Northgate Anabaptist Fellowship (Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada)
In 1962 Dawson Creek Mennonite Brethren Church began as an outreach program of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Its first core group was teachers who had moved to the area and taught in Dawson Creek. This congregation became part of the Mennonite Brethren conferences in 1963. Jacob "Jay" Neufeld was the first pastor.
Through the efforts of Dan Reimer, who had already been in the area, this group was able to rent an old school for one dollar a month, including all facilities. This served as their meeting place for one year, while plans were being made to build a sanctuary using volunteers. The congregation moved into their completed building in 1965.
In 1978 the church changed its name to Northgate Community Church. In 1986 the church changed its name again to Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church. Beginning in 2003, the congregation was led by a board of three elders. This group has included Ernie Klassen, Wayne Plenert, Lois Klassen, Annemarie Sawatzky, and Violet Williams.
Membership increased until 1998-2002 when it stood at 73. By 2004 the membership had decreased to 23 and to 12 by 2010.
The congregation left the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and was accepted into the membership of Mennonite Church British Columbia as Northgate Anabaptist Fellowship on 27 February 2016.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (28 August 1959): 1.
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. "Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church." http://www.mbconf.ca/home/products_and_services/resources/published_genealogies/mb_provincial_conferences_and_church_congregation_records/british_columbia_archives/northgate_community_church_archives/ (accessed 9 November 2009).
Mennonite Brethren Herald (28 April 2000); (14 September 2001).
Mennonite Reporter (16 October 1989): 5.
Neufeld, Jay. "Northgate MB Church." Personal e-mail (10 November 2009).
Penner, Peter. No Longer at Arms Length: Mennonite Brethren Church Planting in Canada. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1987: 130-131. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/stream/NoLongerAtArmsLengthMBChurchPlantingInCanadaOCRopt?ref=ol#mode/2up.
Plenert, Delores. "Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church." Personal e-mail (7 June 2011).
Various items, including 1 p. congregational history, in Mennonite Historical Society of Canada collection, Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Waddell, Amy Rinner. "‘House church with a building’: small size, remoteness characterize Dawson Creek fellowship." Canadian Mennonite 24, no. 16D (29 July 2020). Web. 30 July 2020. https://canadianmennonite.org/stories/%E2%80%98house-church-building%E2%80%99.
Archival Records
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Winnipeg, MB): Volume 1263-1266; NP186; NP149-01, NP091-01; NMV74-1.
Additional Information
Address: 1800-109 Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2V5
Phone: 250-782-3262
Website: Northgate MB Church
Denominational Affiliations:
British Columbia Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches (1963-2016)
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1963-2016)
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1963-2011)
Mennonite Church British Columbia (2016-present)
Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church Leading Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Jacob "Jay" Neufeld | 1962–1964 |
| Leo Siemens | 1964–1968 |
| Alvin Penner | 1968–1974 |
| George Anastasiades | 1974–1976 |
| Chris Wilson | 1977–1978 |
| John E. Friesen | 1979–1983 |
| John F. Klassen | 1983–1997 |
| Brian Palmer | 1997-1998 |
| David Dick | 1999-2000 |
| Corey Lizotte | 2001–2003 |
Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 11 |
| 1965 | 21 |
| 1970 | 45 |
| 1975 | 40 |
| 1980 | 39 |
| 1985 | 32 |
| 1990 | 55 |
| 1994 | 68 |
| 2000 | 73 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| Author(s) | Andrew Klager |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | February 2016 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Klager, Andrew and Richard D. Thiessen. "Northgate Anabaptist Fellowship (Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2016. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Northgate_Anabaptist_Fellowship_(Dawson_Creek,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=168969.
APA style
Klager, Andrew and Richard D. Thiessen. (February 2016). Northgate Anabaptist Fellowship (Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Northgate_Anabaptist_Fellowship_(Dawson_Creek,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=168969.
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