View source for Neufeld, Jacob “Jay” (1932-2016)

[[File:Jay Neufeld.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Jay Neufeld (1932-2016)''.]]
Jacob "Jay" Neufeld: pastor and church planter; born on 18 July 1932 in the village of [[Chortitza (Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Chortitza]], Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, South Russia to Jacob Neufeld and Mathilde (Harder) Neufeld (8 January 1906, [[Neuendorf (Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Neuendorf]], Chortitza Mennonite Settlement, South Russia – 19 June 1999, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada). He was the fifth child in a family four daughters and two sons. On 24 August 1957 he married Katie "Kay" Willms, daughter of Daniel Johann Willms (1891-1971) and Katharina (Wiens) Willms (1898-1984), in Leamington, Ontario. They had two sons and three daughters. Jacob died on 24 February 2016 in [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], British Columbia, Canada.

In 1935 Jay’s father was charged with counter-revolutionary activities and sentenced to [[Siberia (Russia)|Siberia]], where he died after three years of hard labor. In 1943 his mother with four children embarked on the [[Great Trek, 1943-1945|Great Trek]] and escaped from [[Russia]] and spent five years in [[Poland]] and in [[Germany]]. In 1948 the Neufeld family moved to [[Canada]], settling first in Swan River, [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]] and then Kelowna, [[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]]. He was baptized on 21 August 1949 in the [[Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church (Virgil, Ontario, Canada)|Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church]], Virgil, Ontario.

Jay began his studies at [[Eden High School (Virgil, Ontario, Canada)|Eden High School]], followed by [[Winkler Bible Institute (Winkler, Manitoba, Canada)|Winkler Bible Institute]] and [[Mennonite Brethren Bible College (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Mennonite Brethren Bible College]]. While pastoring in Winnipeg, Jay studied at Providence Seminary, earning a Master of Ministry degree.

Neufeld’s passion was evangelism. "Jay and Kay" (as they were affectionately known) served together as a team planting and leading churches. The church plants were [[South Otter Mennonite Brethren Church (Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada)|South Otter Gospel Chapel]], BC (1959-62), [[Dawson Creek Mennonite Brethren Church (Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada)|Dawson Creek Mennonite Brethren Church]], BC (1962-63), and [[Brampton Mennonite Brethren Church (Brampton, Ontario, Canada)|Brampton Mennonite Brethren Church]], Ontario (1967). 

Jay served as pastor in [[Niagara Christian Fellowship Chapel (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada)|Niagara Christian Fellowship Chapel]] (1963-67), [[Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church (Vineland, Ontario, Canada)|Vineland MB Church]] (1968-73), Garden Valley Church, Garden City, Kansas (1973-1979), [[Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church (Dinuba, California, USA)|Dinuba MB Church]], Dinuba, California (1979-1983), [[Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Elmwood MB Church]], Winnipeg, Manitoba (1983-1988), [[East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|East Aldergrove MB Church]], Abbotsford, BC (1988-91), and [[Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook MB Church]], Abbotsford, BC (1993-2002, 2008-2013). 

Between East Aldergrove MB Church and Clearbrook MB Church Jay served for shorter times of ministry of about four months each in [[Grace Christian Fellowship (Langley, British Columbia, Canada)|Grace Christian Fellowship]], Langley, BC,  [[Hillside Community Church (Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada)|Hillside Community Church]] (former South Otter Gospel Chapel), and [[Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church (Leamington, Ontario, Canada)|Leamington MB Church]], Ontario. 

Neufeld was committed to partner together with other churches where ever he served. He was the president of the local ministerial both in Garden City, Kansas and in Dinuba, California. His passion for evangelism led him to serve as first as a member and then as the chairman of the National Board of Evangelism.

In tributes from his family Jay was described as a man great in stature, resolve and faith, a man strong enough to love those who were his enemy.

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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba Ministers]]
[[Category:Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Southern District of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]