- YFC History
- Vision + Mission
- Our Staff
- Our Board
Our Staff
Terry Opperman, Interim Executive Director and Director of The Landing
Mary Morrison, Director of The Blessing: Prayer, Care & Share
Bio
I could not have imagined when I moved to Victoria in 1985 that I would be asked to write a bio in 2012 to outline highlights of a 26 year adventure working with Youth for Christ.
Ministry
It started when I volunteered to work with a staff member who was involved with student counseling. I was interviewed to be a volunteer, but was asked to join the Y.F.C. Board instead. Twelve months later, I was invited by the Board to take a full time position on staff. I have been there for 25 years.
Ministry responsibilities have been exhilarating and challenging: Campus Life Clubs in junior and senior high schools; organizing city wide leadership training conferences, seminars, and retreats; coordinating Fast Times Car Club activities and race weekends; teen leadership training for mission trips and ministry participation on 30 day mission trips to 6 different countries are all significant components of my life with Y.F.C.
Personal
My three sons Doug, Scott and Rob have blessed me with inclusion in their beautiful families and though we all live in different cities, I have extremely close relationships with their wives, Sandi, Leanne and Lia, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. We treasure the times we are able to be together.
Arnie Siebel, Interim Director of Fast Times Car Club
I was raised on a prairie farm, educated in a small prairie town, and completed a B.Ed, in Lethbridge, Alta. I met and married Elaine Hunt from Victoria. We have 2 adult children, who have blessed us with 4 grandkids. I've learned a great deal from my three main careers; Teaching, Building construction, and Co-managing at a Seniors Independent Living Facility. I enjoy biking,hiking and various forms of exercise. I've been happily involved in Fast Times for several years, and this season I welcome Nathan Scott to take over the helm!!
Rick Wismer, Director of Bus Ministries
I am the youngest of eight children and have lived in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario. I like BC the best although Saskatchewan’s sunsets and thunderstorms are deeply embedded in my memory. I am married to Jane, a public health nurse, and we have two teenage sons and one spoiled but very special dog, Amber. On holidays you will find my family and I camping, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, hiking and snorkeling.
My job descriptions have included busser, logger, sanitary engineer, sales rep, youth worker, shipper, bus driver and drop in centre director- each position taught me about the value of an honest day’s work.
A file of paperwork in my study shows I finished high school in Duncan, BC (Cowichan Senior Secondary School), college in Nanaimo, BC (Vancouver Island University), university in Victoria, BC (University of Victoria) and seminary in Toronto, ON (Tyndale). What I learned outside the classroom has proved important too.
I love brussel sprouts, mushrooms and spinach but I am not fond of fish heads- yet. I enjoy being creative with computers, smart phones, digital cameras and video gear. I have hitch-hiked across Canada, taken many trips to the US, and gone on a short term mission to Peru where I worked with a local church to provide nutritious meals. I also climbed to 19,000 feet to peer into the crater of a dormant volcano, Mt. Misti. Yes, failure to acclimatize to high altitudes does lead to altitude sickness. I had a wicked migraine headaches but the view was breathtaking. Oh yes, so was the climb.
My ministry at Youth for Christ Victoria is both rewarding and challenging. I have learned a great deal from the First Nation people and count it a great privilege to have some of them call me their friend. Being with them has enabled me to learn more about living in the “now” and taking time for joking around and laughter. My life is definitely richer because of these special relationship. I actually do love my job :) !