Difference between revisions of "Willingdon Church (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)"

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[[File:92-14-3447.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Willingdon MB Church, 1961 building.'']]
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[[File:92-14-3447.jpg|350px|thumb|right|''Willingdon MB Church, 1961 building.'']]
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The Willingdon Mennonite Brethren congregation in Burnaby, British Columbia began services and formally organized in 1961, and held its first service on 30 April 1961 with 116 in attendance. It also joined the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches|British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] that same year. [[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]] is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through division from the [[South Hill Mennonite Brethren Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver Mennonite Brethren]] church due to the increasing size of the congregation. By 1965 the average attendance was 200.
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[[File:WillingdonChurchCurrent.jpg|350px|thumbnail|right|''Willingdon Church, 2014''.]]
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The Willingdon Mennonite Brethren congregation in Burnaby, British Columbia began services and formally organized in 1961, and held its first service on 30 April 1961 with 116 in attendance. It also joined the [[British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches|British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] that same year. [[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]] is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through division from the [[Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church]] due to the increasing size of the congregation. By 1965 the average attendance was 200.
  
 
The first building was constructed in 1961 at a cost of $78,000, seating 450. A Christian education wing was added in 1972-73 and by 1975 the average attendance was 360. The congregation began a second service in 1976 to accommodate the increasing numbers. However, rapid growth continued throughout the 1970s and a new sanctuary was built in 1982. The congregation's first youth pastor was hired in 1972, and a Boy Scout ministry and Play School ministry were started in 1974.
 
The first building was constructed in 1961 at a cost of $78,000, seating 450. A Christian education wing was added in 1972-73 and by 1975 the average attendance was 360. The congregation began a second service in 1976 to accommodate the increasing numbers. However, rapid growth continued throughout the 1970s and a new sanctuary was built in 1982. The congregation's first youth pastor was hired in 1972, and a Boy Scout ministry and Play School ministry were started in 1974.
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Under pastor Herb Neufeld, the Elder model of leadership was initiated in 1977. Other Mennonite Brethren congregations in British Columbia, strongly influenced by Willingdon Church, also introduced this model of leadership in the following years.
 
Under pastor Herb Neufeld, the Elder model of leadership was initiated in 1977. Other Mennonite Brethren congregations in British Columbia, strongly influenced by Willingdon Church, also introduced this model of leadership in the following years.
  
−
Willingdon Church continued to experience a rapid rate of growth through the 1980s, leading to the planting of [[Cornerstone Community Church (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)|Cornerstone Community Church]] in 1986 and [[Hyde Creek Community Church (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)|Hyde Creek Community Church]] in 1989. A Spanish Ministry was established in 1985 and a Korean Ministry was established in 1988. A Deaf Ministry, established in 1982, operated until 1995 when the [[Deaf Community Christian Church (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)|Deaf Community Christian Church]]. The average attendance at Willingdon Church in 1985 was 1,100.
+
Willingdon Church continued to experience a rapid rate of growth through the 1980s, leading to the planting of [[Cornerstone Community Church (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)|Cornerstone Community Church]] in 1986 and [[Hyde Creek Community Church (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)|Hyde Creek Community Church]] in 1989. A Spanish ministry was established in 1985 and a Korean ministry was established in 1988. A Deaf ministry, established in 1982, operated until 1995 when the [[Deaf Community Christian Church (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)|Deaf Community Christian Church]] was formed. The average attendance at Willingdon Church in 1985 was 1,100.
  
 
Growth continued throughout the 1990s. A ministry center was completed in 1992 and average attendance was 2,200 in 1995. The congregation moved to three services in 1999. The 1990s saw the establishment of a Food Services Ministry and a Cantonese Ministry in 1992, a Japanese Ministry in 1994, and a Mandarin Ministry, Indonesian Ministry, and Russian Ministry in 1996. The first decade of the 21st century saw the establishment of a French Ministry and Romanian Ministry in 2000, a Saturday evening service in 2003, an Arabic Ministry in 2005, the Willingdon Fine Arts Academy in 2005, Alongside Ministry in 2007, a second Saturday evening service in 2009, and the Connection Worship Centre in 2009.
 
Growth continued throughout the 1990s. A ministry center was completed in 1992 and average attendance was 2,200 in 1995. The congregation moved to three services in 1999. The 1990s saw the establishment of a Food Services Ministry and a Cantonese Ministry in 1992, a Japanese Ministry in 1994, and a Mandarin Ministry, Indonesian Ministry, and Russian Ministry in 1996. The first decade of the 21st century saw the establishment of a French Ministry and Romanian Ministry in 2000, a Saturday evening service in 2003, an Arabic Ministry in 2005, the Willingdon Fine Arts Academy in 2005, Alongside Ministry in 2007, a second Saturday evening service in 2009, and the Connection Worship Centre in 2009.
  
−
The Willingdon School of the Bible, established in 2003, offered college-level courses covering the entire Bible. In 2007, reFocus Canada was established by the church, dedicated to bringing a biblical refocus to Canadian churches by holding an annual Preaching & Theology Conference, Expositional Preaching Seminars, and developing the reFocus Canada Network of like-minded pastors committed to biblical expositional preaching. The Willingdon School of Missions, providing training for short-term missions, and the Willingdon School of Ministry, a one-year, full time pastoral internship program, were both established in 2008. In 2010 the Arabic International Bible Institute was established.
+
The Willingdon School of the Bible, established in 2003, offered college-level courses covering the entire Bible. In 2007, reFocus Canada was established by the church, dedicated to bringing a biblical refocus to Canadian churches by holding an annual Preaching & Theology Conference, Expositional Preaching Seminars, and developing the reFocus Canada Network of like-minded pastors committed to biblical expositional preaching. The Willingdon School of Missions, providing training for short-term missions, and the Willingdon School of Ministry, a one-year, full-time pastoral internship program, were both established in 2008. In 2010 the Arabic International Bible Institute was established.
  
 
The congregation planted an Indonesian Church in 2004 and the [[Westside Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Westside Church]] in 2005, and a formal partnership with [[Church Planting British Columbia (British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches)|Church Planting BC]] was established in 2009.
 
The congregation planted an Indonesian Church in 2004 and the [[Westside Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Westside Church]] in 2005, and a formal partnership with [[Church Planting British Columbia (British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches)|Church Planting BC]] was established in 2009.
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The language of worship is English, but the congregation has been committed to reflecting the multi-ethnic reality of their community. In 2010 the International Language Ministries provided simultaneous translation of the services and fellowship times in Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Romanian, Spanish, Farsi, and Arabic.
 
The language of worship is English, but the congregation has been committed to reflecting the multi-ethnic reality of their community. In 2010 the International Language Ministries provided simultaneous translation of the services and fellowship times in Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Romanian, Spanish, Farsi, and Arabic.
  
−
In 2005 the average weekly attendance, including all services, was 3,353 and by 2010 the congregation's membership was 2,504 and the average weekly attendance in five services was 4,015. About half of the congregation was ethnic Asian. At that time the church was identified as the second-largest Protestant congregation in Canada.
+
In 2005 the average weekly attendance, including all services, was 3,353; in 2010 the congregation's membership was 2,504 and the average weekly attendance in five services was 4,015. In 2015 membership was 2,493 and the number of active attendees was 5,194, with an average weekly attendance of 4,632. About half of the congregation was ethnic Asian, and sermons were translated into nine different languages simultaneously. At that time the church was identified as the second-largest Protestant congregation in Canada.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
−
<em>Canadian Mennonite</em> (19 May 1961): 1; (24 November 1961): 29.
+
''Canadian Mennonite'' (19 May 1961): 1; (24 November 1961): 29.
  
−
<em>Mennonite Brethren Herald</em> (27 May 1988): 18; (17 May 1991): 15.
+
''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (27 May 1988): 18; (17 May 1991): 15.
  
−
<em>Mennonite Reporter</em> (6 September 1976): 9; (9 January 1989): 8; (11 November 1991): 12; (7 August 1992): 24-26.
+
''Mennonite Reporter'' (6 September 1976): 9; (9 January 1989): 8; (11 November 1991): 12; (7 August 1992): 24-26.
  
 
Todd, Douglas. "Rocking To A Moral Beat: Charismatic Leader, Plus a Cafeteria and Candy Shop Add Up to B.C.'s Biggest Protestant Church." <em>Vancouver Sun</em> (14 May 2011): A14.
 
Todd, Douglas. "Rocking To A Moral Beat: Charismatic Leader, Plus a Cafeteria and Candy Shop Add Up to B.C.'s Biggest Protestant Church." <em>Vancouver Sun</em> (14 May 2011): A14.
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= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
<strong>Address:</strong> 4812 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H6
+
'''Address:''' 4812 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H6
  
−
<strong>Telephone</strong>: 604-435-5544
+
'''Phone''': 604-435-5544
  
−
<strong>Website</strong>: [http://www.willingdon.org/ Willingdon Church]
+
'''Website''': [http://www.willingdon.org/ Willingdon Church]
  
−
<strong>Denominational Affiliations</strong>:
+
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
 
<span class="link-external">[http://www.bcmb.org/ British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]</span> (1961-present)
 
<span class="link-external">[http://www.bcmb.org/ British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]</span> (1961-present)
  
−
<span class="link-external">[http://www.mbconf.ca/ Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]</span> (1961-present)
+
[http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/ Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches] (1961-present)
  
 
[[General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] (1961-2002)
 
[[General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]] (1961-2002)
  
−
<h3>Willingdon Church Leading Ministers</h3>
+
=== Willingdon Church Leading Ministers ===
−
<table class="vertical listing">
+
                                 
−
<tr> <th>Minister</th> <th>Years</th> </tr>
+
{| class="wikitable"  
−
<tr> <td>[[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]]</td> <td align="right">1961-1962</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
<tr> <td>George L. Braun</td> <td align="right">1962-1966</td> </tr>
+
!Minister
−
<tr> <td>[[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]]</td> <td align="right">1966-1968</td> </tr>
+
!Years
−
<tr> <td>I. W. Redekopp</td> <td align="right">1968-1970</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
<tr> <td>Herbert D. Neufeld</td> <td align="right">1971-1986</td> </tr>
+
|[[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]]
−
<tr> <td>Carlin E. Weinhauer</td> <td align="right">1986-2003</td> </tr>
+
|1961-1962
−
<tr> <td>John H. Neufeld</td> <td align="right">2003-present</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
</table>
+
|George L. Braun
−
<h3>Willingdon Church Membership</h3>
+
|1962-1966
−
<table class="vertical listing">
+
|-
−
<tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Members</th> </tr>
+
|[[Letkeman, George (1918-1998)|George Letkeman]]
−
<tr> <td>1961</td> <td align="right">116</td> </tr>
+
|1966-1968
−
<tr> <td>1965</td> <td align="right">187</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
<tr> <td>1970</td> <td align="right">255</td> </tr>
+
|I. W. Redekopp
−
<tr> <td>1975</td> <td align="right">329</td> </tr>
+
|1968-1970
−
<tr> <td>1980</td> <td align="right">518</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
<tr> <td>1985</td> <td align="right">825</td> </tr>
+
|Herbert D. Neufeld
−
<tr> <td>1990</td> <td align="right">1,126</td> </tr>
+
|1971-1986
−
<tr> <td>1996</td> <td align="right">1,412</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
<tr> <td>2000</td> <td align="right">1,822</td> </tr>
+
|[[Weinhauer, Carlin E. (1939-2014)|Carlin E. Weinhauer]]
−
<tr> <td>2005</td> <td align="right">2,040</td> </tr>
+
|1986-2003
−
<tr> <td>2010</td> <td align="right">2,504</td> </tr>
+
|-
−
</table>
+
|John H. Neufeld
 +
|2003-2014
 +
|-
 +
|Ray Harms-Wiebe
 +
|2015-present
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Willingdon Church Membership ===
 +
                                                 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
 +
|-
 +
!Year
 +
!Members
 +
|-
 +
|1961
 +
|116
 +
|-
 +
|1965
 +
|187
 +
|-
 +
|1970
 +
|255
 +
|-
 +
|1975
 +
|329
 +
|-
 +
|1980
 +
|518
 +
|-
 +
|1985
 +
|825
 +
|-
 +
|1990
 +
|1,126
 +
|-
 +
|1996
 +
|1,412
 +
|-
 +
|2000
 +
|1,822
 +
|-
 +
|2005
 +
|2,040
 +
|-
 +
|2010
 +
|2,504
 +
|-
 +
|2015
 +
|2,493
 +
|}
 
= Maps =
 
= Maps =
 
[[Map:Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, BC|Map:Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, BC]]
 
[[Map:Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, BC|Map:Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, BC]]

Latest revision as of 15:56, 20 April 2020

Willingdon MB Church, 1961 building.
Willingdon Church, 2014.

The Willingdon Mennonite Brethren congregation in Burnaby, British Columbia began services and formally organized in 1961, and held its first service on 30 April 1961 with 116 in attendance. It also joined the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches that same year. George Letkeman is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through division from the Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church due to the increasing size of the congregation. By 1965 the average attendance was 200.

The first building was constructed in 1961 at a cost of $78,000, seating 450. A Christian education wing was added in 1972-73 and by 1975 the average attendance was 360. The congregation began a second service in 1976 to accommodate the increasing numbers. However, rapid growth continued throughout the 1970s and a new sanctuary was built in 1982. The congregation's first youth pastor was hired in 1972, and a Boy Scout ministry and Play School ministry were started in 1974.

Under pastor Herb Neufeld, the Elder model of leadership was initiated in 1977. Other Mennonite Brethren congregations in British Columbia, strongly influenced by Willingdon Church, also introduced this model of leadership in the following years.

Willingdon Church continued to experience a rapid rate of growth through the 1980s, leading to the planting of Cornerstone Community Church in 1986 and Hyde Creek Community Church in 1989. A Spanish ministry was established in 1985 and a Korean ministry was established in 1988. A Deaf ministry, established in 1982, operated until 1995 when the Deaf Community Christian Church was formed. The average attendance at Willingdon Church in 1985 was 1,100.

Growth continued throughout the 1990s. A ministry center was completed in 1992 and average attendance was 2,200 in 1995. The congregation moved to three services in 1999. The 1990s saw the establishment of a Food Services Ministry and a Cantonese Ministry in 1992, a Japanese Ministry in 1994, and a Mandarin Ministry, Indonesian Ministry, and Russian Ministry in 1996. The first decade of the 21st century saw the establishment of a French Ministry and Romanian Ministry in 2000, a Saturday evening service in 2003, an Arabic Ministry in 2005, the Willingdon Fine Arts Academy in 2005, Alongside Ministry in 2007, a second Saturday evening service in 2009, and the Connection Worship Centre in 2009.

The Willingdon School of the Bible, established in 2003, offered college-level courses covering the entire Bible. In 2007, reFocus Canada was established by the church, dedicated to bringing a biblical refocus to Canadian churches by holding an annual Preaching & Theology Conference, Expositional Preaching Seminars, and developing the reFocus Canada Network of like-minded pastors committed to biblical expositional preaching. The Willingdon School of Missions, providing training for short-term missions, and the Willingdon School of Ministry, a one-year, full-time pastoral internship program, were both established in 2008. In 2010 the Arabic International Bible Institute was established.

The congregation planted an Indonesian Church in 2004 and the Westside Church in 2005, and a formal partnership with Church Planting BC was established in 2009.

The language of worship is English, but the congregation has been committed to reflecting the multi-ethnic reality of their community. In 2010 the International Language Ministries provided simultaneous translation of the services and fellowship times in Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Romanian, Spanish, Farsi, and Arabic.

In 2005 the average weekly attendance, including all services, was 3,353; in 2010 the congregation's membership was 2,504 and the average weekly attendance in five services was 4,015. In 2015 membership was 2,493 and the number of active attendees was 5,194, with an average weekly attendance of 4,632. About half of the congregation was ethnic Asian, and sermons were translated into nine different languages simultaneously. At that time the church was identified as the second-largest Protestant congregation in Canada.

Bibliography

Canadian Mennonite (19 May 1961): 1; (24 November 1961): 29.

Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 18; (17 May 1991): 15.

Mennonite Reporter (6 September 1976): 9; (9 January 1989): 8; (11 November 1991): 12; (7 August 1992): 24-26.

Todd, Douglas. "Rocking To A Moral Beat: Charismatic Leader, Plus a Cafeteria and Candy Shop Add Up to B.C.'s Biggest Protestant Church." Vancouver Sun (14 May 2011): A14.

"Willingdon Church Historical Sketch." n.d., 5 pp., Mennonite Historical Society of Canada collection, Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Additional Information

Address: 4812 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H6

Phone: 604-435-5544

Website: Willingdon Church

Denominational Affiliations:

British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1961-present)

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1961-present)

General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1961-2002)

Willingdon Church Leading Ministers

Minister Years
George Letkeman 1961-1962
George L. Braun 1962-1966
George Letkeman 1966-1968
I. W. Redekopp 1968-1970
Herbert D. Neufeld 1971-1986
Carlin E. Weinhauer 1986-2003
John H. Neufeld 2003-2014
Ray Harms-Wiebe 2015-present

Willingdon Church Membership

Year Members
1961 116
1965 187
1970 255
1975 329
1980 518
1985 825
1990 1,126
1996 1,412
2000 1,822
2005 2,040
2010 2,504
2015 2,493

Maps

Map:Willingdon MB Church, Burnaby, BC


Author(s) Marlene Epp
Richard D. Thiessen
Date Published May 2011

Cite This Article

MLA style

Epp, Marlene and Richard D. Thiessen. "Willingdon Church (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2011. Web. 27 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Willingdon_Church_(Burnaby,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=167824.

APA style

Epp, Marlene and Richard D. Thiessen. (May 2011). Willingdon Church (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 27 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Willingdon_Church_(Burnaby,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=167824.



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