Osler Mission Chapel (Osler, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Osler Mission Chapel had its beginning when 12 Old Colony Mennonite families gathered one Sunday morning at the home of Jacob and Anne Wiebe in Martensville, Saskatchewan on 3 November 1974. In the months preceding this gathering, several families had been meeting to fellowship, pray, and study God’s Word together, in response to a growing desire among them for a more evangelical expression of their faith. At a later gathering at the home of Pete and Mary Guenther near Hepburn the following Sunday, it was agreed to hold another meeting in which to prepare for a more permanent arrangement. Those interested met at the home of Henry and Margaret Neufeld in Osler on 11 November. During that week, a small building formerly used as a school in Osler was rented, cleaned, and furnished in preparation for church services the next Sunday. The newly formed congregation continued to meet in this building for the next one and a half years. Very shortly after the initial meetings, discussions began with the Chortitzer Mennonite Conference (CMC) regarding affiliation with that denomination. On 12 October 1975, 12 couples joined the CMC.
The congregation rapidly outgrew the rented hall, and plans were made to construct a building. One and a half acres of land on the southwestern edge of Osler were donated by Jacob Pauls for that purpose. With much volunteer labour by the congregation, a building was rapidly built, and the first service was held on 28 March 1976. Continued growth led to further expansion, and a new sanctuary was constructed and dedicated on 21 November 1982.
The church has a concern for local and overseas missions and this has led to active support for missionaries and other ministries beyond the church walls. It wasn’t long before the church sent out its very own and first missionary to serve with SEND International in the Philippines.
As the church grew the need for more leadership became more apparent, and has developed into a team of four pastors and five deacon couples at this present time, which includes one lead pastor and a youth pastor that are fully financially supported.
In 1975 there were 32 members; in 1985, 150. Minister Cornie Guenther served from 1978 to 2000 as an unsalaried congregational leader. In 2013 the pastors were Bill Janzen, salaried Lead Pastor, with John Unger and Simon Wiebe serving as unsalaried pastors. Attendance each Sunday exceeded 500.
By 2024 the congregation was no longer listed on the Christian (formerly Chortitzer) Mennonite Conferenc website.
Bibliography
Driedger, Leo. "Mennonite Change: The Old Colony Revisited, 1955-1977." Mennonite Life 32, no. 4 (December 1977).
Guenther, Bruce L. "The Convergence of Old Colony Mennonites, Evangelicalism and Contemporary Canadian Culture: a Case Study of Osler Mission Chapel (1974-1994)." Journal of Mennonite Studies 14 (1996): 96-123.
Janzen, Bill. "Osler Mission Chapel: History." Web. 4 December 2013. http://www.oslermissionchapel.com/history/.
Additional Information
Address: Box 160, Osler, SK S0K 3A0
Location: 6th Avenue and 1st Street, Osler SK
Phone: 306-230-4656
Website: Osler Mission Chapel
Denominational Affiliation:
Chortitzer Mennonite Conference
| Author(s) | Richard D. Thiessen |
|---|---|
| Victor G. Wiebe | |
| Date Published | March 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Thiessen, Richard D. and Victor G. Wiebe. "Osler Mission Chapel (Osler, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2024. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Osler_Mission_Chapel_(Osler,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=178370.
APA style
Thiessen, Richard D. and Victor G. Wiebe. (March 2024). Osler Mission Chapel (Osler, Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Osler_Mission_Chapel_(Osler,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=178370.
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