EDMONTON, ALBERTA (July 1, 2008) \u2013 Services are pending for ordained Evangelical Covenant Church minister Virgil Stauffer, who was killed in a two-vehicle accident while driving to Edmonton on Sunday.
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\nHis wife, Irene, also an ordained Covenant minister, was slated to undergo surgery this morning at an Edmonton hospital.<\/p>\n
Virgil began his ministry in the Evangelical Missionary Church and then transferred into the Covenant. He pastored College Park Covenant Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from 1997-2001. Irene also was on staff.<\/p>\n
Virgil subsequently became the director of King\u2019s Fold Retreat Centre near Calgary, and Irene oversaw the operation of the chapel, says Jeff Anderson, superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada.<\/p>\n
Extensive renovations were made to King\u2019s Fold under Virgil\u2019s guidance, says Anderson. Covenant pastors and leaders have used the centre.<\/p>\n
According to news reports and Anderson, the accident occurred when two northbound cars on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway sideswiped each other roughly an hour south of Edmonton. Virgil lost control of his vehicle, which crossed the centerline and flipped on its roof before coming to rest in the southbound lanes.<\/p>\n
Virgil was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Three people in the second vehicle were not injured.<\/p>\n
Covenant News Service will publish additional information as it becomes available.<\/p>\n