North Fraser Community Church (Lake Errock, British Columbia, Canada)
The North Fraser Community Church in Lake Errock, British Columbia (formerly known as Lake Errock Mennonite Brethren Church and later Lake Errock Community Church) had its beginnings in the 1950s when the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church began mission Sunday schools in Nicomen Island and in Deroche, both located in the area between Mission and Agassiz. It was later decided to amalgamate the two groups into one and begin meeting in Lake Errock. In 1960 property was purchased and in 1961 a building was completed. In 1963 the group organized as a Mennonite Brethren Church and was formally accepted into both the British Columbia (BC) and Canadian Mennonite Brethren conferences in 1964.
A decrease in membership during the 1970s and 1980s found the congregation in an increasingly difficult position of survival. A five-year program of visiting speakers eventually ended in 1983 when Helmut Schmidt became pastor. Over time membership in the congregation dropped from 28 members to 5 in 1994. In 1999 the Board of Extension of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches encouraged a restructuring and in early 2000 after a several interim pastors, Dan and Gladys Wolfe were called to serve, increasing membership to 7. In that year the congregation changed its name to North Fraser Community Church. Randy Heinrichs served from November 2002 to December 2003. Dan Wolfe remained in the church and stepped back into leadership in January-April 2004, when he fell ill with cancer. Larry Priebe provided leadership during the summer until Randy Heinrichs returned in fall 2004. Alec Niemi came and continued the restructuring in 2005.
In 2010 there were 27 members with an average attendance of 40.
In 2017 the church became a congregation of Central Community Church in Chilliwack and ceased to exist as an independent church.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (24 November 1961): 12.
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. "North Fraser Community Church." http://www.mbconf.ca/home/products_and_services/resources/published_genealogies/mb_provincial_conferences_and_church_congregation_records/british_columbia_archives/north_fraser_community_church_archives/ (accessed 10 November 2009).
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 15.
Archival Records
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Winnipeg, MB): Volume 369.
Additional Information
Address: 43745 Lougheed Highway, Box 62, Lake Errock BC V0M 1N0
Phone: 604-826-7488
Denominational Affiliations:
British Columbia Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches (1964-present)
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1964-present)
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1964-2002).
North Fraser Community Church Leading Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Arthur J. Isaac | 1962-1978 |
| Arnold Wiebe (interim) | 1980 |
| Helmut Schmidt | 1983-1999 |
| Paul J. Fast (interim) | 2000 |
| Dan Wolfe | 2000-2002 |
| Randy Heinrichs | 2002-2003 |
| Dan Wolfe | 2004 |
| Larry Priebe (interim) | 2004 |
| Randy Heinrichs | 2004-2005 |
| Alec Niemi | 2005-present |
North Fraser Community Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 28 |
| 1970 | 28 |
| 1975 | 23 |
| 1980 | 14 |
| 1985 | 16 |
| 1990 | 15 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2010 | 27 |
Maps
Map:North Fraser Community Church (Lake Errock, BC)
| Author(s) | Andrew Klager |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | November 2010 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Klager, Andrew and Richard D. Thiessen. "North Fraser Community Church (Lake Errock, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2010. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Fraser_Community_Church_(Lake_Errock,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=170936.
APA style
Klager, Andrew and Richard D. Thiessen. (November 2010). North Fraser Community Church (Lake Errock, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Fraser_Community_Church_(Lake_Errock,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=170936.
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