 1977 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and that is where he met his wife, Katherine.

Katherine and Pastor Martin live in Surrey but their church is located in Chinatown.

Hobbies: Swimming and reading history/biographies of people serving God.

- Martin So

 

March 5th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Frank Berto - Living Hope Christian Fellowship

Living Hope continues to try and reach our community with the Good News of Jesus. Some of the ways we are working:

· Spring Day Camp for the neighborhood

· Alpha Course ongoing

· Distributing the Gospel of John (Punjabi Translation)

· Prepping for our Week-long Vacation Bible School in the summer

Like most churches in the Lower Mainland we are challenged by the cost of living and the housing realities young families confront, that force many of them to move either up the valley or to other provinces.

We remain convinced that God has called Living Hope to minister to this community at this time – but it is easy to get distracted by circumstances and news.

As I was worrying about this recently, God spoke to me through his words to a ‘timid and inadequate’ Moses as he was called to lead his people to freedom. Moses was telling God how he was not up to the task and this is how the conversation went:

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” Genesis 3:10-12 NIV

I take great comfort in that truth – ‘God is with me’ in all He has called me (and us) to do in building His Kingdom.

Living Hope has also begun a Senior Pastor Search as I will be retiring at the end of May... what’s next I am not sure – I am in ‘discernment’ mode.

For all of us who have served Jesus for a long time, I don’t believe we ever ‘retire’ from serving in his kingdom. God has graciously called and gifted me as a pastor and afforded me the opportunity of years of formal ministry education and experience.

I am sure there are others in a similar situation. As we age our energy levels diminish, but our experience and wisdom and knowledge of Him grows deeper. And the church of Jesus Christ needs the wisdom and service of Seniors – so – no retiring only a different form of service for all us old folks! J Retirement is not play-time, but new service time.

4 Fun Facts about Frank Berto

1. Retiring date - May 31-2025

2. Favourite quote Retirement is not play-time, but new service time.

3. For fun - play guitar & garden

4. True fact - I came to faith on my first day working on Whistler Mtn, Jan 1982

In all these changes, I take great comfort in that truth – “God is with me” (Gen. 3:10-12) in all He has called me (and us) to do in building His Kingdom. 

- Frank Berto ~ Living Hope Christian Fellowship

April 23rd
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Grant Miller ~ Cedar Valley Church

 
 
Over the past few years Cedar Valley Church has been reimagining what it means to be a church with a long legacy in a rapidly growing and shifting community. Our city (Mission) is booming with new developments and young families moving into a *slightly* more affordable place to live. That is bringing in new cultures, new life, new needs, and new ways of living day to day life. What all this has really motivated in our church is a desire to become closely connected and involved in the life and movement of the city and especially local neighborhoods around us. This also meant flexing the ways we gather and worship and especially how we express our faith compared to what may have been a comfortable legacy model from over 80 years of legacy.
 
Here's my two favourite ways we've been working on this:
 
  1. FUN (it's not an acronym, it's just literally... fun!) We took a note from our kids and youth programs and began integrating 'fun' as a primary value in all of our ministries and services. How can we bring in elements and activities that make us laugh, that bridge generational gaps and help us be ok with a little 'silliness' together and laugh at ourselves. Here's a good example in my next point:
  2. '5th Sundays'. For a few years now, we have committed to making Sundays that land on a '5th Sunday' in a month a unique and practical worship service. We still meet at 10am Sunday morning, but then after a devotional and some instruction, we dive into a completely different practice. We've cleaned up trash in our local parks and schools, we've packed relief kits for MCC, we've had picnics that involve using our food as art! As well as prayer walks, charcuterie communion, kids camp take-overs, and still more room for creative and fun ideas. These services get us outside of our comfort zones and physical walls, and they remind us that 'church' is so much more than songs and sermons. 
Practicing this flexibility keeps us motivated to constantly brainstorm and pivot when new opportunities arise to carry out the mission (in Mission!)

So, here's a few 'fun' facts about the person responsible for making a whole church reenact scenes from the Bible using mashed potatoes and chips:
 
  • Previous to working as a pastor I was a Whitewater Raft guide and Safety Kayaker
  • I have broken light fixtures in 5 different churches throughout the years (oops)
  • I play the banjo
  • My wife and I grew up less than 10 minutes from each other but we never crossed paths until our 20s
  • I can eat 1lb of Reese Peanut Butter chocolates

- Grant Miller 

April 16th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Jack Meers ~ Eden Mennonite Church 

 
 
December 2024 marked my fifth year of ministry at Eden Church! How the time goes by. Our congregation is nearing the 1-year mark without a Senior Pastor. While this time hasn't been without it's challenges, I feel grateful for how been able to grow, step into new areas and try new things - all good stuff for a pastor!
 
It's been amazing to see people in our church community step up in so many ways. We've been blessed to have a wide variety of people in our congregation, folks from MCBC, CBC, MCC and others share with us on Sunday mornings.
 
My scope of responsibility has widened over time, but youth and children's work continues to have my heart. We have a really dynamic youth group of around 25-30 students that show up on Tuesday nights. Once a month we run a Kids Night, with a smaller group, but still consistent and great to hang out with. I love seeing the relationships develop between students and with our leaders, as we learn about what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus in our everyday.  We also had 3 new members join in March and our most recent baptisms were last June, and we had 1 youth and 1 young adult.

5 fun Facts about Jack:
 
1. I have a weird skill of reciting many different song lyrics and movie quotes.
2. I go to the sauna at the local rec center about once a week. It's a great place to get to know people and hear about what's going on.
3. My wife (Lyric) and I love to explore restaurants and try different foods.
4. I grew my first beard in 2013 - it was a patchy chinstrap, but hey, it was there!
5. I feel most deeply connected to God when I'm outdoors. Surrounded by His creation, I sense His presence most profoundly.
 
- Jack Meers ~ Eden Mennonite Church 

April 9th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Jorge Luis Hoajaca ~ First United Mennonite Spanish Church


My name is Jorge Luis Hoajaca. I have been the leading pastor of First United Spanish Mennonite Church in Vancouver since July 1st, 1996. The Lord God called me and my family to minister and serve the church here in Vancouver.  One interesting fact is that all this years we have served refugees,  refugee claimants, government sponsored new immigrants and people seeking protection. Our congregation has seen some growth in the last couple of years.

There are some new believers asking for baptism. Also, a new young couple from Mennonite Church in Ecuador joining and serving with us.

Five fun facts about me:
 
1. I once had a natural Afro (no perm needed)
2. I enjoy crabbing (as long as crabs 🦀 don't catch my fingers)
3. I enjoy classic rock from the 70's and 80's (even if some people tell me that is worldly, not to say evil)
4. I enjoy crashing drums set cymbals to people who fell sleep while I preach (I do it on a weekly basis)
5. I am retiring at the end of September from FUSMC (just to keep preaching in the same place)
 
- Jorge Luis Hoajaca