His name is Wim Kreeft.

And, just in case you're curious, Wim is a Dutch name.

Kreeft, 59, is the new minister at Centennial United Church in Stayner.

He started July 1.

Kreeft and his wife, Joy, came to Stayner after seven years at a church in Halifax.

"After so many years in Halifax, a minister needs a new challenge and so does a congregation," he said.

Kreeft said he was drawn to Centennial United because there are so many wonderful, talented, people in the congregation. He said getting to know them has been enjoyable.

Moving to Stayner was also an opportunity to be closer to family that live in Ontario, he said.

Kreeft has never lived in Ontario and so he said he's looking forward to exploring the province.

So far Kreeft said he's visited communities nearby, such as Thornbury, Collingwood and Barrie.

He talked last week about pushing his trips further to the north, to the Parry Sound area, to check out the fall colours.

Born in Amsterdam, Kreeft and his parents came to Canada in 1952 in search of a better life, he said.

An aunt and uncle who lived in Alberta sponsored them and so that's where Kreeft and his parents settled.

The family lived in a town called Burdett, between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.

Kreeft was raised in the Christian Reformed Church.

In 1972, he graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and minored in religion and theology.

Kreeft said he subsequently went to the University of Saskatchewan where he earned a certificate allowing him to teach.

He taught for one year in Saskatchewan and then returned to Alberta, teaching for 15 years in the Lac La Biche area, northeast of Edmonton.

He was teaching math and social studies to students in Grades 7, 8 and 9.

It was while teaching in Alberta that Kreeft said he joined the United Church. That was in 1986, he said.

Kreeft said he decided to become a minister after talking about the profession with his own minister.

As a result, he attended Saskatoon-based St. Andrew's College for four years, earning a Master of Divinity degree.

He was ordained in 1996.

"I find a lot of satisfaction leading service and trying to understand and read these ancient texts," he said when talking about the what he likes about the profession.

Helping people through the high points and low points of life is also a rewarding aspect of the profession, Kreeft said.

After he was ordained, Kreeft ministered in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia until 1999. He then moved to Athabasca, Alberta to work as a minister and in 2001 went to Halifax.

So what else should you know about Kreeft?

Well, he can play saxophone.

Picked the instrument up in 1998.

"I like how it sounds," he said. "You can get some very haunting sounds."

Kreeft uses the instrument to play hymns in church.

To reach Kreeft call Centennial United Church at 428-3211.