Who is...

Don

Don Bolstad is the pastor of
the Christ Lutheran Church in
Terrace. In. September 1988,
Pastor Bolstad and his family
moved here after 10 years of
ministering in Whitehorse.

by Betty Barton

_ He was asked to consider a
call to Terrace, which had been
without .a -Lutheran. Church
pastor for some time. Don says
that the description of the kind
of person needed fit with his ex-
perience, knowledge and
capabilities.
challenge.” .
Don jokingly admits that after

their first rainy year here, he.

thought, ‘‘Next time God calls

me for another place, I’m going -

to argue harder.’* Don sees Ter-
race as a small town that has
grown large. physically, but
mentally, is just beginning to
mature. He finds the people in-
teresting, hard-working and
friendly.

Don Bolstad is busy with con-
gregations in both Kitimat and
Terrace. This is the first’ time
they’ve been a joint parish. One
of his goals is to have two
separate parishes with congrega-
tions large enough to support
them, and that they continue.to
work together in a cooperative
atmosphere. Don wants the
church to grow and to help the
community.

A typical day in ‘the life of
Pastor Don Bolstad is flexible,
but busy. It is not unusual for
him to put in 80 hours.a week,
but 60 is average. He. sum-
Marizes it by saying he preaches,
teaches and gives sacraments. A
more comprehensive description
includes preparation of sermons
and services, hospital and home
visitations, crisis counselling,
baptisms, confirmation classes,
time for devotion and prayer
and meetings with the
Ministerial Association.

The Ministerial Association is
an ecumenical group, involving
all the local churches. They look
for things that the churches can
do cooperatively. The Minis-
terial Association sponsors the
annual Hymn Sing at the
R.E.M. Lee Theatre and works
to oversee the cooperation of the
different church congregations
to run the Terrace Food Bank.
They address other community
issues including poverty and
Sunday shopping. For the most
part, the association is opposed
to Sunday shopping because of
its negative effect on families.

‘Don Bolstad is a real family

man, with 12 children, He and.

his wife, Inez have also, over the
years, fostered over 100 children
in both Alberta and the Yukon.
At present, they have five chil-
dren, one permanent foster child
and one grandchild at home.
The rest of the family lives in the
* Yukon and Edmonton.

Both Don and his wife are
from Alberta. Don was born in
Wetaskiwin (it means ‘hills of
peace country’? in the Cree
language). He grew up on a
farm, did a lot of work with
horses, drove truck and drove
the ‘‘Book Mobile’’ for the Ed-
monton Public Library. Don

“Tt looked like a.

Bolstad? ©

went on to get a Bachelors of
Education degree and taught

junior and senior high school for

six years,

When asked why he became ae
. teacher,

he responded,’ “I
thought. they must be desperate
for teachers. When I ran the
Book Mobile, one teacher-spent
the whole half hour of- the
class’s time in the library, yell-
ing at them.’’

Don first started thinking
about the ministry at age 15. He
avoided it for 15 years because
he didn’t think he was capable.
He was terribly shy and unable
to talk in front of a crowd. Be-
ing a teacher changed that.

Don ‘says he was very happy
teaching,. but there came a time -
when he felt God was telling him
he’s had fun for long enough
and he had to get serious. He’s

-never regretted becoming a

minister (pastor).
In addition to regular church

and community duties, Don an- -

nually attends a Pastors’ Study

"Conference, It’s a few days
away for pastors to study,

refresh each other and build a
sense of community and con-
‘geniality among the pastors of
the different congregations. He
also attends a Synod convention
once a year. It will be held in
Vancouver this year. The Pres-
byterian,. Lutheran, United,
Catholic and Anglican churches
are also nationally involved in
‘*Ten Days for World Develop-
ment’’,

The Lutheran Regional Con-

ference will be hosted in Terrace

this September with pastors, two .
delegates from each congrega-

tion and visitors, attending from
Prince Rupert, Smithers,
Kitimat, Mackenzie and Prince
George. ,
The church and family are
Don Bolstad’s whole life, but he
does sometimes take a break to
hunt, fish, read or write poetry.
He hopes to do a lot of writing
when he retires from the
Ministry.

Don Bolstad ended the inter-

view by saying, ‘‘A congregation
is made up of people (because
we’re human, we’re not perfect),
who need each other. God has
given us the privilege and re-
sponsibility to share his love
with his help. He needs commit-
ment and help of everyone.
Besides, people need to do this
for the sheer blessing of caring
for another human being. If
they’re not -doing it, they’re
short-changing themselves.”

Did you know that...

February is Heart
Month...Give from
ihe hear and

e
ropdarch tc
saves more lives.

B.C. Heart
Foundation

Terrace Review — Wednesday, January 31, 1990 B15

Reverend Don Bolstad used skills from his previous career as a teacher when he entered

the ministry at age 30.

Volunteer coordinator
starts for Ksan House

' Mary Swift has been con-
tracted by the Ksan House
Society to develop a training
manual and implement a pro-
gram for volunteers at the Ksan
Transition House and the Sexual
Assault Centre. This is a part-
time and short term contract
(17% hours per week for four to
six months).
Mary Swift is a relative new-
comer to Terrace. She grew up
in Nelson and then lived in Van-
couver until June of 1989. Since
her arrival in Terrace, she has
been teaching university level
courses on a part-time basis in
English and drama at Northwest
Community College. Swift had
always wanted to work in social
services. Through her contacts
at NWCC and Shelley Lachance
at the Sexual Assault Centre, she
discovered that her many and
varied skills would be beneficial
to the Ksan House Society.
Swift’s initial task will be to
determine the volunteer needs of

both the Transition House and

the Sexual Assault Centre. Then

THE SIGN OF A
GOOD BUSINESS
NEIGHBOR ...

Wenter
, Syetae ten

CNET AUTH ELH

THE SIGN OF
A MERCHANT
WHO CARES
ABOUT PEOPLE...

This emblem identifies
the civic-minded
businessmen who sponsor

“elena Wig.

in the community.

Vi — 635-5672
Erlinda — 635-6526

| Brenda-Lee — 635-2605

she will analyse and implement
the essential elements of a train-
ing program for the new
volunteers.

A Transition House is a 1 safe
house for battered or distressed
women and their children,
regardless of age, race or
religion. It is open at any time of
day or night to provide shelter
for women in any kind of emer-
gency.

A Sexual Assault Centre is a
place to talk to someone if a
woman or her child have been
sexually assaulted. Workers at
the Sexual Assault Centre are
there for support and to answer
questions, any time.

Call Mary Swift at 635-5518
to volunteer, or if you have
ideas for the volunteer training
program.

MARY SWIFT: hired to train
volunteers for work in Sexual
Assault Centre and Transi-
tion House.

Whatever sou wear
We clean wilh care,’

EDNESDAY IS
DIRTY SHIRT
DAY

Men's or Ladies’ cotton blend
dress or business shirts expertly

laundered.

» Only drive-thru in town
Best, most rellable and cleanest service
» Drop off point at Thornhill Public Market

Richards Cleaners|

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m, to 5:30 p.m. — Saturday
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