Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada)
Cariboo Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church established itself in 1963 through the efforts of approximately thirty people who asked if the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Home Missions Board might include them in their program. Consequently, Neil Isaac initiated and led services in a rented hall beginning in February of that same year. By 1965, the need for a full-time pastor became evident, and after hiring on Paul Unger to fill this position, the congregation also formally organized under the auspices of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
The first building project commenced the following year with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place in April 1966. Construction began on 20 June, and the 200-seat structure was completed in August 1967. The church was technically a mission until 1970, at which time Cariboo Bethel became self-supporting. In 1974, the church satisfied its need for expansion by adding onto their existing structure; construction began in April, and the addition was completed the following year with the dedication ceremony taking place on 9 November 1975. On 3 March 1982, the entire church was destroyed by fire. A local Seventh-Day Adventist church was used as a temporary home while construction on the new building was taking place. In April 1983 a new 650-seat sanctuary was completed with larger banqueting facilities and an upgraded Christian education wing.
In 2010 the congregation had a membership of 126 and an average weekly attendance of 174.
Bibliography
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. "Cariboo Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church." http://www.cdnmbconf.ca/mbstudies/holdings/bc/cariboobethel.en.html (accessed 2 July 2008).
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 28; (10 August 1990): 18-19.
Mennonite Reporter (19 April 1982): 11; (12 December 1983): 11.
Additional Information
Address: 833 Western Ave., Williams Lake, BC V2G 2J5
Phone: 250-398-6731
Website: Cariboo Bethel Church
Denominational Affiliations:
British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1965-present)
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1965-present)
Cariboo Bethel Church Leading Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Paul Unger | 1965-1972 |
| John Balzer | 1973-1984 |
| Alex Campbell | 1985-1991 |
| Michael Young | 1993-2002 |
| Larry Thomas | 2003-2007 |
| Jeremy Vogt |
Cariboo Bethel Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 35 |
| 1975 | 75 |
| 1980 | 103 |
| 1985 | 169 |
| 1990 | 184 |
| 1995 | 239 |
| 2000 | 155 |
| 2005 | 98 |
| 2010 | 126 |
Maps
Map:Cariboo Bethel Church, William Lake, BC
| Author(s) | Andrew Klager |
|---|---|
| Date Published | November 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Klager, Andrew. "Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2010. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Cariboo_Bethel_Church_(Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=103907.
APA style
Klager, Andrew. (November 2010). Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Cariboo_Bethel_Church_(Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=103907.
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