Alumni Profiles

Everton McLennon (CMU ’15) earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies while balancing full-time work as a civil engineer and his role as a pastor. Today, he leads Miracle of Life Apostolic Fellowship in Winnipeg, where he continues to draw on the theological grounding he gained at CMU.

From engineering to pastoral leadership: The impact of theological study

When Everton McLennon stepped onto CMU's campus for the first time, he was not like the majority of students. He was in his 40s, with a full-time career and an engineering degree under his belt. But he had also been called to pastor his congregation, and he took that call seriously.

"I wanted to educate myself to better serve the congregation and gain a deeper understanding of theology," McLennon says. "Reading the Bible, I felt, did not provide me with full background and prepare me properly for the role of pastoral ministry, and CMU did that for me."

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Heather Schellenberg (CMU ’09) majored in English with minors in Biblical and Theological Studies and Physical Education. Now a guidance and support teacher in Winnipeg School Division, she brings forward the ethos of care, hospitality, and community she experienced at CMU into her work with international students.

Relational learning, lasting impact: Carrying the spirit of CMU into education

Heather Schellenberg was thrilled when she found out about CMU's new education degree program. As a teacher herself, she's excited about how this will allow CMU to send even more thoughtful, well-equipped grads out into the world to nurture the next generation. "I feel proud to have gone there, and I know it shaped me a lot," she says.

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Nathan Dueck (CMU ’21) graduated with an interdisciplinary honours degree in history of western thought. Now articling with Manitoba Prosecutions, he credits CMU with shaping the conviction and clarity he brings to both law and life.

Conviction in the courtroom: How CMU prepared a future prosecutor

These days, you'll find Nathan Dueck in Thompson, MB, arguing bail conditions, speaking to sentences, and prepping for his first trials. It's a serious role, but he admits law school itself wasn't quite as grueling as people imagine.

"After the first month of first year, I didn't open a single textbook," he says. "But at CMU, I did every single reading. That's the difference—the environment made me want to show up prepared."

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Bruce Guenther (CMU ’03) serves as Disaster Response Director at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada, leading global humanitarian efforts in response to crises and disasters. He credits his CMU experience—with its blend of theological study, international development, and mentorship—with preparing him to integrate faith, learning, and leadership in a complex world.

Responding to crisis with compassion: How CMU shaped a global leader

When a humanitarian disaster makes headlines, some people read about it while drinking their coffee or share it on social media during their bus ride. Bruce Guenther, however, is already at his desk, organizing responsive action in the disaster's region.

Guenther is the Disaster Response Director at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada, for which he designs projects and oversees staff that coordinate aid in response to humanitarian crises around the world, like the earthquake in Afghanistan and the genocide in Gaza. He has worked in this department, in various positions, for 18 years.

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Kyle Penner (CMU ’05) graduated with a major in youth ministry. Today, as pastor of Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, he draws on lessons of faith, community, and character first nurtured at CMU.

Faith in Practice: How CMU Inspires Community-Centred Leadership

For Kyle Penner, CMU was where he learned how to think about faith, community, and leadership in ways that continue to shape his life today. "My time at CMU helped shape who I am and how I think in the world," he says.

After graduating in 2005 with a major in youth ministry, Penner reflects on the practical lessons CMU offered. Courses on preaching, church history, and biblical texts didn't just give him knowledge, he says they taught him how to communicate with clarity across generations. Something that he says comes in quite handy in his current role as the pastor of Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, MB.

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