What are you reading right now?The way of the warrior – Erwin McmanusLetters to the church – Francis ChanKing Raven Trilogy – Stephen R. Lawhead If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?Singing, playing drums and drawing. Who’s…
Before there were marketing agencies and ad campaigns, and long before social media, there was the story. Big ideas, shared experiences and deep convictions are best expressed in story-form. Storytelling is also an effective way to encourage others and celebrate people and accomplishments. Everybody has a story…
“Why are you going to seminary to study worship? All a song leader needs to do is open the hymnal and choose 3 songs.” My aunt said this to me just before my family and I moved to Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1994. I was…
“There is one fault I must find with the twentieth century, And I’ll put it in a couple of words: Too adventury. What I’d like would be some nice dull monotony If anyone’s gotony.” I recently stumbled upon these words by Ogden Nash. (My high…
Have you ever wondered what MBCM pastors retreat is like? Perhaps you’re on the fence about whether or not you’d like to try it out. Well look no further than the BockFive vlog (that’s short for video blog) for a behind the scenes look. This is how Steve and Karen…
Photographer Tony Schellenberg and I visited Walls of Freedom Outreach Centre on March 24, 2017 to meet with pastor Jim Wiseman. The community service plaque signed by Queen Elizabeth that hung behind his desk was the first thing we noticed. It was awarded to Wiseman during his days as a military recreation…
A gospel for the world Photography by Anthony Mark Photography Drummer Todd DeChateauvert Elenore Doerksen assists at the registration desk. Loralee wears a beautiful and musical jingle dress. La Salle Community Fellowship worship minister Darren Willems makes a new friend. MBCM executive director Elton DaSilva, C2C regional director Ewald…
A family snapshot of the MB church in Manitoba.
“La Salle Community Fellowship participates in just about everything else the town has to offer,” says pastor Kelly Cochrane, who began leading the 20-year-old congregation in 2015, after founding pastor Ray Klassen retired. Located 10 minutes south of Winnipeg, La Salle is a growing town…
I was apprehensive about attending this year’s pastors and spouses retreat. My official first day of on-staff pastoral ministry at Crossroads MB church wasn’t until June 1, 2016 – after the retreat. As someone new to professional ministry, I was concerned that I would not be…
I was apprehensive about attending this year’s pastors and spouses retreat. My official first day of on-staff pastoral ministry at Crossroads MB church wasn’t until June 1, 2016 – after the retreat. As someone new to professional ministry, I was concerned that I would not be able to relate to the other pastors in attendance. Would being single impede my ability to fully engage in activities? As a younger person (27), would I be surrounded by people twice my age, with very different interests and than mine? So far, this didn’t sound like my idea of a restful retreat.
But at the request of my lead pastor Marvin Dyck, I decided that despite my reservations, I would give it a shot. So hit the road and made my way to Lakeview Hecla Oasis Resort. Check in around 4:00p.m., tour my room and discover it to be quite grandiose, far exceeding my expectations. I revel in the little things, like personal room temperature settings and a huge bathroom. Oasis is indeed an appropriate name for the location.
From there I made my way to the MBCM check-in location and was met by a friendly face and presented with my nametag. I was greeted by several other pastors from across Manitoba. My biggest surprise, however, came when I realized that I was not the youngest person in attendance. While the majority were around or past their forties, many from my peer group were there.
Over the course of the retreat, I also had the privilege of meeting about half of the 70 or so pastors and spouses. As it turns out, not only was I able to relate to them and their ministry experiences, but they related to me and mine. The worship music was varied and represented an intersection of different styles. Executive director Elton DaSilva’s teaching sessions offered many points of engagement for leaders at every step of their journey, from just starting to finishing well – this was a personal highlight.
For most of the retreat my being single did not seem to matter either. There were some games designed for couples which left me feeling a little awkward, but luckily I did not have to participate in those. And, in the biggest game, not only was I the selected participant for a series of challenges, but I emerged victorious!
Overall, the MBCM pastors and spouses retreat was a great opportunity for me to rest and rejuvenate. I was able to meet my peers from the province and share with them in our struggles and successes. I was able to relate to the material and the people in a way that blessed us all. And while being single was at times difficult, it is no more so than in any other context. I now find myself a little wiser, much more rested, and looking forward to ministry and touching base with my peers again next year.
Stefan Klassen,
Crossroads MB Church
