Peter Wiebe honored with alumni award

Peter Wiebe, long-time pastor and administrator in the church, will be honored this year with the 2010 Alumni Ministry and Service award from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Wiebe currently is serving as chair of the “Joining Together, Investing in Hope” campaign to raise funds for the new Mennonite offices in Elkhart. But this is only one of many roles he has held in different ministries in the church.

After completing a Bible major at Goshen College, he enrolled in Goshen Biblical Seminary, one of the forerunners of AMBS, and completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1952. His first pastorate was Yellow Creek Mennonite Church near Goshen, where he was ordained in 1951. After serving that congregation for eight years, he served Hesston ( Kan.) Mennonite for 13 years, Oak Grove Mennonite, Smithville, Ohio, for 12 years and Trinity Mennonite, Phoenix, Ariz., for 12 years. More recently he has been the church relations staff person for Mennonite Economic Development Associates, interim president of Hesston ( Kan.) College and interim superintendent of Central Christian Schools, Kidron, Ohio. In 1982, during a sabbatical, he completed coursework at AMBS to upgrade his degree to a Master of Divinity.

Those who know Wiebe value his “can-do” spirit and his enthusiasm for the Christian faith and the Mennonite Church. He has a good sense of humor and a contagious love of people and is willing to give his time and money sacrificially to serve the church, his colleagues says.

His ability to lead four large congregations, each for a number of years, and to lead several educational institutions is an example of Wiebe’s strong leadership gifts. He is able to shape a vision that encourages others, and to lead with a clear understanding of both the vision and long-term stability.

Rheta Mae, Wiebe’s wife, has been a supportive partner to him in all his ministry. This summer they will celebrate 60 years of marriage with 46 members of their family joining together. They have eight children, 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Wiebe will be recognized with this award later this summer in his home congregation, Trinity Mennonite Church, Glendale, Ariz.

Mary E. Klassen / June 2010