Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)
The Armstrong Bible Chapel began in 1976 when Hank and Alice Wiebe purchased a vacant church building. In August of that year, four families began holding Sunday school classes, and shortly after, Sunday morning services. They brought in guest speakers and had local men provide pulpit ministry as well until Jake Balzer was appointed to be their first pastor. The Balzer family began their ministry at the church in August 1977. The church became affiliated with the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in June 1979.
Around this time, the Chapel’s sanctuary seated approximately 100 people, but it was not long before church leaders recognized the need for expansion. In spring of 1978, with the help of the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Chapel purchased additional land and began plans for construction. The new building did not come soon enough. In February of 1980, the original church building was so crowded that the group moved into a local school gym, which was used until construction of the new building was complete. By around 1985, the congregation consisted of 30 family units with Sunday morning attendance ranging from 95 to 110 people.
Bibliography
Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. "Armstrong Bible Chapel." Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches: Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. http://www.mbconf.ca/home/products_and_services/resources/published_genealogies/mb_provincial_conferences_and_church_congregation_records/british_columbia_archives/armstrong_bible_chapel_archives/ (accessed 15 March 2009).
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 31.
Additional Information
Address: 2145 Rosedale Avenue, Armstrong, BC V0E 1B1
Phone: 250- 546-9696
Denominational Affiliations:
British Columbia Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches (1979-present)
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1979-present)
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1979-2002)
Armstrong Bible Chapel Leading Ministers
| Minister |
Years |
|---|---|
| Hank Wiebe |
1976-1977 |
| Jake Balzer |
1977-1982 |
| Neil Klassen |
1983-1986 |
| P. R. Toews (interim) |
1987 |
| Ted Horton |
1987-1990 |
| John Balzer |
1991-1997 |
| Greg Schmidt |
1998-2006 |
| Ken Dueck |
2007-present |
Armstrong Bible Chapel Membership
| Year |
Members |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 83 |
| 1993 |
44 |
| 2000 |
68 |
| 2006 | 101 |
©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Thiessen, Richard D. "Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2009. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 04 July 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A76.html>
APA style: Thiessen, Richard D. (March 2009). "Armstrong Bible Chapel (Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 04 July 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A76.html>
