Brussels Mennonite Fellowship (Brussels, Ontario, Canada)
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship originated from the dreams and hard work of certain members of the Listowel Mennonite Church to plant a church in Brussels.
By the fall of 1979 planning began in earnest. Brian Laverty, pastor at Listowel, helped to coordinate these early meetings. The first church service was held in Brussels in January 1980, under the leadership of Pastor Laverty. Five families made up this early congregation - Elwin and Linda Garland, Howard and Alice Martin and family, John and Mary Baan and family, Lorne and Marion Wideman, and Ross and Anne Hemingway and family.
Services continued in rented facilities until 1981 when a house was purchased and renovated. In 1984 the congregation added a chapel, basement rooms and fellowship hall. A gymnasium, kitchen and pastor's study were built in 1987. In 1995-96 the church closed in an existing porch for an office and meeting room.
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship has mainained many programs over the years, including Sunday school for all ages, a youth group, Kids' Corner (Vacation Bible School in conjunction with other churches), Foodgrains Bank participation, a ladies fellowship, small groups, a community thrift shop run together with other churches, and weekly prayer meetings. Brussels tries to be ecumenical with its Kids' Corner (VBS), occasional joint services, and meetings with pastors from churches of other denominations.
The pastoral leaders at BMF have worked with the pastoral care (eldering) team and church council.
BMF leans toward a casual worship style. Extensive congregational participation in worship services is the norm, as is the children's story time, and through a sharing time for joys and concerns for the congregational prayer.
Bibliography
Mennonite Reporter (21 January 1980): 9; (3 March 1980): 13; (5 April 1982): 13; (28 May 1984): 14; (27 July 1987): 15; (5 February 1996): 13.
Zehr, Douglas J. Catching a Vision : the First Ten Years of Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. Brussels, ON : The Church, 1990.
Church records at Mennonite Archives of Ontario and with the congregation.
Additional Information
Address: 250 Princess Street, Brussels, Ontario
Phone: 519-887-6388
Website: Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Denominational Affiliations:
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Pastoral Leaders
| Minister | Service |
|---|---|
| Brian Laverty | 1979-1980 |
| Doug Zehr | 1980-1990 |
| Gordon Bauman (Interim) | 1990-1991 |
| Tom Warner | 1991-1995 |
| Ben Wiebe | 1997-1999 |
| Art Byer (Interim) | 2001 |
| Brent Kipfer | 2001-2012 |
| Jim Whitehead (Interim) | 2012-2014 |
| Ken Gazley | 2014-2023 |
| Elwin Garland (Interim Supply) | 2024- |
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 28 |
| 1986 | 52 |
| 1991 | 84 |
| 1996 | 91 |
| 2001 | 65 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2020 | 42 |
Maps
Map:Brussels Mennonite Church (Brussels, Ontario)
| Author(s) | Linda Campbell |
|---|---|
| Date Published | October 2003 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Campbell, Linda. "Brussels Mennonite Fellowship (Brussels, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2003. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brussels_Mennonite_Fellowship_(Brussels,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=178299.
APA style
Campbell, Linda. (October 2003). Brussels Mennonite Fellowship (Brussels, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brussels_Mennonite_Fellowship_(Brussels,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=178299.
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