MCC Speaker Resources

MCC has a number of people who are willing to speak on a variety of topics in a variety of settings. Below is a comprehensive list of these people and their e-mail contact information. There are also speakers who come through BC from time to time from other MCC offices. As well, MCC alumni are often willing to speak. For information on these, please contact our office at:

Tel: (604) 850-6639, 857-0011
Toll free: 1-888-622-6337 from outside the Lower Mainland
E-mail: admin@mccbc.com

Laura Loewen, Executive Director
lloewen@mccbc.com
Laura is willing to speak about faith and life issues as it pertains to the work and ministry of MCC.

Wayne Bremner, Director of Programs and Personnel
wbremner@mccbc.com
Wayne is willing to speak to groups of any size and age and has some specific topics as well as general areas of voluntary service that he can address. Specific titles include:

1) The Biblical Call to Service and MCC's Mandate
2) What does the Bible have to do with politics or economics?
3) Stories of Compassion and Transformation from Africa and Central America
4) Jubilee 2000 - lecture or workshop for young adults or adult classes on the biblical call for debt forgiveness for the poorest countries, an update on the world wide mobilization of churches toward this cause and how you can get involved.

Darryl Klassen, Aboriginal Neighbours Program
abneighbours@mccbc.com
Darryl is willing to speak to small groups, Sunday School classes and Bible study groups on any issues relating to Aboriginals.

Elsie Wiebe Klingler, Abuse Prevention Coordinator
peace@mccbc.com
Elsie is an experienced speaker, comfortable with groups of any size or age and available to do story telling, Bible studies, sermons or instructional workshops. She can do talks on the themes listed below, adapting them for your group:

• Domestic Violence: What Churches Can Do
• Healthy Relationships (For Youth and Young Adults - addresses dating and
• relationship dynamics. Appropriate for schools or church groups.)
• Violence and Abuse Prevention
• Biblical Teachings on Peace
• Story telling about MCCs work in Iraq and other countries
• Clergy Sexual Misconduct Prevention (Skills training in abuse prevention by setting professional boundaries in church leader/staff/congregational relationships. This is a course (8 - 15hrs.) which includes an instructional workshop manual for each participant.)

Ronn Van Wyk, Director of Employment and Community Development
rvanwyk@mccbc.com
MCC’s employment department has several programs within it, all run by capable program managers who are available to speak on a variety of topics including community development, issues relating to the environment, and mentoring. These people are willing to speak to Sunday School classes and small groups and some are available for pulpit ministry on Sunday mornings as well.

Fred Kaarsemaker, Director of Material Resources
warehouse@mccbc.com
Fred will speak to groups large and small about what goes on at the MCC warehouse. Fred offers tours and service opportunities for individuals and groups at the warehouse as well. In addition, we have voluntary service workers in our warehouse who are also available to speak on their experience as volunteers. Quilting is also a part of the material resources program and Val Redekop is the person to contact for information on our quilting program and the possibility of workshops.

Jennifer Mpungu , Director of Refugee Assistance Program
refugee@mccbc.com
Jennifer and her team of people would prefer to speak to small groups interested in refugee concerns or interested in sponsoring refugees. The small group setting makes it easier to address questions from the group.

Sophie Tiessen-Eigbike, Voluntary Service Coordinator
stiessen@mccbc.com
Sophie is a creative speaker and storyteller and works well with children, young adult and adult groups. In drawing on personal experiences of having served with MCC in southern Africa and Manitoba, as well as with the Conference of Mennonites in northern Mexico, she is available to talk about:

• Micah 6:8 What does the Lord require of us?
• Importance of relationship building in connection with serving in the name of Christ
• God's grace and the need for mutual transformation.
• God calls us to a lifestyle of service and loving one another wherever our feet are planted
• Joy and Suffering -- African understanding of faith
• Sharing our Gifts
• Gifts of the Global Church (focus on Africa)
• MCC service program
• Children: Using proverbs, animal stories and life experiences sharing about life in southern Africa, reflecting on diversity of gifts & approaches to life, sharing, and all people being created in God's image

Angelika Dawson, Communications Department
communications@mccbc.com
Angelika is able to speak to groups of any size. She has experience preaching on topics including grief, service, the power of words, and more. Angelika has a complete powerpoint presentation about her experiences on an Educator’s Learning Tour in Ukraine. She has been involved in creative worship services of music and readings and is also available to speak to small groups about the area of communications and writing. She is also happy to work with churches to speak on any theme of scripture passages of your choosing.

Phil Schafran, Director of Resource Development
resource@mccbc.com
Phil Schafran, Director of Resource Development is available to preach, teach, or lead discussions in your church, Sunday School class, small group study, and other venues. Phil holds a Ph.D in Old Testament and taught Religious Studies for 12 years at the college and university level, and has done extensive preaching and pulpit supply.