Meet Our Team
Brian Wiens
Pastor
As Pastor at The Gathering, Brian gives oversight to our interactive teaching and worship week to week. Brian is not afraid to ask the hard questions of life and leads in a way that provides space to ask questions as we sort out what it looks like to know Jesus and His intention for our lives and the world.
Brian’s life quest has been to find peace — peace with himself and peace with God. Along his journey through academics, athletics, and health issues, Brian found the love of Jesus and was inspired to use his life to help others sort out what it means to follow Jesus too. Brian enjoys camping, biking, canoeing and skiing.
Brian Wiens: 306.914.2954
Jocelyn Friesen
Chairperson
Jocelyn was born and raised in Saskatoon. She is a high school math teacher and loves baking, especially with chocolate. Together with her husband, Jonathan, they have four children and a fast-paced life!
Jocelyn came to The Gathering and stayed with The Gathering because she was looking for a community that was close, personal, and focused on Jesus. She didn’t want to watch a church service; she wanted to be actively involved (to the point where people would notice and miss her presence if she was away one week). Jocelyn continues to live out those values: she is very involved in this congregation in formal roles (like this team!) and in many relationships.
Jocelyn’s life purpose? In her words, “That’s a loaded question!! For friends and family to have a sense of belonging, being cared for and feel genuinely loved.”
Sharaya Kennedy
Sharaya is a wife to Aaron, mother of four young kids, and a graphic designer when she has the spare time. Her favourite activities are exploring and walking around the city, taking the kids biking, and spending most of the summers at the BMX track and building bikes in the winter.
The Gathering has given her whole family a community, with constant reminders of their need to humbly acknowledge their shortcomings while they choose to follow Christ. In recent years, Sharaya has been privileged to be on the Gathering Leadership team and she appreciates the deeper sense of commitment to the church that brings. She has a passion for The Gathering to operate in maturity, and for individuals to also be emotionally and spiritually healthy.
Rick Block
Rick is a prairie kid who loves getting to know people and places, and being outdoors. Rick’s work in community development and food security has brought him into many interdenominational settings, and though he is passionate about his Anabaptist faith, he also deeply appreciates the global church in its breadth and diversity. The Gathering is a place where Rick sees young and old(er) leaning into and offering their unique gifts as given by the Holy Spirit – a tangible blessing for him. Rick also notes he is grateful for his wife Jacquie, their two children (now young adults), close friends and the fellowship of church community that have encouraged him to continue growing as an apprentice of Jesus. He delights to see God’s kingdom come in the world around us as well as deep within his heart.
AJ Donauer
Secretary/Vice-Chairperson
AJ believes in contributing as an active member in his church community and has been serving in the church his whole life. He has specifically enjoyed deepening relationships and establishing roots with the Gathering community over the last decade.
AJ continues to be involved with kids church and is now a member of the leadership team. AJ is passionate about sharing Christ’s love and joy through encouragement, hospitality and personal connections.
AJ has a busy life and works as an Emergency Physician in Saskatoon, while raising three adventurous kids with his wife, Tanisha. He loves outdoor adventures and playing or watching sports in his spare time.