New Officer Roundup: Captain Leigh and Major Vida Ryan, Moncton, NB
Captain Leigh and Major Vida Ryan are the new Corps Officers in Moncton, NB.
Captain Leigh and Major Vida Ryan have served together for a decade in Newfoundland, spending eight years at Lower Trinity, N.L., and the last two in Mount Pearl, N.L. Prior to that, Vida had served in Northern Ontario, Oakville, Ont., Sydney, NS, and at the College for Officer Training. Both are Newfoundlanders originally, Leigh hailing from La Scie, N.L., and Vida from Gambo, N.L. They take over Moncton Citadel Community Church for Majors Ronald and Joyce Stuckless who have retired. We caught up with Leigh Ryan to see how the first few days in New Brunswick were going.
What was your experience like in Mount Pearl?
Leigh Ryan: Phenomenal. It is an amazing Corps with a lot of great things happening right across the board. A wonderful children’s ministry, pioneer clubs, something called Grow With Me, which is basically mom and tots, a men’s ministry, ladies ministry, ladies night out, beautiful music as well – it’s just a happening place. We introduced a Family Service every second Sunday night which brought a lot of new families out. There’s a lot of growth taking place and a lot of integration with the community. We had a wonderful stay there and quite honestly we were surprised to be leaving. Having said that, we were consulted and we know God’s very much in it, but we had a wonderful stay.
Any previous experience in Moncton?
LR: Vida has a brother and sister here in Riverview, NB, and it’s amazing how that worked out. That’s quite a bonus for us that there’s family in the immediate area.
Share your first impressions of your new posting.
LR: We’re excited about it. We’re really impressed by the sense of commitment here, the sense of service and that people are very interested and very open to getting involved and making things happen. We’re excited about the appointment and we’re looking forward to great things here. We’re just getting to know some people now, and a lot of people we haven’t even met yet, but we’ve had two Sunday’s here (at the time of the interview) and both Sundays there was amazing worship and good things happening. So we couldn’t be happier.
Even in these early days, do you have any hopes or goals for this appointment?
LR: I think the word would be partnership, and if there’s a theme, it’s one of compassion. There are people who have been here for quite a while, and there’s quite a foundation here in Moncton and we’re humbled actually, and honoured to be coming in here. So our whole thought is to partner with the people here and be open to wherever God wants to lead us. I sense that there’s an openness to that kind of approach, and that’s the one we’re comfortable with. We don’t even quite know yet what’s in place, but we’re anxious to move in whatever direction God leads us.
