Anna Rehan to retire this month

After almost 28 years in her position as area church youth minister of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, Anna Rehan is retiring.

In her time in this role, she came to understand the unique needs of the youth, young adults, parents, youth leaders and congregations in the area church. And the people she served in her time as a youth minister valued her efforts deeply.

“My primary focus over the years has been to build relationships with the kids, parents, and congregations. These people are continually changing . . . it’s always like you’re starting over,” Rehan said.

Rehan has also worked with youth and congregations to find opportunities for youth to be involved, to have a voice and to be empowered.

“This role has been more than a job for me, it’s been a lifestyle, so much a part of my life that I’m not sure if I know how to do anything else. When I find myself outside of youth ministry or my role as such, I find myself still doing those things,” Rehan said.

Kirsten Hamm, 23, will be taking over the role. She is a 2011 graduate of Canadian Mennonite University who majored in English and minored in Music and Biblical and Theological Studies. She went on to work as a pastoral intern at Langley Mennonite Fellowship in B.C. and went on to work at Rosthern Junior College as their Residence Dean, where she has worked for about a year.

The expectations and responsibilities for Hamm are high, but speaking with Rehan and the area church, she feels as though she can understand some of the needs of the congregations.

“From what I hear and from being in conversation with Anna, I need to spend a lot of time getting to know people on a personal level. According to people in the conference it’s really appreciated. That’s something I’d like to continue with,” Hamm said.

Hamm has had experience working with and attending churches in different area churches and is looking forward to understanding an area church that she is relatively new to.

“I’m excited and interested. I know Mennonite Church Manitoba, I know Mennonite Church B.C. almost more than I know Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, so I’m looking forward to getting to know what the church in this conference is like and what the people are like,” she said.

Rehan is grateful that she could spend a great deal of her life working in such a relational capacity.

“I’m most thankful for the support that I’ve had from the church initially, from Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, for the people on the committees that I’ve related to, the support from my family, and for the relationships and ongoing friendships with youth, young adults, and for others within the conference,” she said. She hopes that Hamm can enjoy the same kind of support and that she can continue to build relationships.

“I also hope she isn’t afraid of trying new things. There’s always room for dreaming new ways of doing things,” Rehan said.

Hamm, who attends Rosthern Mennonite Church will begin this role in the summer, but there is no official start date at this point.