The Best Is Yet To Be: The Memoirs of Vern Heidebrecht

Vern Heidebrecht was born into a devout family of Mennonite immigrants. The family soon moved from Alberta to Abbotsford, British Columbia. After graduating from Mennonite Educational Institute, he felt the call to Christian ministry and studied at Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He married his childhood sweetheart Carol, and they began their pastoral ministry in a Mennonite Brethren church in the farm community of Sawyer, North Dakota. After five years, they moved to Fresno, California, where Vern earned a master's degree from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary while serving as an associate pastor at Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church. He then served as pastor of Lincoln Glen Mennonite Brethren Church in San Jose, California. There, he oversaw significant church growth and the building of a new church building. He did this while also earning his doctorate from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Francisco. He then moved to pastor the much smaller Neighborhood Church in Visalia, California. In 1982, he returned to pastor Northview Community Church, a church plant in Abbotsford, British Columbia, which under his leadership grew to become the largest church in Canada. He also maintained an international speaking ministry and was involved with many organizations, including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he became an advocate for Parkinson's research sand support organizations.