RECORDER

Mennonite Gospel Church, Vauxhall AB
Students preparing for
Bible School
In January, this group of young adults are heading off to
Steinreich Bible School in Mexico. All of these individuals are
employed, and are taking a leave of absence from their jobs in
order to pursue their studies. Some of them are returning to SBS
for a second year.
The congregation is very excited to share this information,
and they are very proud of these young students. Pray for the
students that they will adjust well to the school setting, and that
their time at SBS will prepare them for ministry at home or
wherever they are called.
The Steinreich school term is from January to end of March.
Ministry continues
Diedrich and Judy Harms
became associate members at the
Mennonite Evangelical Church in
Seminole, Texas where Diedrich
was also installed as one of the
Pastors. They have been asked to
serve in the congregation for two
years. Pray that they will be the
instruments that the Holy Spirit
will use them for His glory.
“Thank you all for your
encouraging support. God has blessed us in abundance. I pray
that we will be faithful and obedient to Him.” ~ Diedrich Harms
Young people from Mennonite Gospel Church, Vauxhall, Alberta are
preparing to attend Steinreich Bible School, Mexico. Judy Thiessen,
Eva Penner, Lena Thiessen, Julie Loewen and Jake Neufeld.
EMMC / Go Mission! Education and
Training funds available
Students making plans to continue with post-secondary
education are encouraged to apply for funding assistance through
the Education and Training Fund. Applications are on the Go
Mission! website at www.gomission.ca and click on ‘Resources’
and select ‘Education and Training’ in the drop-down box. Complete
the application and follow the instructions. Pastors and ministry
workers are also eligible for these funds.
During the 2014/15 school year, over $15,000 was distributed
to students.
For further information, contact education@gomission.ca
New Director of Canadian
Operations for MDS
By Mark Beach
The board of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Region V
(Canada) has announced the appointment
of a new director for Canadian operations.
Ross Penner, 54, of Winnipeg, Manitoba,
recently accepted the role of Director of
Region V Operations and will begin work on
November 9 at the MDS office in Winnipeg.
Penner most recently spent two years
in Bangladesh where he worked with the
Ross Penner,
new Director of
MDS Canadian
operations.
Mennonite Central Committee and then
World Vision.
He had been lead pastor at Vineland
United Mennonite Church of Vineland,
Ontario, and prior to that served as lead pastor at Glencairn
Mennonite Brethren Church, Kitchener, Ontario, and Hepburn
Mennonite Brethren Church, Hepburn, Saskatchewan.
He has also worked with church and denominational boards
including being Chair of the Mennonite Brethren Board of
Church Extension, Ontario, served on the Canadian Conference
of Mennonite Brethren Church Board of Evangelism and the
Saskatchewan Mennonite Brethren Conference Board of Church
Extension.
Penner succeeds Janet Plenert who, with her husband Steve,
has accepted a service assignment with Mennonite Central
Committee in Bolivia beginning in 2016. Plenert will continue
her work with MDS through March 2016. She is currently on
extended medical leave following a cycling accident.
“We look forward to working closely with Ross and
continuing the work of MDS wherever people are suffering
because of disasters,” King said.
Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network of Anabaptist
churches that responds in Christian love to those affected by
disasters in Canada and the United States.
While the main focus is on clean up, repair and rebuilding homes,
this service touches lives and nurtures hope, faith and wholeness.
www.gomission.ca November / December 2015, Volume 52, Number 6 The Recorder 13