New/Returning Pastoral Placements 2024

Andy Brubacher Kaethler, Pastor at Ottawa Mennonite Church: I find “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thess. 1:2) in the sound of a baby  crying during worship, in the sight of an eddy behind a paddle, in the taste of sage honey from a local apiary, in the smell of pine needles released by morning dew, in the gentle caress of my spouse – in short, when my senses are enlivened by the fundamental goodness of all creation, reminding me that pain and loss do not have the last word. 

Bill Wiebe, Pastor at Erie View United Mennonite Church: Transformation: an elegant term for a primal experience. Through Jesus Christ, God cleanses and renews us – a blessed metamorphosis within a chrysalis of sacrifice – in from the darkness of sin we crawl – out into the light of salvation we fly - Behold – He makes all things new again. Blessed inspiration, borne upon Holy Spirit winds, He calls to us – Come - Come and See. Powered by a new mind, we hearken to His Word; resurrected with glad hearts, we obey His Commands; and in faith freshly galvanized, we follow His Calling.

Darrell Winger, Pastor at Grace Mennonite Church: “Transformed. Inspired. Called – Inspired by Hope” is a fitting theme for us as followers of Jesus living in these times of bewilderment and tension.  Jesus is the one who transforms and inspires us by his Spirit, and from that place of transformation, calls us join him in bringing reconciliation and hope in our cultural moment. 

Harold Schlegel, Interim Supply Pastor at Tavistock Mennonite Church: Hope seems in short supply, while Cynicism abounds. We are tempted by gloomy despair on one hand and spiteful fault-finding on the other. Fortunately, ‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness… and intercedes with groans too deep for words.’ (Rom. 8:26) When relying on my own insight and skill, hope is frail and fleeting. Hope rooted in Christ, and the Easter victory of love over fear, is both vibrant and empowering. ^‘May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ (Rom. 15:13)

Laurel Rounds Fretz, Pastor at Community Mennonite Fellowship: As a church, a body of believers, it is our steadfast hope in Jesus that continually transforms us. Hope is persistent and ongoing. It is not a one-time event. It is the ceaseless nature of our hope in Jesus that calls us to a lifelong transformation, a lifelong journey of orienting our lives toward Christ. As a new pastor, I am inspired by my congregation, their hope in the saving nature of Jesus and their desire to live out their faith.

Lisa Carr-Pries, Chaplain at Parkwood Mennonite Home: In my roles as Chaplain at Parkwood Seniors Community and as Vice-President of Mennonite World Conference I am daily inspired and transformed by the hope that I find in people and their stories. This hope is born out of trust, joy, gratitude and faith in a God who is all we begin to imagine and everything that we are longing for – extravagant love, deep joy, peace beyond understanding, justice, abundant grace, and a deep sense of belonging. Hope is the affirmation of the truest thing of all: that Jesus Christ, our hope came to redeem, restore, and reconcile.

Steven Giugovaz, Pastor at Vineland United Mennonite Church: "I am excited for this years Gathering theme: “Transformed. Inspired. Called. Inspired by Hope.” In a world full of wars, disease, famines, suffering and oppression, it can be easy to be overwhelmed with feelings of hopelessness. Yet, Scripture reminds us that we do not serve the God of hopelessness, but of the God of hope! For God sent Jesus, to us to secure for us a hope that far outweighs ANY of the troubles this world throws at us. This hope has the power to transform and to inspire, not just us but the entire world! So, let us come together and be transformed and inspired, so that we can live into our call to share this hope with the world in desperate need of it."  

Thomas Reimer, Pastor at Rockway Mennonite Church: "God calls to us through many voices, the voices of family members, friends, congregations, and voices that don’t use words. My own discernment around the call to become a pastor has brought me into a rich and blessed engagement with many of these voices. Sometimes the question arises: how do I know that this is a ‘true’ call, a call from God? Maybe true calls are like true prophecies, which according to Jeremiah are known to be from God if they prophesy peace and peace indeed comes about. They are also true if they prophesy destruction, and lead not to destruction but repentance, like Jonah’s call to the Ninevites. Calls can change a person, and their response may lead to a new call in an ongoing dialogue with the divine… truth blossoming in the transformation like a vine in the desert."

Tim Amor, Pastor at St. Catharines United Mennonite Church: It could be easy for us to look around and see the many challenges of the world, the decreased attendance and importance of church and faith, the see reasons to be discouraged. And yet I cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of hope for those of us following Jesus' loving, narrow way. Because I see hope, I see opportunity, and I see the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. I see Jesus continuing to beckon us to join Him as He continues to breathe new life into our neighbourhoods. The future of the church—the future of our Anabpatist church communities—may sometimes feel uncertain for us, but it is certainly in the loving hands of Jesus.