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Pastor Don Ingersoll of the Moncton Wesleyan Church is a man for all seasons -- especially Christmas.

Born in Fredericton, he grew up in Saint John and once thought his future held a career playing the trombone. However it was while dating a girl who attended the Moncton Wesleyan (whom he later married) and attending that church that his leanings were stirred "toward ministry." His interest in local church ministry "piqued," his course was charted.

Don earned a BS in Bible with a minor in music from New York's Houghton College, and a BS in Religion from Bethany Bible College -- where he also "spent a number of years" working to help develop Bethany's music teams, choirs and the like. He knew music would play a key role in his ministry, and was strongly influenced in that regard by Wesleyan music pastor Dwight Mullen.

Don served on staff at the Moncton Wesleyan in the early 1980s, and directed the Living Christmas Tree during that time. He next spent five years building a summer camp operation at Wesleyan's one-hundred-acre Catons Island in the St. John River -- the historical site of the first Christian service in Canada. Today "upwards of 1,000 campers" annually enjoy horseback riding, boating and such. From there, Don pastored at the Kings Valley Wesleyan Church in Quispamsis for 18 years, overseeing major productions and large outreach events there.

Now associate pastor at the Moncton Wesleyan, his special events work includes the Living Christmas Tree, which is now into its 36th year.

Don is excited about this year's efforts, which again includes a full orchestra and a "major re-work of the tree itself."

Previously, there were 60 circuits of active lighting, replaced now by 560 circuits and 35,000 mini lights guaranteed to dazzle. A 100-member choir is in the works too, with entertaining musical arrangements, "traditional moments," and plenty of humour (including the Grinch).

Partnership with Compassion Canada will see them explore the subject of generosity within the theme "The Gift That Keeps On Giving." International Christian artist Geoff Moore will also be featured at this year's Living Christmas Tree at the Moncton Wesleyan.

Year-round preparation by Don and his team of about 300 will culminate in seven spectacular shows: Dec. 2 to 6, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and twice on Saturday and Sunday.

When not at work, Don enjoys spending time with his family -- his wife Janet (his assistant), son Brad (and wife Rachel), and his daughter Lindsay. Don also loves four-wheeling, boating, camping, gardening, cutting logs/firewood, and going hunting with Brad.

At the heart of it all for Pastor Don Ingersoll is his "own personal relationship with Christ," and he remains "captivated" with the idea of local church ministry.

"The capacity that the local church has to lift people up ... inspire them ... encourage them ... bring healing ... help and hope to them, I just think is unbelievable. It was God's idea," he says, "and how else can you think of changing the world other than one person at a time, one church at a time, one community at a time."

* 15 Minutes of Fame is published every Monday. If you have a candidate for a 15 Minutes profile, please contact Linda Hersey via e-mail at news@timestranscript.com or by calling 859-7149 or faxing 859-4904.