Pastor Kristina Breit

More Than 13 Years of Heartfelt Pastoral Ministry

Pastor Kristina served the St. Mark’s congregation in Vancouver for over 13 years, from fall 2009 to spring 2022. She was responsible for children’s and youth ministry, the support of the women’s groups, as well as the spiritual life and pastoral care of the English congregation. In coordination with Pastor Ermisch, she also took on visitation ministry and officiated at occasional services in the German-speaking part of the congregation.

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Through her regular visits to the German children’s group, she succeeded in building relationships and awakening an interest in spiritual life and worship. Work with children and young families was especially close to her heart, even though this part of her ministry could not fully unfold due to external circumstances.

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German- and English-language seminars on biblical books and themes as well as on church history were well received by the congregation. Also fondly remembered are the congregational events for the 2017 Reformation anniversary, which Pastor Breit planned and carried out together with Pastor Ermisch.

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Her organizational skills were particularly evident in planning and running the annual bazaar, as well as in the refugee sponsorships made possible through ecumenical cooperation with the Armenian congregation in Richmond. Under Pastor Kristina’s leadership, the congregation was able to help two Syrian-Armenian families make a fresh start in Canada and settle in quickly.

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Working with Klaus Rathe, Dubravko Pajalic, and Pastor Ermisch, she established the livestreaming of services on YouTube and equipped the sanctuary with modern technology to make worship accessible online. She trained volunteers so that this livestream could continue after her departure.

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As associate pastor, she brought new impulses and perspectives to the congregation and worked to foster an atmosphere of openness, reflection, and spiritual growth. One such initiative was the “Movie and Soup” series, held on the first Saturday of the month, featuring films that addressed Christian, spiritual, or social topics. After the screening there was an opportunity to enjoy soup together and discuss the film and its themes.

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Her interest in local history led her to compile and document the history of our church buildings and the early years of St. Mark’s.

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Amid staffing changes in the congregation, she concluded her service at St. Mark’s in March 2022.