After the war in Indochina ended in 1975, an influx of refugees started to make the Fraser Valley their home.  In order to accommodate these refugees, Mabel Paetkau of the Mennonite Central Committee thought that it would be wise to extinguish any hint of competition for refugee members among congregations in Abbotsford.  A meeting was called, and an agreement was reached whereby the Christian Reformed would concentrate on Chinese refugees, the Mennonite Brethren would give special care for the Vietnamese and, with Bruno Epp as pastor, Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church decided to work with the Laotians.

Meanwhile, Sylang Kaneboodtra, himself a refugee who arrived in Canada under the sponsorship of someone from Vancouver Island, was a pastor and Bible school instructor looking for a position in his new country.  The Refugee Resettlement Centre, with whom he came in contact upon his arrival to Canada, was aware of the Laotian activity at Eben-Ezer, and soon Sylang became their spiritual leader in 1980 while using Eben-Ezer's facilities as a meeting place.  The congregation, composed of thirteen families, formally organized and met on 6 November 1983. 

The church became affiliated with Mennonite Church British Columbia in 1988.  The maturation and financial stability of the congregation is due largely in part to the shared support of Mennonite Church British Columbia and Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church.  The language of worship is Lao.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 2051 Windsor St., Abbotsford, BC   V2T 6L9

Phone: 604-855-9894

Lao Christian Church Membership

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