Nechako Community Church (Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada)
Eight Vanderhoof families met in the winter of 1983 to discuss the possibility of establishing a new church in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. After identifying a specific need in the community to reach out to those who had become disillusioned with the church, these eight families extended a formal request to the Board of Church Extension of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, asking for help with the process. From the beginning, the executive secretary, Nick Dyck, and the board chairman, Paul Fast, assisted in developing this ministry in Vanderhoof.
After an initial visit, John Hiebert was asked by the congregation if he would accept the call of becoming the church's first pastor, which he did. John and his family arrived in Vanderhoof just in time for the church's first baptismal service near the end of July 1983. The congregation joined the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in 1984.
Initially, Nechako Community Church met at Evelyn Dickson Elementary School. In 1984, when weekly attendance numbers seemed to indicate that a building of their own would soon be required, the congregation purchased some land. However, it was not until 3 December 1989 that the congregation occupied their first building. In 1995, the church hired an associate pastor to oversee family ministries, evangelism and discipleship.
Bibliography
"About Nechako Community Church." Nechako Community Church website [http://www.nechakocommunity.com//about.html
Federau, Denis. "Update on Nechako Community Church." Personal e-mail (16 November 2013).
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 28; (9 February 1990): 20; (16 July 1993): 18.
Reimer, Hugo. "Nechako Community Church." Personal e-mail (24 July 2007).
Additional Information
Mailing Address: Box 1279, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0
Location: 1393 East Highway 16, Vanderhoof, BC
Phone: 604-567-4960
Website: Nechako Community Church
Denominational Affiliations:
http://www.bcmb.org/ British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches] (1984-present)
http://www.mennonitebrethren.ca/ Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches] (1984-present)
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1984-2002)
Nechako Community Church Leading Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| John Hiebert | 1983-1990 |
| Hugo Reimer | 1990-2008 |
| Len Harms (interim) | 2008-2009 |
| Johnny Thiessen | 2010-2012 |
| Denis Federau | 2013-2016 |
| Edwin Drewlo (transitional) | 2016-2018 |
| Ryan van Kuik | 2018-present |
Nechako Community Church Membership
| Year | Members | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 16 | |
| 1985 | 27 | |
| 1990 | 33 | |
| 1998 | 86 | |
| 2002 | 118 | |
| 2005 | 90 | |
| 2010 | 80 | 150 |
| 2015 | 86 | 130 |
| 2020 | 48 | 100 |
Maps
Map:Nechako Community Church, Vanderhoof, British Columbia
| Author(s) | Andrew Klager |
|---|---|
| Date Published | May 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Klager, Andrew. "Nechako Community Church (Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2023. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nechako_Community_Church_(Vanderhoof,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=175741.
APA style
Klager, Andrew. (May 2023). Nechako Community Church (Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nechako_Community_Church_(Vanderhoof,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=175741.
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