Workshops

  • This workshop reviews topics in Canadian charity law that are relevant to churches and Christian ministries. Topics will include recognized categories of charitable purpose, types of legal structures for charitable organizations, rules governing the operation of a charity, the roles and duties of individuals within a charitable organization (e.g. directors, trustees, members, pastors, staff) and other issues encountered by churches and other charities (such as land ownership, contracts, liability and human rights legislation). 

  • Paul is a lawyer, currently working as legal research counsel for the Manitoba Court of Appeal. Before his position with the court, Paul practiced law in Steinbach, primarily in the areas of real estate, corporate and commercial, estate and testamentary law. Part of his practice included representing charitable organizations. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 2020. Paul is a member of Calvary Church in Steinbach and of the Christian Legal Fellowship of Canada.

Charity Law in Canada | Paul Reimer

Being an Effective Board | Emery Plett

  • Church leadership structures take many forms in the EMC. This session will review the keys to being an effective leadership group, regardless of the structure your church uses.

  • Emery Plett is the current Executive Director for the EMC. Prior to coming to the Conference, he was the CEO and Principal at Steinbach Christian School and has served on numerous boards, including Steinbach Bible College, HavenGroup, and his church leadership team.

  • Before people walk through your church doors, many will look for your church online. Yet church social media often functions as little more than a digital bulletin board for insiders. Using Instagram as a starting point, this practical workshop will show churches how to balance information, inspiration, and conversation—helping people know what is happening, understand why it matters, and participate. Attendees will leave with practical content ideas and a simple plan for getting started, even without a large communications team.

  • Scott Marble is the Director of Communications for the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) and managing editor of The Messenger. He brings more than two decades of church communications and ministry experience to his work and holds a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Providence Seminary. Scott is passionate about helping churches develop strategic communication that serves people with clarity.

Social Media for Churches | Scott Marble

Vital Signs: Keys to a Healthy Church | Carl Heppner

  • Knowing the signs of church health and understanding the life cycle of churches helps us to clarify our vision for ministry. Come learn how intentional ministry renewal can help our congregations grow in unity, effectiveness, and community impact.

  • Carl is the EMC Director of Canadian Outreach. He has served as a pastor in EMC and MB congregations over the past 25 years. His heart for community impact and cross-cultural ministry has also been shaped in many ways by their family experiences serving with MCC in Bolivia.

The EMC Sandbox: Exploring What it Means to be EMC | Andy Woodworth

  • The Bible affirms that there is ‘one body’—one Church—yet the landscape of Christian faith is marked by rich diversity. Without assuming that ‘we are right and everyone else is wrong,’ how might we thoughtfully explore the distinctives of the EMC to see how we complement the greater work of the Body of Christ within our culture?

  • Andy Woodworth serves as Conference Pastor with the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC), supporting Pastors and Ministry Leaders by promoting unity, leadership development, and spiritual vitality within the EMC.

The Role of the Missions Committee | Gerald Reimer

  • The Great Commission is more relevant than ever before as our planet now has over 8 billion people, of which approximately only 7-8% is evangelical Christian.

    As part of one of the most important committees in your church, this workshop seeks to give you tools to help identify giftedness and calling in your parishioners, examine some strategic methods for equipping your brothers and sisters, and partnering together with them in the discernment of placement as you send them forth.

  • Gerald and Sandy have been married for 30 years and have three adult children and one daughter-in-law. Both Gerald and Sandy served overseas as singles, and then for a short time together as a family. Gerald has worked at the EMC National Office for 27-years, serving as the Conference Youth Minister, the Canadian Church Planting Coordinator, and for the past several years as the Director of Global Outreach. In his spare time, Gerald enjoys running (in part to combat his enjoyment of all types of food), gardening with his wife, going for walks together, and connecting with neighbours.

Spiderman Sound Techs | Colin Friesen

  • With great power comes great responsibility. How do you manage the responsibility of controlling what your congregation hears on a Sunday morning? This workshop will focus on the heart and strategy behind what should guide the ministry of sound technicians.

  • Colin has served as a sound tech for 15+ years at his local church and was most recently the primary sound tech for the EMC’s Abundant Springs Event at Briercrest College. Colin loves Jesus, his family and worshiping God together.

  • Like it or not, we live in a digital world. Text messages, emails, chat groups, social posts, YouTube videos…Much of our communication takes place online. How do we use these tools responsibly to further communicate the Gospel? We’ll discuss the benefits, risks and solutions for how to keep conversations going all week long in a safe way. We’ll also look at how to use the TWELVE app to meet these needs, especially in a youth ministry setting.

  • Lorna joined One Hope Canada in 2021 and now serves as the Creative Team Director at the Ministry Resource Centre. It is her joy to share what God is doing in the lives of children and youth across the country through camp and community ministry, and through digital resources. 

    Lorna lives in Winnipeg with her husband Merle and three children - Brynn (21), Grayson (18) and Rylan (15). She attends St Vital EMC where she serves on the leadership team overseeing the children’s and youth programs.

Responsible Digital Discipleship | Lorna Kroeker

Reaching our Communities through Discovery Bible Studies | Carl Heppner

  • We are often reluctant to talk about our faith with others because we worry about knowing how to answer hard questions they may ask. Learn how this simple approach to reading scripture together with friends and neighbours will equip everyone in your congregation to engage in sharing the Good News of Jesus.

  • Carl is the EMC Director of Canadian Outreach. He has served as a pastor in EMC and MB congregations over the past 25 years. His heart for community impact and cross-cultural ministry has also been shaped in many ways by their family experiences serving with MCC in Bolivia.

Learning to Row Together | Andy Woodworth

  • The challenge & reward of aligning our Ministries with our Mission

    When a rowing team pulls in perfect sync, the boat surges forward with power. Churches experience the same focused momentum when every ministry effort aligns with their stated mission. This workshop equips leaders to row together toward a shared purpose—and challenges us to ask: What if some of our hardest rowing is actually taking us off course?

  • Andy Woodworth serves as Conference Pastor with the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC), supporting Pastors and Ministry Leaders by promoting unity, leadership development, and spiritual vitality within the EMC.

Leading Worship or Leading Songs | Mo Friesen

  • We will work to develop some skills for worship setlist planning. We will explore how to engage mind, body, and spirit in corporate times of worship. If you are part of a worship team, pastoral team or are interested in worship this workshop is for you.

  • Mo has been a worship leader for over 30 years and has led worship in many different contexts. In his role as Director of Next Gen for the EMC, Mo sees the importance of creating and facilitating experiences and encounters with God that engage all generations.

Qualifications: Yes! | Sheila Ginter

  • Are you breathing? Do you love Jesus? Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you are equipped. This workshop will give you simple ideas on how to use what you already have to minister to your fellow humanity at any age in any season for any reason.

  • Sheila Ginter is the professor of counselling at Steinbach Bible College and has a private practice in therapy and is the equine assisted psychotherapist at Cloud 9 Ranch. She has been married to Alfred for 30 years and together they attend Calvary Church in Steinbach.

Why Bible College? | Dave Reimer

  • Is Bible College still a worthwhile education? Is it for church leaders or do the rest of us need it as well? How does our current culture change the need for Bible College and how does college address life in our current culture? This workshop will address these questions and demonstrate that a Bible College education is hugely important for personal Christian character development and for the strength of the future church.

  • Dave is currently President at Steinbach Bible College. He has 25 years of experience in Pastoral Ministry and Theological Education. He has a passion for the mission of Christ’s church and loves being part of the development of future church leaders. Dave and his wife Shelley have five children and thirteen grandchildren who give them much joy.

The Privilege and Responsibility of Risk Management | Christina Thiessen

  • Merging the worlds of Ministry and Risk Management – Abuse Prevention Plan and Abuse Liability Coverage

  • I grew up in Alberta and moved to Manitoba 16 years ago.  I now live in Kleefeld and attend Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Church.  I went to university for developmental art and education and then spent many years at home with my three children and volunteering countless hours in Children’s Ministry.  When I returned to the workforce, I first taught preschool, then changed gears and entered the world of finance as a consumer loans officer.  I am now a part of the Church and Charity team at Lakeview Insurance, where I have the amazing privilege of getting to work alongside so many wonderful Churches and Charities in Manitoba.

Workology: A Biblical Perspective on Work | Terry Kaufman

  • God’s perspective on “work” is what ought to guide us in the workplace. In this workshop, together we will think about God’s perspective on work and what that means for you and me in the workplace.

  • Terry Kaufman is Professor of Marketplace and Ministry Leadership at Steinbach Bible College.  He has served as pastor for over 20 years, with the majority of that as Senior Preaching Pastor of Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church.  He has also held several roles with the denominational office of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada, and before that was a businessman. Terry graduated from Winnipeg Bible College and then Providence Seminar with a Master of Arts in Theology. Terry has been married to Peggy for 43 years, and both of their children are married, live in Steinbach, and have each provided one grandson to the family.

Gathered for More | Tim Gibbons

  • What if your small group is about more than the people sitting around the circle?

    Small groups can become places where people are deeply known, genuinely cared for, and transformed by Jesus—but they were never meant to turn inward. We gather UP to Jesus, care IN for one another, and live OUT for those who don't yet know Him.

    In this practical and inspiring workshop, we'll explore how leaders can cultivate groups that are spiritually healthy, relationally deep, and intentionally missional. We'll look at how to shepherd the people God has entrusted to us while creating a culture where everyone sees themselves as part of God's mission.

    Come discover how your group can become more than a gathering—and become a community that lives on mission together.

  • Tim Gibbons serves on the pastoral staff at Foothills Alliance Church in Calgary, Alberta, where he is involved in communications, community life, and helping people take their next steps in following Jesus. Tim is passionate about helping churches cultivate healthy, Christ-centred communities where people are known, cared for, equipped, and sent. He believes small groups can be much more than gatherings—they can become spiritual families that help people grow deeply in Christ while living boldly on mission. Tim has a passion for seeing the local church become a place where people encounter Jesus and are transformed by His grace.

You are an Influencer: A grandparents guide to spiritual influence | Len Friesen

  • You don't need followers to be an influencer. Your children and grandchildren are already watching you. Your consistency and authenticity in their lives will influence them - for a lifetime.  

  • Len trusted Christ as his personal savior in his early teens. His desire to serve in the local church provided him with a number of roles over the years including Sunday school teacher, treasurer, ushering and on a number of ministry teams including the Global impact team. Len and his wife Pam have served as missionaries/Regional Directors with Awana for over 14 years and managed a collision repair shop for 10 years. Most recently, Len has started and runs his own renovation and construction business, as well as serves as the national director for Legacy Coalition Canada. Len and his wife Pam, live in Steinbach Manitoba, and have three children and four grandchildren.

Honouring the Gift: Engaging Seniors in Church Life | Richard Klassen

  • Our seniors – a treasure trove of seasoned wise resources waiting to be accessed, or reluctant burnt-out relics? Seniors today are not a static demographic that can be manipulated to meet our expectations. In this one-hour workshop we want to consider the potential in our seniors’ group, what we can realistically expect from them, and how we might, with appropriate sensitivity, engage them more effectively in our congregational church life.

  • Richard Klassen is retired in Steinbach, Manitoba, where he lives with his wife Kathy, not too far from his family of three adult children, two of them married, and five grandchildren. Richard has been a pastor in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. He has also been involved in the Conference as moderator, General Board member, and chairman of the BLO. His home church is EFC, where he is involved in senior ministry. His interests include cycling, coffee shops, word games and puzzles, writing (including publishing his memoirs), camping, and carving.

Overcoming Barriers in Writing | Luann Hiebert

  • There are many barriers in writing that even seasoned writers experience. In this hands-on workshop, we will have an opportunity to discuss barriers writers face, including procrastination, perfectionism, cliches, and self-doubt. We will consider ways to address and push past these obstacles. There will also be time to ask questions, practice writing, and share words and ideas in small groups.

  • Luann Hiebert (Ph.D.), is an assistant professor of English Literature at Providence University College, and an adjunct English literature Instructor at Steinbach Bible College. She lives in Steinbach, MB with her husband and their dog Milton. Hiebert enjoys reading and writing poetry and leads a worship team in her church. Her first book of poetry What Lies Behind was published by Turnstone Press (2014). Her work has appeared in the EMC Messenger, EMMC Recorder, Didaskalia Journal, Kingdom Poets, Ekstasis Magazine, Prairie Fire, Rhubarb, the Society, and in the anthologies Heartwood: Poems for the Love of Trees, and 29 Mennonite Poets.

Disability in the Church | Daniel Rempel

  • In 2022, the Canadian survey on disability suggested that over 27% of Canadians (8.0 million people) currently live with a disability. The reality of our aging population’s demographics is that those numbers are likelier to go up rather than down. When Christians see a number like this, our question should be whether 27% of our congregation is disabled. If not, then we’re clearly missing out on a large demographic of people who could be worshipping alongside us. In this workshop, participants will be invited to ask questions about the presence of disability (physical and intellectual) in our churches, what the Bible has to say about disability, and what this all means for the lives of disciples.

  • Daniel Rempel is Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Providence University College &Theological Seminary. Before starting at Providence, he worked as a disability support professional in Steinbach and Winnipeg for five years. Daniel currently serves as the vice-president of the board of directors of L’Arche Winnipeg, a Christian organization dedicated to serving and supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. Daniel is married and has two young kids. They all reside in Winnipeg and worship at Faith Covenant Church.

Church for All Ages | Dustin Asham

  • The gospel is good news for people of every age. To communicate that good news effectively, churches have developed Sunday school, children’s programs, youth ministries, college and career groups, seniors’ ministries, and men’s and women’s ministries. But in organizing church life around age and stage, could we have created some unintended consequences?

    Perhaps it’s time to bring the generations back together. This session will explore the benefits and challenges of intergenerational ministry—and how the church can model connection and unity in an increasingly lonely and divided world.

  • Dustin Asham serves as Associate Pastor at Ridgewood Church. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from Providence University College and is currently pursuing a Master of Theological Studies in New Testament at Trinity Western University. He has a passion for teaching and helping people encounter faith in practical and transformative ways. Dustin and his wife, Cassie, along with their three children, enjoy outdoor adventures such as hiking, canoeing, and rock climbing.

Practical AI for Ministry | Mike Burnard

  • AI doesn't have to be complicated to be useful. This session is for the volunteers and staff doing the everyday work of ministry, from planning events to shaping communications to administrative tasks that eat up your time. We'll walk through simple AI hacks, how-tos, and a few outside-the-box ideas. No technical background required.

  • Mike Burnard is a Creative Systems Designer and executive clarity partner for churches and mission-driven organizations, based in Steinbach, Manitoba. He holds a Master's in Christian Leadership from Trinity Western University and brings over ten years of pastoral ministry experience alongside his work as an AI Solutions Lead at a major broadcasting corporation. Mike now consults with churches and Christian leaders on AI governance and thought partnership under the principle "govern AI before it governs your culture." He also serves in worship ministry leadership at his home congregation.

AI for Leaders | Mike Burnard

  • Leading well in the age of AI takes more than a policy. This intensive is for pastors, elders, and ministry leaders navigating how AI is shaping decision-making, discernment, and organizational life. We'll touch on governance basics, in addition we will touch on using AI as a thought partner without losing judgment, discernment, or pastoral instinct along the way.

  • Mike Burnard is a Creative Systems Designer and executive clarity partner for churches and mission-driven organizations, based in Steinbach, Manitoba. He holds a Master's in Christian Leadership from Trinity Western University and brings over ten years of pastoral ministry experience alongside his work as an AI Solutions Lead at a major broadcasting corporation. Mike now consults with churches and Christian leaders on AI governance and thought partnership under the principle "govern AI before it governs your culture." He also serves in worship ministry leadership at his home congregation.

Read the Bible like a Good EMCer | Layton Friesen

  • Anabaptists are known as people who seek to live like Jesus. What’s less known is that this emphasis on daily discipleship comes from a unique way of taking the Bible. The seminar presenter believes this way should be taught to all Christians, though Anabaptists need to learn from others as well. We will examine the basics of Anabaptist interpretation and begin to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.  

  • Layton Friesen is academic dean and professor of theology, ethics and history at Steinbach Bible College. Previously he worked as the Conference Pastor of the EMC. He attends Fort Garry EMC in Winnipeg with his wife Glenda who is a pastor of worship and youth. They have two grown children and one daughter-in-law. Layton has studied many traditions but still likes the Mennonite life he was shown by his family and church.

My House Shall be Called… | Kevin Friesen

  • I’ve always been fascinated by the words of Acts 2:42-47, where Luke describes the early NT church, and the activities they engaged in. Among other things, they devoted themselves to prayer. Do you ever struggle in your prayer life? Do I? Are there some truths in Scripture that might help revolutionize and breath fresh life into your prayer life, and that of your corporate body as well? YES! Jesus is an unchanging Saviour…His desire for us and our churches is that we live deeply committed to prayer, and that we participate in being His ‘House of Prayer’. Let’s join together as we investigate some ways in which our prayer lives are hindered, as well as some truths that will help revive your prayer life!

  • Hi there! My name is Kevin Friesen, and I’m an associate pastor at Pansy Chapel. I have been married to my fantastic wife, Denise, for 26 years, and we have 4 wonderful children – Scott, married to Jaida, Joel, married to Micah, Alexa, married to Tyrel Reimer, and Brennan. I consider it a tremendous privilege to serve the Lord in the role He has called me to! Denise and I served as elders for many years, both in our current church as well as a previous one, before the Holy Spirit led us into full time ministry in 2023.