The Team
Rudi Kauffman
Interim Pastoral Team Associate
Rudi was born in Mobile, Alabama and raised in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has been an involved member of various Anabaptist congregations throughout his life. Rudi and his family moved to Leamington in 2022 and joined the LUMC community.
Rudi's formal training is in the areas of education, social studies, and conflict management. Throughout his high school and university days, Rudi worked in construction. At university, Rudi completed a Masters Degree in Teaching. He started teaching at a small Quaker school and was later employed with public schools for several years. Rudi then continued studies and completed a Doctorate in Political Science. He accepted a position as a Professor of Restorative Justice at Bluffton University (Ohio) where he served for approximately 10 years. Prior to moving to Canada, he spent several years managing medical practices.
Rudi lives with his wife, Ravonn, and two daughters, Greta and Sophia in Leamington and enjoys the activities and excitement that comes from their various activities and connections. Beyond that, Rudi loves reading and puttering about with construction/renovation projects
On March 1, 2023 LUMC asked Rudi to join the staff. His current role is part-time and focuses on easing the burden of other Transition and Pastoral Team members as the church seeks new pastoral leadership. His concentration is managing daily work items at LUMC. His favourite word is "support".
Rudi operates well with email rudi@lumc.ca and accepts phone calls at his LUMC - Extension 3. Rudi very much enjoys drop-in visits and is happy to work with anyone to find the right connections at LUMC.
Ed Brown
Interim Administrative Assistant
Ed was born and raised in Leamington. He has been an involved member and leader at LUMC throughout his adult life. Ed has had multiple roles at LUMC and is presently serving part-time in a coordination role as Interim Administrative Assistant (and, to be noted, he is a member of our present Transition Team).
Years ago LUMC had an official Lay Ministry Program and, at age 22, Ed was called to serve through this program. In accepting this call, he has never really left. Ed has participated in ministry, in some form or another, since that time.
For his career, Ed was a high school educator. He spent the years 1964-1998 as a teacher and Science Department Head at John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham. Since retiring from education in 1998, Ed’s leadership at LUMC changed and he became part of an interim team for a time of leadership transition. In the past 20 plus years there has been a series of different pastoral team models and transitions, and Ed has served LUMC throughout. Ed is known to accept roles and responsibilities when needed.
Presently, Ed’s role includes planning worship services, worship leading, preaching, assisting pastors and the office administrator where needed and he says he does, “numerous other items as they come up”.
Ed golfs a bit and is a keen follower of various sports teams. Together, with his wife Helen, Ed loves to travel whenever possible. If you have a chance, visit with Ed and Helen, they love socializing and one of their favourite topics is LUMC.
Ed has limited office hours but is quick to respond to his answering machine or email.
Mykayla Tiessen
Our Children’s and Youth Ministry Coordinator.
In 2022, Mykayla expanded her role to include the LUMC children's ministry. She is working with other education leaders in the congregation to provide children's Sunday morning programming. Here again, she is adapting the format of lessons to accommodate Covid 19 protocol.
Marlene Schmidtgall
Our LUMC Office Administrator.
Marlene is the friendly voice on the phone when you call the church. She enjoys singing and volunteers as a worship leader, on occasion. Marlene has many creative skills; all useful in the tasks she faces. Her skills are visible in the bulletin that she constructs weekly and in how she designs new ways to communicate with the congregation.
The pandemic (Covid-19) has been a challenge for all the LUMC staff. Marlene has been a solid pivot for many church members and her colleagues.
David Dyck
Hometown: Kitchener
Favorite Book of the Bible: The Gospel of Mark – because he gets right to the heart of the good news – with both excitement and urgency.
Hobbies: Gym workouts, cycling, camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, cheering on the Oilers (sigh)
Movie Recommendation: The Matrix and Hacksaw Ridge – both with powerful themes of the Kingdom of God and faithful witness.
Favorite Food: East Indian curry – can’t get enough of spicy food.
My Story: Both of my parents came to Canada as Mennonite refugees in the 1920’s, having lost everything in the Russian revolution. I’m a Baby Boomer, and the youngest of 3 children in my family. All of my formal education was in Kitchener Waterloo, and soon after graduation I became a high school teacher, first in northern Ontario and then in Cambridge. Music was a big part of my life growing up and it was through music that I found my first teaching job and how I met my wife Nancy. After we were married we accepted a mission assignment in India, serving the Mennonite church in youth and music ministry. It was there that I sensed God calling me to a new vocation in pastoral ministry. All 3 of our boys (Andrew, Samuel, Joel) were born in Edmonton where I served as a pastor for 15 years in the Lendrum Mennonite Church. Our address changed to Leamington when I accepted a call to pastor the Leamington United Mennonite Church. Over all these years I have grown in my love for Christ and for His church because I see them both as the heart of the good news and the hope for the world.
Favorite thing about Leamington: It would have to be Point Pelee National Park in all 4 seasons of the year. Whether cycling, walking, swimming or skiing, the Point has become a sanctuary for my wife and me. In close second place would be a nearly endless supply of tomatoes.
Esther Dyck
Our Church Custodian.
Born and raised in Mexico, Esther has been in Canada for nearly 30 years now. She loves the Leamington area and has enjoyed raising her three children here with her husband, David. Presently, her children are all married, living in various Ontario locations.
Church has always been a part of her life. Esther grew up on a farm and was nurtured in a Mennonite church. In young adulthood she was baptized and married in Mexico. Esther and her family have attended LUMC for many years. In 2020, she took on the task of LUMC custodian.
Family is important to Esther. She has one younger brother (Manitoba) and one younger sister (Mexico). If you ask her about her favourite past times she will list - reading, crocheting and baking, but her smile grows largest when she talks about taking care of her grandchildren. They warm her heart thoroughly.
Esther is pleased to be on the staff at LUMC.
Kathe Warkentin
Our Summer Intern
Kathe grew up in Leamington. She has attended LUMC since she was a infant. Her biggest adventure in childhood was living in Burkina Faso, Africa, for two years. She has warm memories from that adventure and is willing to chat with any of you about her cross cultural experience. For high school, Kathe attended UMEI and she currently attends Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. She has completed two years of University. Her field of study is Intercultural Studies (major) as well as Communications, and Biblical and Theological Studies (two minors). A most recent course that has Kathe thinking was called: Just and Sustainable Food Systems.
Her role with us here at LUMC is multi-faceted. She is working with the Young Adults in our church, trying to get them reconnected with each other and the church. She is also helping Mykayla Tiessen in her Children and Youth Ministry role. This means assisting with Jr. and Sr. Youth, and DVBS. Kathe has an interest in writing and hopes to put up a few pieces on our Facebook page - ALL THINGS LUMC.
Other areas of interest for Kathe include oil painting and playing badminton.
She welcomes conversation during her 12 weeks at LUMC. This could be a chat while out for a walk, an in-office discussion, or coffee banter in the lobby on Sundays after worship.
We welcome Kathe Warkentin.
