College Drive Community Church, Lethbridge, Alberta Source: Centre for MB Studies, Winnipeg, MB

The College Drive Community Church (originally Community Fellowship) began worship services on 4 February 1979 with approximately 100 persons in attendance. A charter service of 64 members was held in March and in June the congregation was officially accepted into the Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, followed by acceptance into the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in July. Most of the early members came from the Lakeview Mennonite Brethren Church where Henry Unrau was pastor and where serious tensions had developed. Unrau served as interim pastor of the new group for the first six months.

Worship services were originally held in the facilities of the Church of God, which soon proved to be inadequate. For the next year worship services were held in the Agnes Davidson School, followed by another move to the vacated premises of the Lethbridge Pentecostal Assemblies.  A fire in on 9 April 1981, destroyed the premises. Reluctantly the congregation moved to the Wilson Junior High School. Significant growth allowed the congregation to acquire a 7½ -acre plot and begin phase one of the construction of a sanctuary in April 1983 with completion by March 1984. In 1988 phase two, consisting of a two-story education wing, was completed.

College Drive Community Church initially placed a strong emphasis on lay leadership and home Bible studies. In 1987 the congregation decided to adopt a structure consisting of a Board of Elders with each elder in charge of a care group. The congregation also developed a strong Sunday school program and boys and girls clubs. Music also played a significant role in the worship services.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 2710 College Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 6K5 

Phone: 403-320-1652

Website: College Drive Community Church

Denominational Affiliations:

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches 

Pastoral Leaders at College Drive Community Church

Members at College Drive Community Church

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