Special Sunday Bullitan: Order of Service April 21 2024 internet

Welcome to a Special Mission Focus Service, on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 10 AM  Guest Pastor Roland Syens:

“Pastor Roland Syens was born 1958 in the small town of Westlock, Alberta to parents who had just immigrated from Holland to Canada in 1952.  In 1967 the family moved to Ladner, Delta where his mom and sister live today.  He is the second oldest of four children all who live in the Vancouver area with the oldest living in Sidney on Vancouver Island.   The family were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond where Roland was confirmed by Rev. Ed Lehman.  The family were one of the founding families of Saviour Lutheran in Ladner, Delta, B.C.  He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Trinity Western University (1983)   He received his Masters of Divinity degree at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta (1989) ,and then went on to complete his Masters degree in Theological Studies at Regent College, UBC (1990).  Roland felt called by the Lord to go to the East Coast of Africa and India and did so in 1990.   After returning from his mission he was ordained on  June 24,1990 and placed as pastor of Walnut Grove Lutheran Church working alongside Pastor Karl Keller.  While serving at Walnut Grove Lutheran he also served as Pastoral Advisor and counselor to the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center at Wagner Hills Farm in Fort Langley.  In 1993 Lutheran Church Canada called him to serve as their missionary to Ukraine.   Roland was called to minister to the Alpha and OMega Christian Student Association, a group of University students in Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk).  Pastor Roland also assisted the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine (SELCU) till 2005.    While in Ukraine he organized and was part of many crusades and evangelism outreaches both in Ukraine and Russia, working with Campus Crusade for Christ, Athletes in Action, Young life, and YWAM.  This involved ministering to children, students and bringing in humanitarian aid.  In 2001 Pastor Roland married his long time friend Anita Seemann who then moved and joined him in the mission in Ukraine.  In 2005, Pastor Syens and  Anita were called back to Canada where Roland served as Assistant Pastor to Rev. Robert Bugbee at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario.  While pastoring at Holy Cross, Pastor Roland and Anita continued mission outreach to Ukraine every Summer and also led VBS ministry to the inner city of Toronto and continued with other Mission work both in Kitchener and other places. Pastor Roland and Anita both served as Stephen Ministers and later received training becoming Stephen Leaders and led the Stephen Ministry program at Holy Cross.  Both have  been involved in leading  GriefShare ministry in caring for others in their loss.   Their mission outreach has included  leading teams to Kenya, Mexico, New Orleans (after hurricane Katrina), Urals of Russia, Israel, England, and Nicaragua.  In 2020 he retired (refired) and he along with his wife Anita moved back to Vancouver to care for elderly parents and be more available to do missions.   At this time Pastor Roland helps with the preaching at White Rock Lutheran Church along with Pastor Leonardo Neitzel and Pastor Norm Miller.  He is also involved in sending money through Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club to Ukraine.  Each month he sends $10,000 to Ukraine (Dnipro, Odessa, Nikolaev) which is given to our pastors and volunteers at Alpha and Omega to help the needy.  Every dollar goes directly to help those in need.  Pastor Syens is also Pastoral Advisor for the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society.   Anita was trained as a hair stylist and continues to work part time while working on completing her Masters Degree in Christian Studies Regent College.  While in Kitchener Anita served a Spiritual Care Provider (Hospital Chaplain) at both St Mary’s Hospital and Grand River Hospital where she became a Registered Psychotherapist.    This past July 2023 they traveled to Kenya and Tanzania where they connected with many people and shared the Gospel bringing humanitarian aid to orphans and providing the Masaai leadership with solar Bibles to be given to those who are not able to read.  On their way back from Africa they connected with families of our Ukrainian Pastors in Germany who had to escape from the Russian imposed war. Pastor Roland and his wife Anita continue to be in contact with the Alpha and Omega Christian ministry in Dnipro as they care for evacuees and disabled children and with our Pastors and their ministries in Ukraine.  What a joy it is to be able to continue to serve our amazing and gracious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”