Lisa Williams Marks 25 Years at MCEC
April 17th
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Lisa Williams, Director of Communications, at MCEC. The staff at MCEC surprised Lisa with a celebration party, including flowers, a gift, a toast, tributes and treats. During the sharing time, MCEC staff noted Lisa’s dedication and alignment to MCEC’s mission, vision and values, her willingness to help and support, her strong gift of language, her vast institutional knowledge, and her pastoral presence in the office.
Lisa was hired by Mary Mae Schwartzentruber in 1991 as Program Secretary, working with Youth, Young Adults, Peace and Justice, Christian Education and Mission. Over the years, her role changed to an Administrative Assistant and in 2005 she assumed the role of Director of Communications.
“Former and present colleagues have been a part of shaping who I am, people with whom became like a second family.”
Lisa recounts that over the years she has worked with many great people in all areas of MCEC and served under five different Executive Ministers. “Former and present colleagues have been a part of shaping who I am, people with whom became like a second family,” Lisa shared. She holds fond memories of travelling to New York City with Margaret Oakey for software training, travelling to Winnipeg to meet together with the Communicators from the other regional churches and connecting with so many people outside of the office all connected to the MCEC family.
One of Lisa’s many gifts, is her ability to tell powerful stories. From the Weekly Bulletin, to articles in Sprout, to press releases, she has graced us with words that invite us to engage fully and deeply with the story itself. It is clear Lisa loves her work. She likes hearing stories of how God is moving in people’s lives and congregations and is honoured to listen to people’s experiences and in turn, communicate and share it with others. Lisa notes, “We all have a story to tell – a story that will encourage someone else on their journey, a story that will cause someone to throw their hands up in celebration or solidarity, or a story that will cause someone to weep. When we are willing to share our stories with each, it is then that we become family. Our stories connect us and it is the common thread of faith that brings us together.”
Her hope is that MCEC will have the courage to stay steadfast on the faith that we have been called to.
Ben Cassels, Moderator for MCEC writes: MCEC is blessed with dedicated staff who love the church, serve faithfully, and give of their energy, talents, and passion in countless ways that most of us will never see and yet without which we wouldn't be who we are today. For the last 25 years, Lisa Williams has contributed in countless ways to MCEC and been essential to the work of who we are, helping knit us together with joy, grace, good humour, and much skill. On behalf of MCEC Executive Council, I extend our congratulations and thanks to Lisa for her 25 years of ministry. We look forward to your ongoing work!
As Lisa continues her work at MCEC, her hope is that MCEC will have the courage to stay steadfast on the faith that we have been called to. She reflects, “Congregational life has changed, certainly over the last 25 years and that is okay. MCEC has changed and it will continue to change. I don’t think that is something to fear; God’s Church still remains and there is great freedom in knowing that this is God’s church. I think we must continually remind ourselves of that and allow God to be that pillar of cloud and light directing us. When our eyes are on God, we will not drown – we will not sink despite the waves that surround us. That is my hope for MCEC.”
Lisa: may these wise words be so! And may you know we are grateful for you and your love for MCEC! We look forward to your next story!
Ann L. Schultz
Interim Executive Team Leader
