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| − | __FORCETOC__
| + | Grace University, 2017. Source: Grace University website |
| − | __TOC__
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| − | The North Peace Mennonite Brethren congregation at Fort St. John has its origins in a successful outreach to the children of Fort St. John by the [[West Coast Children’s Mission of British Columbia|West Coast Children's Mission]], beginning in 1957. As a result, it soon became apparent that a permanent ministry was needed for the families of the region. Irwin and Amanda Klaassen began Bible studies in the Aennofield area of town in 1960, and soon services were held in the Matthews Community Hall, then in various local homes and the Legion Hall. The congregation officially organized in 1962 with Peter and Betty Boschman serving as the first pastoral couple. That fall the congregation began construction on their first building, which they dedicated the following spring 1963.
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| − | Due to a rapid increase in membership, a new 280-seat sanctuary was constructed in 1972, but even this building proved too crowded after only a few years. In 1979, the congregation was forced to meet in the Finch School gym, and in that same year a new structure with a 450-seat sanctuary was erected on the adjacent lot.
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| − | In 1996 North Peace and the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] [[Church Planting British Columbia (British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches)|Board of Church Extension]] worked together to plant the [[Aennofield Community Church (Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada)|Aennonfield Community Church]]. North Peace pastor Rick Hall became pastor of the new church in 1998. Aennofield Community Church closed in 2002.
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| − | In 2010 the congregation's membership was 192 with an average attendance of 263.
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| − | = Bibliography =
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| − | ''Canadian Mennonite'' (27 July 1962): 1.
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| − | ''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (3 February 1978): 16; (16 October 1987): 18; (27 May 1988): 30; (April 2012): 30; (January 2015): 20.
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| − | Penner, Peter. <em>No Longer At Arms Length: Mennonite Brethren Church Planting in Canada</em>. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1987: 130.
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| − | Unpublished historical sketch, 1 p., Mennonite Historical Society of Canada collection, [https://uwaterloo.ca/mennonite-archives-ontario/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario].
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| − | = Additional Information =
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| − | '''Address''': 10816 - 106 Street, Fort St. John, BC V1J 5P2
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| − | '''Phone''': 250-785-3869
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| − | '''Website''': [http://www.npmbchurch.com/ North Peace Mennonite Brethren Church]
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| − | '''Denominational Affiliation''':
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| − | [http://www.bcmb.org British Columbia Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches] (1963-present)
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| − | [http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/ Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches] (1963-present)
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| − | [[General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] (1963-2002)
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| − | === North Peace MB Church Leading Ministers ===
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| − | {| border="1"
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| − | |-
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| − | !Minister
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| − | !Years
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| − | |-
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| − | |Irwin Klaassen
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| − | |1960-1962
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| − | |-
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| − | |Peter Boschman
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| − | |1962-1966
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| − | |-
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| − | |Ron Bergstrom
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| − | |1967
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| − | |-
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| − | |[[Schmidt, John P. (1938-2008)|John P. Schmidt]]
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| − | |1967-1977
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| − | |-
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| − | |Jacob Thielmann
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| − | |1978-1981
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| − | |-
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| − | |Leo Siemens
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| − | |1981-1992
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| − | |-
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| − | |Wilf Richert (interim)
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| − | |1992-1993
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| − | |-
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| − | |Rick Hall
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| − | |1993-1997
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| − | |-
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| − | |Les Riediger
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| − | |1999-2011
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| − | |-
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| − | |Aldon Loeppky (interim)
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| − | |2012-2014
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| − | |-
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| − | |Andrew Eby
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| − | |2014-present
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| − | |}
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| − | === North Peace MB Church Membership ===
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| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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| − | |-
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| − | !Year
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| − | !Members
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| − | |-
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| − | |1965
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| − | |25
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| − | |-
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| − | |1975
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| − | |61
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| − | |-
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| − | |1980
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| − | |109
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| − | |-
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| − | |1985
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| − | |212
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| − | |-
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| − | |1990
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| − | |213
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| − | |-
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| − | |1995
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| − | |260
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| − | |-
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| − | |2000
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| − | |208
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| − | |-
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| − | |2005
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| − | |231
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| − | |-
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| − | |2010
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| − | |192
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| − | |}
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| − | = Maps =
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| − | [[Map:North Peace Mennonite Brethren Church (Fort St. John, BC)|Map:North Peace Mennonite Brethren Church (Fort St. John, BC)]]
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| − | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=February 2015|a1_last=Epp|a1_first=Marlene|a2_last=Klager|a2_first=Andres}}
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| − | [[Category:Churches]]
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| − | [[Category:British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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| − | [[Category:Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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| − | [[Category:General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Congregations]]
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| − | [[Category:British Columbia Congregations]]
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| − | [[Category:Canadian Congregations]]
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