Riverbend Fellowship (Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Creator: Henry J. Wiens (1885-1975)
Digitized by Hiebert Library. Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Riverbend Fellowship in Borden, Saskatchewan (formally known as Borden Mennonite Brethren Church) was founded by Mennonite immigrants who arrived in Canada between the first two major Mennonite migrations from Russia. They settled in the Borden district in 1902–1903, hoping to benefit from the opportunity to obtain 160 acres as a homestead with the option of purchasing even more acreage. Their leader was David Klassen who had immigrated with them.
The congregation began meeting in 1903 and organized officially in 1906. At first they used the school of Hoffnungsfeld as a meeting place. By 1907 they had completed the construction of their first church building which was used until 1952, when a new church sanctuary was constructed.
One of the church’s first outreach programs was the support it gave to Herman Fast and his Russian ministry at Blaine Lake. Another outreach was the formation of a Sunday school among the Old Colony Mennonites in the Walter Scott school.
Ministers who served the congregation prior to 1950 included David K. Klassen, Elder David Dyck (served 1906-1910), John A. Harder (served 1919-1935), Jacob J. Wiens (served 1912-1914 and 1934-1938), Jacob A. Nickel and A. K. Rempel. Paid ministers began to serve in 1965.
The congregation was first known as Hoffnungsfeld Mennonite Brethren. The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1950s.
In 1955 the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee anniversary and in 1980 published a history book entitled Precious Memories: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church 1905–1980.
In 2009 the congregation relocated from a rural setting (northwest of Section 15, Township 41, Range 8 west of 3rd Meridian) to the town of Borden, restructured, and changed its name to Riverbend Fellowship. The church chose to rent a hall in Borden instead of building a church. The church wanted to meet in the public square, in a place where people feel welcome.
Bibliography
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 68; (January/February 2017): 24.
"Minutes of the 64th Annual Convention of the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches: March 12 & 13, 2010." Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches." Web. 28 July 2011. http://sk.mbconf.ca/news/convention2011/2010-minutes.pdf.
Toews, John A. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. 1975: 155, 158. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfTheMennoniteBrethrenChurch.
Unruh, Ewald and Orla Block. "Borden MB Church History (1905-1980)." Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Archival Records
Congregational Records at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Additional Information
Address: Box 256, R. R. 1, Borden, Saskatchewan S0K 0N0 (Located northwest of Section 15, Township 41, Range 8 west of 3rd Meridian)
Phone: 306-997-4924
Website: Riverbend Fellowship
Denominational Affiliations:
Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
Pastors since 1965
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Henry Gossen | 1965-1977 |
| Reuben Derksen | 1977-1978 |
| Ewald Unruh | 1979-1981 |
| Richard Schellenberg | 1983-1988 |
| Les Riediger | 1989-1994 |
| Eldon Fehr | 1994-1999 |
| Tony Martens | 2000-2016 |
| Ron Mills | 2016-present |
Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 87 |
| 1965 | 80 |
| 1985 | 87 |
| 1993 | 72 |
| 2000 | 72 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| Author(s) | J. H. Epp |
|---|---|
| Marlene Epp | |
| Date Published | July 2011 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, J. H. and Marlene Epp. "Riverbend Fellowship (Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2011. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Riverbend_Fellowship_(Borden,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=163400.
APA style
Epp, J. H. and Marlene Epp. (July 2011). Riverbend Fellowship (Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Riverbend_Fellowship_(Borden,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=163400.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 389. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.