On behalf of Jan Paasuke, CBWC President, and Glenn Rabuka, CBWC VP of Personnel and Programme, Jeremy Bell, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Western Canada is pleased to announce that Rev. Dennis Stone, Senior Pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Claresholm, Alberta has been appointed to the position of Alberta Regional Minister. This Executive staff position is responsible for providing a ministry of spiritual support and encouragement to the over 60 churches and ministry agencies in Alberta, the Peace and East Kootenay areas of BC and in Yellowknife in the NWT. This involves building working, supportive and nurturing relationships with church pastors and lay leaders, camp and agency officials and denominational staff. The Regional Minister also provides initial pastoral care, church and ministry consultation, and oversight and support of CBWC programs in the Alberta Region. As well, currently this position is responsible for the CBWC-wide Pastoral Settlement portfolio.

Extreme weather conditions are hitting farmers hard across Western Canada. Low yields are expected for every crop because of an unusually cold winter and spring. Many parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Western Manitoba are facing the driest spring in 50 years, while eastern Manitoba has been hit by so much rain and flooding that crops have been put in the ground much later than normal.