what our grads are doing
A degree from Columbia goes a long way! Not only does it provide you with exceptional learning, equip
you with tools and practical experience for the workplace, give you amazing travel study opportunities, allow you to grow spiritually, and build
amazing relationships with faculty and staff.....A Columbia Degree also sets you up for an exciting career furthering God's kingdom in a variety of
ways!
First, check out a sampling of the jobs a few of our grads are doing below. Then, read this article about how a Columbia grad lines up
with the Government of Canada's assessment on what employers are looking for in an employee.
I am currently a Sales Manager for Western Canoeing & Kayaking here in Abbotsford, BC. My job involves planning
events and lessons, ordering merchandise and educating staff. I'm in daily contact with outdoor enthusiasts looking for guidance on their next trip
and the right gear to buy, which forces me to rely heavily on my education from CBC. As a student, the program directors spent a lot of time with us
on trips sharing all kinds of tips and wisdom on how to be an effective leader. Without my experience at CBC in the OL program, I would not have the
expertise or experience necessary to do my job well.
- Cynthia McHale, Meaford, ON. Outdoor Leadership (03)
As a graduate student (MA Leadership at TWU), I can see how my journey at Columbia helped prepare me in a variety of ways, including
discipline, critical thinking, and research and writing skills. The courses pushed me to a new level of scholastics, defending papers and presenting
sermons in front of the class and professor for feedback. I would love to teach at a college level in a ministry setting one day. The think I
appreciate most about my CBC experience is the life-long friends and connections: I've travelled the world, started businesses and lived through the
greatest joys and sorrows in life, all with friends from CBC.
- Ian Martens, Delta, BC. Biblical Studies (04)
Worship
Matt Unruh (BA’04) Worship Pastor, Gracepoint Church
Colin Balzer (BA ’96): International Singer, specializes in Renaissance
music
Tim Bartsch (BA’97) Pastor/Director of worship
Nelson Boschman
(Dip’93): Jazz Musician, Church Planting in Yaletown, Vancouver
Jesse Peters (Dip’98): Jazz Musician, Instructor at Prairie
Bible College
Matt Brouwer (Dip’95) Musician/Author
Monica Clark (Dip’98) Worship Pastor, Bellingham Luthern Church
Michael Hepher (BA’98) Musician, Graphic Artist
Terry Penner (Dip’96) Professional musician, computer program manager
Jeff Johnson (Dip’97): Music Teacher, McEwan
College
Sean
Gasparetti (Dip’05): Musician: This Providence
Scott VanMil (BA’97): Worship Pastor
Katherine Wight (Dip’98): Music TeacherCaregiving/Counselling
(includes old Community Support)
Danielle Braun-Kauffman (BA’04): Graduate Studies
(TWU) and practicing family therapist
Larissa Bergen (BA’99) Community Liaison
for inner city youth and families, UrbanPromise USA
Elizabeth Best (BA’01) Caregiver, HOMES
Society
Alicia Taylor (BA’03) High School
Counsellor, Chapel Director Eden
High School
Peterson Macharia (BA’05) Caregiver,
MCCSCS
Ryan Melin (’98) MPC, Family Counselor,
Saskatoon Regional Health
Meaghan Grover (Dip’02): Social Work
Student
Melanie Olfert (Dip’97): Director of Enrolment
Management, CBC
Jacki Zurowski (BA’06): Youth Pastor, Immanuel
Fellowship Baptist
Sharon Peters (BA'06): Admissions Counsellor at Trinity Western University, Langley, BC
Outdoor
Leadership
Curtis Pauls (BA’02): Thompson Rivers University, CBC Instructor and River Guide
Melissa Kendzierski (BA’04) City of Abbotsford Aquatics
Steve Kendzierski (BA’04) White water raft
guide
Andy Abrahams (BA’00): Camp Director
Luke Henkelman (BA’06): Assistant Director,
Nakamun Camp
Kayleen Roorda (BA’06): Camp Ministry, Ontario
Intercultural
Studies
Sandra Plett (BA’99): MBMSI Missionary
Training, Guadalajara Mexico
Paul Wicki (BA’99): Church Planter/Pastor, Port
Alberni, BC
Nico Kattenberg (BA’98): Missionary, Guatemala
Tracy VanVeen (BA’00): Missionary with Youth With
a Mission International, Kealakekua, Hawaii
Justin Kroeker (BA’00): English Teacher
Overseas
Rachel Kroeker (Dip’99): English Teacher
Overseas
Bethany Farnell (Dip’04): Overseas
Missionary Fellowship, Chaing Mai, Thailand
Don Lee (BA’07): YWAM
Staff
Early Childhood Education
Trista Cooper (BA’99): Preschool
Director
Darla Faulkner (BA’99): Licensing Officer,
Government of BC
Tania Driediger (Dip’97): Owner/Director, Leap
for Joy Preschool
Katrina Kayser (BA, 01): Owner of Auguston Pre-School and Out of School Care, Abbotsford
Biblical Studies
Myron Penner (BA’97): MA
Regent College, PhD
Perdue University, Philosophy Teacher at
TWU
Carlin Fehr (BA’98): Senior
Pastor
Andrew Klager (BA’03): MA Regent College, PhD Student, Instructor at
CBC
Matthew Klassen (BA’01) MA Regent College, Instructor at
CBC
Darren Schmidt (BRE’90) MA University of Calgary,
PhD St Andrew’s College
Michael Froese (BA’97) Associate/Worship
Pastor, Central Community Church
John Best (BA’96): MCCSCS Manager, Mobilization
Director, MBMSI
Mark Friesen (BA’98): Associate Pastor,
Summerside Church
John Oros (BA’98): Senior Pastor Dubar Heights Baptist Church
Harry Tournemille (BA’97):
Writer
Scott Fast, (BA’04): PhD Theology student,
University of Toronto
Dan Bidne (BA’01): College Pastor
& Resident Coordinator at Mt Carmel College
Shaun Wick (BA’01) Senior Pastor, Gospel Chapel Evangelical Free Church, Vanderhoof,
BC
Youthwork
Dan Sparrow (BA'05) Pastor of Middle School
Ministries at Northview Community Church, Abbotsford BC
Chris "Chia" Ashton (BA'01) Director of Sports Outreach for Climb Intercultural Society,
Abbotsford BC
Tony Janzen (BA’03) Youth Pastor, Black Creek MB
Jason Lavergne (BA’01) Youth Pastor, Fort Langley
EFC
Jon
Wiebe (’06) Sr. Youth Pastor, South Abbotsford
Cherise Buikema (BA’04) Youth worker, Youth For
Christ
Craig Wiens (Dip’99) Youth Pastor, First
Mennonite, Calgary
Chia Ashton (BA’02) Life Centre, Church
planter/youth worker
Colin Ashton (BA’94) Sr. High Pastor,
Central Heights Church
Tim Wiebe (BA’99) Youth Pastor, Bakerview Church
Dan Boon (BA’02) Quest Leader,
CBC
Joe Willems (BA’01) Light Brigade, Youth
for Christ Toronto
Graham McMahon (BA’02) Youth Pastor, Abbotsford Church of the
Nazarene
Tim S Thiessen (BA’98) Youth Pastor,
Erindale Alliance Church
Allen Wiebe (BA’98) Youth Pastor,
Bethel Mennonite Church
Stacey O’Neill (BA’01) Youth/Associate
Pastor, Olivet Church
Dylan Zorn (BA’04): Program Director, Pines Bible
Camp
Jeff Siemens (Dip’02): Youth Pastor,
Hague Mennonite Church
Nicole Schroeder (Dip’02): Special Needs
Educational Assistant
Joel Pemberton (BA’01): Director, Youth
Dynamics NW USA
Kirsten Jasper (Dip’99): Youth Worker, Youth
group home
Mark Dyck (BA’07): Family Ministries
Pastor, Lethbridge EFree Church
Noel Hudson (dip’99): Youth Pastor,
Elm Creek Church
Greg Wiens (BA’96): Lead Pastor, Waldheim MB
church
Kristy Bidne (BA’04) Student Ministries, Taylor
University, MDiv Student
iCert/Quest/Cert.
Matt Harms (Cert.’96): Church Planter,
Quebec
Chris Enns (Cert.’97) International
aid/development project planner
Heidi Harms (Cert.’96) Church Planter,
Quebec
David Guenther (ICert ’00):
Journalist
Carmen Guenther (ICert’01: ESL Teacher,
Korea
Jayson Barkmann (Cert’97) Medical student
(GP)
Andrew Baerg (Cert’96) Computer
Programmer
Melissa Wiebe (Cert.’99) Library
Technician
Rachel Johnson (Cert.’97)
Photographer
Corey Ramer (ICert’04) Pharmacutical
Researcher
Rob Zacharias (Cert.’97) PhD Candidate,
Literature
Greg Sinnaeve (ICert’00) Cabinet
Maker
Jason Rose (Cert.’96) Corrections
Officer
Karlena Wieler (Cert.’98) Director, College of
New Caledonia Lakes
Campus
Janine Schulz (Cert.’99)
Nurse
Ministry Not Directly
Related to Major, but involved in other ministries
Carmen Phillips (YW BA’01) Myert Corp.,
Missionary/Aid Worker Indonesia
Adel Klassen (ICS BA’99) Financial Aid
Officer and Alumni Director, CBC
Christy Best (ECE, Dip’96) TWU ESL program, ESL
teacher
Misty Koster (YW BA’98)
Jeff VanVeen (OL BA’99) YWAM
Leader
Melissa McCoy (ICS ’05) Children’s
Pastor
Dave McVety (CC, BA’01), Youth Pastor, Grace
Church
Candice Green (Dip ECE 04; ICS, BA’07):
Admissions Counsellor, CBC
Rocky Olfert (Dip’97): Director of Athletics,
CBC
Aaron Roorda (BS, BA’99): Director of Admissions & Financial Aid,
CBC
Kevin Wiens (OL, BA’00): Youth/Associate
Pastor
Dean Rozema (OL, BA’06): Youth Pastor,
Heartland Alliance Church
Al Gillespi (OL, BA’06): Youth
Pastor
Julia Dutove (OL, Dip ’06): Children’s
Pastor
Heidi Peters (CC, Dip’96)
Music/Voice Teacher, Professional Singer
Grads who are utilizing
their Columbia education to become excellent employees in brand new fields!
James Bartsch (Dip ’99) Bank
Manager
Cory Bargen (Dip’99) LLB UVic
Nikki Coughlan (dip’96)
Photographer
Caroline Deane (Dip’97) LLB University SK, Lawyer
Brad Bates (ICS, BA’06) Teacher’s
Assistant, Pacific Academy
Clayton Willms (Dip’97) Graphic Arts Teacher,
Abbotsford School of Integrated
Arts
Chad Sawatzky (Dip’96) Engineer
Kale Pride (BA’98) RCMP officer
Sara Martin (‘Dip’96) Math
Teacher
Joel Luyt (YW’06) Sales Manager
John Piera (Dip’81) Teacher
Trevor Ens (BS, BA’98) Teacher
Terry Janzen (BS, Dip’97) Refridgeration
Mechanic
Jeff Klassen (Dip’97) Language
Teacher
Cam Heibert (BS, BA’98) Teacher
Kevin Janzen (BS, BA’98)
Teacher
Rob Drafi (ICS, Dip’98) Teacher
Natalie Dyck (YW/ECE, Dip’91)
Teacher
Elizabeth Friesen (BS, Cert’94) English
Teacher in Germany
Leanne Reimer (BS, Dip’01) Piano
Teacher
Colin Reimer (WA ’01) Plumber
Jeremy Baerg (WA Dip’97)
Teacher
Sheri Hatton (WA/YM Dip’97) Legal
Assistant
Carol Heese (WA, Dip’97) Nurse
Sandra Tournemille (Dip’96) Computer Graphic
Artist, EA Games
Shawn Penner (BS, Dip’97): Computer
Programmer
Kevin Buhler (BS, Dip’97):
Construction
Mark Penner (BS, BA’01): Canadian Politics,
ministerial advisor
Michelle Potts (ICS, Dip’99) Kindergarten
Teacher
Naomi Dittmann (YW, Dip’99): Dip. Disability
Studies, Brain Injury worker
For more information on our grads, view our alumni updates
