Dear friends,
There have been some staff changes in the Vancouver office, which I am delighted to share with you.
The first is that Amber Barker, who became Amber Baker, a former Pentacostal campus Pastor with the PAC, has elected to go back to school, starting in early January, in the field of counseling. We wish and pray for Amber and her husband Seth, an excellent beginning in this new season of their lives.
Claudia Wakeman, a very dear and old friend of mine, has worked with us in a variety of roles in the last eight years. Over the last 2-3 years, that role has, by her own expanding interests, particularly in a new grandson called Evan, slowly wound down over time. Claudia will be leaving us at the end of the month. Claudia and her husband Ken have been old friends of Kerry’s and mine for a number of years. We are deeply grateful for her work.
Many of you who go to White Rock Baptist will be familiar with Mark Tubbs. Mark is a gifted communications specialist in areas of writing, editing, and web-based and social media communications. Here is his own description of what he will be involved in below. Very thankful that Mark is joining us.
Mark serves Jeremy Bell as an Administrative Associate with special responsibility for communications. Formerly he served as a high school English teacher, as a Bible college registrar, and as an assistant to a seminary president. He will soon complete his Master of Divinity at Carey Theological College and is seeking opportunities for pastoral ministry. He also serves as chaplain of the Vancouver Canadians baseball club, where he be can found on select summer Sundays. He lives with his wife Cheri and their four children in South Surrey, where the ocean is close and the mountains are visible. Coaching baseball and reading books are his current hobbies; when time and money permits he plans to take up his once and future hobby of whitewater rafting.
The individual who will be taking the lion’s share of Amber’s job, as the Vancouver Office Administrative Associate, with an emphasis on admin and event planning, is Jill Cardwell. Jill’s biography is below and I look forward to the benefit of her great and varied experience.
In her role in the Vancouver office, Jill assists the Executive Minister in his daily tasks and provides administrative and executive support for the CBWC (including the Board).
Jill grew up in Northern Ireland and spent time living in Scotland. The Celtic stories and wild, wind-swept landscapes shape her creative view on life. She has an MA in theology and the arts and a BA in design & applied arts.
Jill’s entrepreneurial endeavors included running her own costume design business for ten years working in film, theatre, and circus. In addition she established a monthly community group that brings women together around tea and art making, which she continues to direct (CreativiTea). Jill’s creative work has been published in WeMakeStuff Volume 01, a book showcasing 100 Vancouver-area artists and innovators who are pursuing a Christ-centered life.
She has also worked and volunteered extensively as an events director.
In her “other” role as arts facilitator her passion is to create space for people to grow through creative encounters with God. As part of this Jill currently interns at First Baptist Vancouver leading the arts ministry. Jill says, “I make sense of what I’m experiencing and learning by making art. Art-making is a generative action. It reminds us that we have the power to transform and to produce beauty.”
If you want to know more about what makes Jill tick then invite her for a good cup of tea!
Warmly,
In Christ,
Jeremy Bell