Gospel Fellowship Church (Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Box 758, Highway 310 N., Foam Lake, SK, S0A 1A0. (306) 272-3762. Located at McIntosh St. and Robertsen Ave. Pastor Dennis Friesen served in 2001 as a congregational leader. In 1950 there were 23 members; in 1965, 30; in 1985, 30; in 1995, 50; in 2000, 54. The congregation has been affiliated with the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1939-) and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1950s.
The congregation began services in 1937, and formally organized in 1938. The first services were held in the Bertdale Hall, north-west of town. In 1940 twenty-two persons were baptized and added to the church. The first building was occupied in 1945, with a subsequent building program in 1992/93. Nick Janz is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union.
During the 1960s the General Conference Mennonite Church closed and its members joined the Mennonite Brethren Church.
Pastors have been Nick Janz (1938-?), David Thiessen, Henry Regehr, Peter Penner, George Petkau, Alvin Penner (1953-1956), J.H. Kehler (1956-1961), Gerhard Reimer (1961-1966), Peter Willms (1966-1968), Frank Froese (1968-1974), John Siemens (1974-1979), Daniel Stobbe (1980-1986), Art Isaac (1987-1993) and Dennis Friesen (1994-).
The group became known as Gospel Fellowship Church in 1979. It was first known as the Foam Lake Mennonite Brethren Church.
Bibliography
Mennonite Encyclopedia, "Foam Lake."
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 67; (16 September 1988): 22; (5 February 1993): 21; (6 August 1993): 21.
Penner, Peter. No Longer at Arm's Length: Mennonite Brethren Church Planting in Canada. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1975: 126-127.
Gospel Fellowship Church collection at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Additional Information
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To cite this page:
MLA style: Epp, Marlene. "Gospel Fellowship Church (Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 1986. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/G6812.html>
APA style: Epp, Marlene. (August 1986). "Gospel Fellowship Church (Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/G6812.html>
