Riverton Gospel Chapel (Riverton, Manitoba, Canada)
Riverton Gospel Chapel, a member of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC), began as an outreach ministry of Mennville Evangelical Mennonite Church (formerly Washow Bay). In 1954 Vacation Bible School had been held in Riverton with good attendance, and a program was held once a month.
By 1960 there was a year-round Sunday School and services were held bi-weekly on Sunday nights. A small building was purchased and moved into town. A larger building was later built; it was dedicated on 23 July 1961. By 1961, with Aaron D. Friesen as leader, there were six Sunday School classes with a total enrollment of 70 students. Programs and services were each held twice monthly on alternating weeks.
In 1966 the EMC Board of Missions took on the work’s oversight, and Alfred Friesen became interim pastor. In fall 1966 Edwin and Violet Wright took up the pastorate. In the summer of 1967 the chapel gained a basement and an extension to its entrance. Then a larger, singtle-storey building was constructed, and it began to be used in December 2001.
In 1980 there were 34 members and an average church attendance of 50 to 60. In 2012, Don and Bonnie Brynteson, from Texas, were serving as pastoral couple. In 2012, Riverton had a membership of 55, an average Sunday School attendance of 60, and an average worship attendance of 75.
Bibliography
"Candlelight Service Held." The Messenger 26, no. 4 (19 February 1988): 15.
EMC Yearbook for 2012: Including a Record of the Proceedings of the 62nd Annual Sessions of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference July 6-8, 2012. Steinbach: Evangelical Mennonite Conference, 2012.
"Farewell for Larry Heppners." The Messenger 21, no. 6 (25 March 1983): 7.
Kornelsen, Carol. "Past, Present and Future." The Messenger 34, no. 20 (20 November 1996): 10.
Peters, Christine. "Riverton Gains Members." The Messenger 41, no. 15 (10 September 2003): 11.
Schellenberg, Dave K. "Riverton Gospel Chapel." The Messenger 18, no. 12 (6 June 1980): 4.
Smith, Terry M. "Riverton Gospel Chapel: A History and a Heart for Reaching Out." The Messenger 50, no. 16 (20 September 2006): 16-18.
Additional Information
Address: 220 Reggie Leach Drive, Riverton MB R0C 2R0
Phone: 204-378-2203
Website: Riverton Gospel Chapel
Denominational Affiliation:
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Riverton Gospel Chapel Ministers
| Pastoral Couple | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Alfred and Doris Friesen | 1966 |
| Edwin and Violet Wright | 1966-1969 |
| Harvey and Avril Barkman | 1969 |
| Menno and Aurelia Kroeker | 1970-1978 |
| Larry and Ruby Heppner | 1979-1983 |
| Del and Cindy Fast | 1985 |
| Dick and Tina Unrau | 1988-1996 |
| John and Helen Froese | 1996-2002 |
| Milton and Gladys Fast (interim) | 2003 |
| Don and Dianne Timmons | 2005-2007 |
| Don and Bonnie Brynteson | 2008-present |
Riverton Gospel Chapel Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 36 |
| 1980 | 34 |
| 1985 | 43 |
| 1995 | 33 |
| 2000 | 56 |
| 2012 | 55 |
| Author(s) | Terry Smith |
|---|---|
| Date Published | February 2013 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Smith, Terry. "Riverton Gospel Chapel (Riverton, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2013. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Riverton_Gospel_Chapel_(Riverton,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=93408.
APA style
Smith, Terry. (February 2013). Riverton Gospel Chapel (Riverton, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Riverton_Gospel_Chapel_(Riverton,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=93408.
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