Normay Wiebe
Contemporary Worship Coordinator
normay.wiebe@bethelchurch.com
I love my job! On a date with my husband I asked him the question, “If you could dream any job you wanted without having to go back to school, what would you want to do?” We both answered, “Exactly what we’re doing right now.” I think it’s a rare thing to be able to answer that way.
I feel so blessed to be at Bethel. I’ve served here since 1998. Before that I traveled for 15 years with various Christian bands through New Creation Ministries. That was a tremendous learning and growing experience – truly learning what community was and coming to appreciate the diversity of such a variety of churches. I believe that most of my ministry focus comes from the privilege of being able to view a wide array of churches and denominations across the country. Such diversity in the Christian community is a beautiful thing.
One of the things I love about serving here is the range of gifts in our congregation. There is amazing variety in our worship services because God has given many gifts to different people. One week it might be an orchestra; the next, rock music; then a choir leading with band; the next, celtic; and finally a youth band. I love how the congregation embraces and encourages the gifts of people at different stages of musical gifts and different ages.
My wonderful husband Herman is a boisterous, outgoing, selfless guy who reflects the love of Christ to me on a daily basis. Until we met, I was sure God had called me to be single for the rest of my life. Herman convinced me that God had other plans for me. I’m so glad he did.
God has entrusted us with three beautiful children. I am blown away with how much I can love these three little people. I was prepared for all the work it would be to have a family, but I was surprised by the joy that comes from pouring my life into them.
When our middle daughter was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with leukemia. My children became all the more precious to me then. That experience changed my priorities and focus in many ways – gave me more of an eternal perspective on life. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
My free time is spent with my friends, my mom, scrapbooking, working out, and probably watching more TV than I should.
Herman and I also collect strange musical instruments. I didn’t say we played them all, but we try – hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, harp, thumb piano, strumstick, pan flute, accordion, steel drum, charango, bowed psaltery, triple native flute just to name a few.
At heart, I’m just a small town girl from Saskatchewan who often fails at many things, but I can always count on Jesus to pick me up.