Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada)

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Cariboo Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church established itself in 1963 through the efforts of approximately thirty people who asked if the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Home Missions Board might include them in their program.  Consequently, Neil Isaac initiated and led services in a rented hall beginning in February of that same year.  By 1965, the need for a full-time pastor became evident, and after hiring on Paul Unger to fill this position, the congregation also formally organized under the auspices of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

The first building project commenced the following year with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place in April 1966.  Construction began on 20 June, and the 200-seat structure was completed in August 1967.  The church was technically a mission until 1970, at which time Cariboo Bethel became self-supporting.  In 1974, the church satisfied its need for expansion by adding onto their existing structure; construction began in April, and the addition was completed the following year with the dedication ceremony taking place on 9 November 1975.  On 3 March 1982, the entire church was destroyed by fire.  A local Seventh-Day Adventist church was used as a temporary home while construction on the new building was taking place.  In April 1983 a new 650-seat sanctuary was completed with larger banqueting facilities and an upgraded Christian education wing.

Bibliography

Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. "Cariboo Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church." http://www.cdnmbconf.ca/mbstudies/holdings/bc/cariboobethel.en.html (accessed 2 July 2008).

Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 28; (10 August 1990): 18-19.

Mennonite Reporter (19 April 1982): 11; (12 December 1983): 11.

Additional Information

Address: 833 Western Ave., Williams Lake, BC  V2G 2J5

Phone: 250-398-6731

Website: Cariboo Bethel Church

Denominational Affiliations:

British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1965-present)

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1965-present)

General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1965-2002)

Cariboo Bethel Church Leading Ministers

Minister Years
Paul Unger 1965-1972
John Balzer 1973-1984
Alex Campbell 1985-1991
Michael Young 1993-2002
Larry Thomas 2003-2007
Jeremy Vogt
Esther Corbett

Cariboo Bethel Church Membership

Year Members
1970 35
1975 75
1980 103
1985 169
1990 184
1995 239
2000 155
2005 98
2010 126
2015 138
2020 195

Maps

Map:Cariboo Bethel Church, William Lake, BC


Author(s) Andrew Klager
Date Published May 2023

Cite This Article

MLA style

Klager, Andrew. "Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2023. Web. 10 Oct 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Cariboo_Bethel_Church_(Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=175630.

APA style

Klager, Andrew. (May 2023). Cariboo Bethel Church (Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 10 October 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Cariboo_Bethel_Church_(Williams_Lake,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=175630.




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