Speakers

Wilma Wiens is our Minister of Pastoral & Spiritual Care. She grew up in Winnipeg and studied at the University of Manitoba and at Canadian Mennonite University where she received her Masters of Arts in Theological Studies. She has lived in Swaziland and in Haiti, where she worked with the Mennonite Central Committee. Wilma and her husband Dan operated an organic vegetable farm for over 20 years, selling food at farmers markets and through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model. She has had a spiritual direction practice since 2005. In all these areas of involvement Wilma enjoys seeing God’s wondrous transforming grace at work in people’s ordinary lives.
Wilma and Dan live south of Winnipeg where they enjoy the quietude of the land. They have 4 children and 4 grandsons. She enjoys running, gardening, reading and strong dark roasted coffee.

Leshia Verkerk is the Dean of Student Life at Providence University College and Theological Seminary. She has her Masters of Divinity from McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton. Leshia lives in Winnipeg with her husband, Benjamin, who is the pastor at Covenant Christian Reformed Church, and her new son Peter. In her spare time, Leshia likes to be outside fishing, walking, or sitting around the fire.

Randall (Randy) Holm is a restless observer of faith and culture. He has a Ph.D. in theology from Université Laval in Quebec City and for the past 18 years has been teaching in the area of biblical studies at Providence University College. Randy and his wife Olive train together for marathons. Their daughter Laura, son-in-law Adam and grandson Jameson live in Colorado Springs. Randy’s newest hobby is competing in triathlons.

Pierre Gilbert grew up in Quebec City. He studied at Providence Seminary and has a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Montreal. Pierre has served in Montreal and Fresno, California. He presently teaches for the Canadian Mennonite University and the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.

Don Friesen served two Mennonite congregations, one in Winnipeg (1975-1978) and the other in Ottawa (1978-2012), before retiring. He met his wife, Dorothy, a fellow Saskatchewanian, in Thompson, MB. They both studied at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Indiana, and have three children and three grandchildren.