As Easter is a time for new beginnings for Christians, so it will be with several of Thompson's evangelical clergy, who are moving on in April.
At the Salvation Army Thompson Corps and Community Services, which is part of the Prairie Division of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, Majors Grayling and Jacqueline Crites, the co-pastors, are leaving after several years on medical leave.
Grayling is from Cornwall, Ont. originally. Before studying to become a Salvation Army officer corps member between 1983 and 1985, he held a variety of jobs, including pumping gas more than once.
"We will be going on medical leave inApril," Grayling said. " We will be residing in Winnipeg. Majors Harvey and Emma Compton are appointed to the corps pro-tem for April, May and June." The Comptons are coming out of retirement for the temporary posting.
"Major Emma was a corps officer here in Thompson in the 70's with her first husband, Captain Jim Morris. New active officers will be appointed to follow the Comptons. We will receive an new appointment after the medical leave in mid summer," he said.
Jacqueline will be having heart surgery in Winnipeg, while their son, Andrew, has juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Meanwhile, over at Thompson First Baptist Church,
Brandon Milan, the associate pastor of youth, is headed for First Baptist Church in Prince Albert, Sask., with his wife, Leah, to take up a similar posting.Most of the youth they have been ministering over the past year have been from neighboring Christian Centre Fellowship, a member of the Manitoba Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, pastured by Ted Goossen.
Brandon Milan was born and raised in Boiling Springs, South Carolina and went to North Greenville University for Christian studies. Leah Milan is from Haywood County, North Carolina.
Both Milans are musically inclined with Brandon playing the guitar, mandolin, banjo and saxophone. He's a serious guy who takes his theology seriously, but if you want to catch him mixing theology, music and humour ("she likes Spurgeon more than she likes me") check out his YouTube video, "I think my wife's a Calvinist" at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZdoSG0IdNE&eurl=http://brandonmilan.wordpress.com/
Earlier this year, Jordan McLellan, the assistant pastor at the Thompson Pentecostal Assembly, who focused on a youth ministry, since mid-2007, departed back to Saskatoon to take a position at Lawson Heights Pentecostal Assembly. McLellan attended Horizon College and Seminary in Saskatoon before moving back to Thompson where he grew up. His wife, Nicole McLellan, the former Nicole Kastrukoff, also grew up in Thompson and attended Horizon. McLellan was raised Roman Catholic, but in his early teens, he began developing an interest in the Pentecostal church.
McLellan's replacement as youth pastor at Thompson Pentecostal Assembly is Trent Kemsley, who was formerly at Elim Chapel in Melita. Kemsley is also a graduate of Horizon College and Seminary, formerly known as Central Pentecostal College.
