The Heartland Area Resource Team (HART)
By Mark Doerksen
One aspect of my work as the Heartland Regional Minister is to work with some individuals who are not only part of the CBWC board, but also make up the Heartland Area Resource Team (HART). We meet to discuss issues pertinent to the Heartland Region of the CBWC. I have had the privilege of working with some stellar volunteers, so good in fact, that they were drafted away from HART for further responsibilities exclusive to the CBWC board.
The CBWC board’s nominating committee does a lot of work in seeking new members to join HART, and the other regions as well. In the Heartland, we have two provinces to work with—and though we have fewer churches in our provinces—the nominating committee works hard to find some balance between pastors and laity, men and women.
These HART members commit to 2-year terms, and they have various tasks that they are responsible for. They pray for me, and they check in with me to see how I am managing in my role, something I appreciate very much. They help make decisions regarding items such as Manitoba camp grants, and they help me keep tabs on the churches in our region. Importantly, they also help conduct interviews for new pastors, and those who are seeking credentials within the CBWC.
Currently HART consists of Joel Russell-MacLean, Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Regina, and Lorraine Hernaez, whose home church is Filipino Evangelical Church in Winnipeg. Our newest member is Crystal Peters. She attends Asquith Baptist Church and is the part-time administrator there. Cindy Emmons, the Heartland Area Administrative Assistant, also attends and organizes these meetings.
One of the aspects of being on HART is the ability to connect with others from across the CBWC for shared work. Our team members truly appreciate the opportunity to meet folks from other churches and working with Executive Staff at board meetings. I appreciate the dedication and the hours that these volunteers put in, and their concern for our association of churches.
I end this article with 2 requests. If this sort of work is of interest to you, please let your Regional Minister know. And secondly, please pray for these folks and their responsibilities.
Introducing our newest HART member: Crystal Peter
My name is Crystal Peters, and I’m a proud prairie girl with strong farm roots. I grew up at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Saskatoon, SK, and eventually ended up working there as an Associate Youth Pastor while also completing my Youth Ministry B.A. from Briercrest. I have been married to my best friend Darren for 17 years, and together we have three beautiful daughters. City life did not suit us, so we moved to Kinley, SK, which we’ve happily called home for almost 13 years. Our family has been attending Asquith Baptist Church for the past three years, and last Fall I was hired as the Office Administrator at ABC. In my free time you’ll find me hanging out with my family, caring for my dogs Winnie and Walter, watching baseball, and volunteering at the church.
This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Email our senior writer, Hannah Hamm: hhamm@cbwc.ca.