Balzer, Jake (1929-2019) - Revision history

RichardThiessen: Added hyperlink.

2026-01-03T00:57:22Z

Added hyperlink.

RichardThiessen: Added hyperlink.

2021-03-31T21:05:15Z

Added hyperlink.

RichardThiessen: Created article.

2021-03-31T20:56:27Z

Created article.

New page

__FORCETOC__
__TOC__
[[File:Balzer, Jake NP149-01-144.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Jake Balzer (1929-2019).<br>
Source: Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Winnipeg''<br>
[https://archives.mhsc.ca/jake-balzer-portrait NP 149-01-144]]]
Jacob “Jake: Balzer: minister, church planter, and conference worker; born to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna]], South Russia – 9 May 1962, [[Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], British Columbia) on 14 September 1929 in Eyebrow, [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]]. He was the third oldest of eight children. Jake married Esther Sukkau (13 March 1934, Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada – 15 February 2019, Aldergrove, British Columbia), daughter of Jacob A. Sukkau (1888-1973) and Maria (Pankratz) Sukkau (1893-1973), on 20 August 1965. Jake and Esther became the parents of three daughters: Roxanne, Renee, and Ramona. Jake died at age 90 on 27 November 2019 in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Balzer grew up in a Christian home in southern Alberta, which led to his conversion as a teen and baptism in [[Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church (Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada)|Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church]] on 31 August 1947. Jake felt a call to ministry, but preferred to go into farming and so dropped out of school. When he was 20-years old, a near-death truck accident brought him back to his ministry calling and back to school. He reported that, before the truck stopped rolling, he said, "All right, God, you win!"

Jake graduated from Prairie High School in Three Hills, Alberta, and then spent three years at Prairie Bible Institute, where he met his future wife, Esther Sukkau. Balzer graduated in 1966 from [[Mennonite Brethren Bible College (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Mennonite Brethren Bible College]] (MBBC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Later, he earned a BA in behavioral science from [[Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, California, USA)|Fresno Pacific College]] in Fresno, California, and graduated from the [[Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (Fresno, California, USA)|Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary]], also in Fresno.

After graduating from MBBC, Jake began his ministry in [[Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg]] as pastor of the [[Salem Mennonite Brethren Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Salem Mennonite Brethren Church]]. He served his second pastorate while studying at Fresno, California. His other three church ministries were church plants in [[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]] (BC): [[Valleyview Bible Church (Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada)|Valleyview Bible Church]] in Kamloops (1970-1977), [[Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)|Armstrong Bible Chapel]] in Armstrong (1977-1982), and [[Mission Christian Fellowship (Mission, British Columbia, Canada)|Mission Christian Fellowship]] in Mission (1982-1986).

Jake had a passion for church planting and evangelism, which resulted in Jake serving as Church Extension Director for the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] from 1987 to 1995. Under his leadership, thirty-one new churches were started and, of these, thirteen were non-Caucasian churches that worshipped in nine different languages. Jake had a big heart for "ethnic" church planting and particularly enjoyed working with Chinese churches.

When Balzer completed his BC church-planting leadership role, he was invited, due to his experience and knowledge, by some Alberta and Saskatchewan churches, as well as by some in the United States, to help their churches strategize for more church planting. Ministry leadership continued to be his life even in his retirement.

For many years, Jake and Esther were involved in [[Central Heights Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Central Heights Church]] in Abbotsford, BC, with Jake serving as Bible teacher, care group leader, and moderator. They continued their church involvement when they moved to the [[Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook MB Church]], also in Abbotsford. After Jake was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he served as elevator operator at Clearbrook MB. Jake moved into Valhaven Home after Esther died in February 2019.

When asked what he wanted people to know about him, Jake responded, "I hope that people will know that I love Jesus Christ as my Savior because he affects my whole life." Jake was not only tall in stature but also had a big, humble, and generous heart for serving others.

= Bibliography =
GRANDMA (The '''G'''enealogical '''R'''egistry '''an'''d '''D'''atabase of '''M'''ennonite '''A'''ncestry) Database, 21-01 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/index.htm" California Mennonite Historical Society], 2021: #1029258.

“Jake Balzer.” MB Herald. 30 December 2019. Web. 30 March 2021. https://mbherald.com/obituaries/jake-balzer/.

{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2021|a1_last=Nikkel|a1_first=James|a2_last=Martens|a2_first=Robert}}

[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Conference Workers]]
[[Category:Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba Ministers]]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Source: Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Winnipeg''<br>
 [https://archives.mhsc.ca/jake-balzer-portrait NP 149-01-144]]]
-Jacob “Jake: Balzer: minister, church planter, and conference worker; born to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna]], South Russia – 9 May 1962, [[Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], British Columbia) on 14 September 1929 in Eyebrow, [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]]. He was the third oldest of eight children. Jake married Esther Sukkau (13 March 1934, Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada – 15 February 2019, Aldergrove, British Columbia), daughter of Jacob A. Sukkau (1888-1973) and Maria (Pankratz) Sukkau (1893-1973), on 20 August 1965. Jake and Esther became the parents of three daughters: Roxanne, Renee, and Ramona. Jake died at age 90 on 27 November 2019 in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
+Jacob “Jake: Balzer: minister, church planter, and conference worker; born to Daniel Balzer (24 July 1887, Schardau, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna]], South Russia – 9 May 1962, [[Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada) and Sarah (Toews) Balzer (5 October 1896, Friedensruh, Molotschna – 3 March 1971, [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], British Columbia) on 14 September 1929 in Eyebrow, [[Saskatchewan (Canada)|Saskatchewan]]. He was the third oldest of eight children (a younger brother was [[Balzer, John (1936-2024)|John]]). Jake married Esther Sukkau (13 March 1934, Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada – 15 February 2019, Aldergrove, British Columbia), daughter of Jacob A. Sukkau (1888-1973) and Maria (Pankratz) Sukkau (1893-1973), on 20 August 1965. Jake and Esther became the parents of three daughters: Roxanne, Renee, and Ramona. Jake died at age 90 on 27 November 2019 in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
 Balzer grew up in a Christian home in southern Alberta, which led to his conversion as a teen and baptism in [[Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church (Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada)|Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church]] on 31 August 1947. Jake felt a call to ministry, but preferred to go into farming and so dropped out of school. When he was 20-years old, a near-death truck accident brought him back to his ministry calling and back to school. He reported that, before the truck stopped rolling, he said, "All right, God, you win!"

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 After graduating from MBBC, Jake began his ministry in [[Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg]] as pastor of the [[Salem Mennonite Brethren Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Salem Mennonite Brethren Church]]. He served his second pastorate while studying at Fresno, California. His other three church ministries were church plants in [[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]] (BC): [[Valleyview Bible Church (Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada)|Valleyview Bible Church]] in Kamloops (1970-1977), [[Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)|Armstrong Bible Chapel]] in Armstrong (1977-1982), and [[Mission Christian Fellowship (Mission, British Columbia, Canada)|Mission Christian Fellowship]] in Mission (1982-1986).
-Jake had a passion for church planting and evangelism, which resulted in Jake serving as Church Extension Director for the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] from 1987 to 1995. Under his leadership, thirty-one new churches were started and, of these, thirteen were non-Caucasian churches that worshipped in nine different languages. Jake had a big heart for "ethnic" church planting and particularly enjoyed working with Chinese churches.
+Jake had a passion for church planting and evangelism, which resulted in Jake serving as [[Church Planting British Columbia (British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches)|Church Extension Director]] for the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] from 1987 to 1995. Under his leadership, thirty-one new churches were started and, of these, thirteen were non-Caucasian churches that worshipped in nine different languages. Jake had a big heart for "ethnic" church planting and particularly enjoyed working with Chinese churches.
 When Balzer completed his BC church-planting leadership role, he was invited, due to his experience and knowledge, by some Alberta and Saskatchewan churches, as well as by some in the United States, to help their churches strategize for more church planting. Ministry leadership continued to be his life even in his retirement.