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CMU recently honoured Robert Wedel, Lois Coleman Neufeld, Judith Klassen, and David Loewen as its Blazer Distinguished Alumni Award winners. The awards were presented on
September 30, 2011 during CMU’s Fall Festival.
Blazer Distinguished
Alumni Awards 2011
By Eleonore Braun
Lois Coleman Neufeld
(MBBC ’80)
“I followed a high school friend to
MBBC,” Lois Coleman Neufeld recollects
with a chuckle, “It was one of only
a few Bible schools offering university
credit at the time.”
While at MBBC, Lois Coleman met
her husband, Robert Neufeld. After
graduation, the couple served with
Mennonite Brethren Mission/ Services
in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (formerly Zaire). An initial
three-year term grew into eleven years
learning and serving together with local
churches and partner agencies.
Later, Coleman Neufeld served
as Mennonite Central Committee’s
Country Representative in Zambia for
six years, focusing on HIV/AIDS education
for churches and peace, reconciliation,
and community development
projects.
After 17 years in Africa, the family
moved back to Canada. Coleman
Neufeld became the Director of
National Programs for Mennonite
Central Committee Canada, where
for eight years she supervised a broad
range of program initiatives. In her
current role as Executive Director of
Mediation Services, Lois appreciates
the opportunity to explore perspectives
of how people deal with justice
issues in the world beyond the church.
Coleman Neufeld, a self-proclaimed
life-long learner, recently earned a
Master of Arts degree in Leadership
from Trinity Western University.
Coleman Neufeld worships with and
volunteers alongside parishioners of
River East MB Church. Her passion
for the church and love for community
are also evident in her eight years of
service on CMU’s Board of Directors,
including service as Board Chair.
Coleman Neufeld and Robert
Neufeld have three grown children,
two of whom, together with spouses,
have attended CMU.
Distinguished Alumni Nominations
for 2012 are now being received; more
information can be found at
www.cmu.ca
12 Fall 2011