Ernst Neudorf was born to Peter and Katarina Neudorf on March 23, 1941, in the village of Rosenort, colony Fernheim, Paraguay. He spent his first 7 years on the farm in Rosenort, before moving to Filadelfia with his parents. There he attended elementary and middle school. At the age of 11 Ernst became a child of God, accepting God's irresistible grace. A verse that became very special to him after graduating from Sunday School was Matthew 6:33, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This verse would become his life motto and a foundational stone on which his Christian worldview was developed.
At the age of 16 Ernst was baptized and became a member of EMB Church. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Asuncion to study as an electrician. After completing his studies, he returned to Filadelfia to work in his profession. During this time, he met Adina Toews, and after courting her for 1 year, they married on March 23, 1963. God granted them 3 healthy children, Melanie, Theodor, and Edgar. In 1967 Ernst and his family moved to Asuncion, where he established a business in the repair and sale of electric motors and later the manufacturing of electric transformers that would turn out to be very successful. As years passed, Ernst would always attribute this success to the work of God and his kingdom.
In 1983, in search of a better future, Ernst and his family moved to Canada, where they settled in Abbotsford, BC. This change of culture and environment proved to be a challenge to Ernst, who by now was in his middle age and had always been self employed and self determined. He made several attempts to establish businesses of various types, and in the process was reminded that it is God who gives and who takes, and that he needed to surrender everything to the grace of God. In Abbotsford, Ernst and Adina joined King Road Mennonite Brethren Church, where he served in various committees over the years.
Ernst had always had a desire to extend the kingdom of God by way of Mission, and to this end, Ernst and Adina returned to Asuncion in 1993 to help set up a Christian radio station. This was a wonderful answer to prayer, and Radio Obedira proclaims the good news of redemption through Christ to this day. In 2000, Ernst and Adina returned to Canada, where he joined evangelistic work with Church Partnership Evangelism (CPE). He devoted himself to this ministry and found it very fulfilling, especially in the context of Central and South America.
Ernst was above all else a family man, and after 10 years of service with CPE, he retired in 2010, so that he could focus more time with his loved ones. By this time, the Neudorf family had grown, Melanie having married Heinz Plett (1986), and Theodor marrying Karin Ediger (1994). He also had 8 grandchildren, 4 from Melanie (Ralph, Tanis, Terence, and Derek), and 4 from Theodor (Neal, Priscila, Dylan, and Natasha).
Ernst particularly enjoyed weekly family gatherings on Sundays, as well as an annual trip to Penticton every summer. But far from finished serving others, God had another major task in store for him, as in 2011, his oldest grandson Ralph suffered a violent car accident with lifelong consequences. This accident was a true test of faith for everyone in the family, and Ernst spent the next 10 years serving Ralph with a ministry of care and presence. A verse that became very important to him during this time was an echo of the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done."
Over the years, Ernst had many health challenges, including major heart surgery in 2002. None was more challenging though than the illness that would emerge earlier this year and take him from us. In his final days, he struggled hard to come to terms with his illness, the nature and purpose of suffering, and the presence of Christ even in the darkest of times. A few days before his passing, while his mind was still clear and active, he expressed the following: “Oh that our whole life could be a song of Praise and Gratitude to God, our Saviour Jesus Christ."
On August 1, at 3:23 in the morning, Ernst went to be with his Lord, where surely now he is singing a song of Praise.
Ernst leaves behind his wife Adina of 58+ years, his daughter Melanie, and his sons Theodor and Edgar, and their families, including 3 great grandchildren, Carter, Emerie, and Ryker. He is also survived by his siblings Helmut (Elsie), Marianne (Harry), Eleonore (Alwin), and Erika (Walter).
May he rest in peace in the loving arms of our Lord.
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