The first Mennonite settlers in Mission were Johann Dueck, Peter Enns, David Lietz, and Peter Penner, who came in 1934-1937. Mennonites began services and formally organized in 1940 under the leadership of Abram J. Pankratz, their first pastor. They met in a small building on the Latter’s property on Ferndale Road and the church was named the United Mennonite Mission. In 1940 a meeting house seating 180 was built. The members in the 1950s were largely engaged in dairying, poultry raising, and berry culture.

Construction on the second sanctuary began in 1951 when the congregation outgrew the original building. The land was donated by John Friesen. It was slowly built upon so that no debt would be incurred. The work was completed in 1953. In 1965 Ed Goerzen was retained as the first salaried pastor. He oversaw the change from the German to the English language. This change opened the doors to the community. As a result the church soon took on a community feel. Not long after they saw the need to build a new church and a 700-seat sanctuary on the same property was constructed. It was dedicated in May 1979.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 32840 Janzen Ave., Mission, BC  V2V 2T5; located 1 1/2 miles north of downtown Mission, off Cedar St.

Phone: 604-826-2445

Website: http://www.cedarvalley.ca/

Denominational Affiliations:

Mennonite Church British Columbia (1940-present)

Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1940-2006)

General Conference Mennonite Church (1959-1999)

Cedar Valley Mennonite Church Leading Ministers

Minister	Years
Abram J. Pankratz	1940-1944
Jacob Nickel	1944-1946
Peter Froese	1947-1964
Ed Goerzen	1965-1976
Henry C. Born	1977-1979
George Janzen	1980-1990
Gary Loewen	1989-1992
Timothy Epp	1992-1994
Robert Cottrill	1995-1999
Waldy Klassen (interim)	1999-2000
Daniel Rempel	2000-present

Cedar Valley Mennonite Church Membership

Year	Members
1950	94
1965	114
1975	192
1985	250
1995	285
2000	185
2005	123

 

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page:

MLA style: Tilitsky, C. G., Andrew Klager and Hugo Friesen. "Cedar Valley Mennonite Church (Mission, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2006. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 20 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C45885.html>

APA style: Tilitsky, C. G., Andrew Klager and Hugo Friesen. (August 2006). "Cedar Valley Mennonite Church (Mission, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 20 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C45885.html>