North Battleford Mennonite Brethren Church (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada)

The North Battleford Mennonite Brethren Church, located in northern Saskatchewan, was a member of the Canadian Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches, Rosthern District. In 1960 Saskatchewan M.B. Missions placed Arno C. Fast in North Battleford as a church planter. The first meetings were in Oddfellow's Hall and in various public schools. A church building was begun in 1963 when the church was recognized and subsidized by the Canadian M.B. Conference. As a result of evangelistic services, Sunday school, clubs, and Vacation Bible School, the church grew and in 1973 became self-supporting. Henry Janzen, during his years at North Battleford, pastored both the Mennonite Brethren and the General Conference churches and cross-denominational fellowship groups were begun for a short time. Cliff Derksen, who followed Janzen, gave priority to youth work and children's ministries. After 1982, with the coming of John Block, emphasis changed to adult caring groups, Bible studies, and a Neighbourhood Awareness Program in which the pastor and members of the congregation surveyed blocks near the church to acquaint them with the church.

In 1965 there were 14 members; in 1975, 40; in 1985, 40. It was affiliated with the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1964-89) and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The language of worship was English.

Pastors in the church were: Arno Fast (1960-1969), Henry Janzen (1969-1974), Cliff Derksen (1975-1980) and John I. Block (1981-1989). Waldo Berg was interim pastor while John Block was away on study leave in 1988. The church closed in 1989 when many families moved away and John Block resigned in order to attend the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno.

The congregation was located at 1602-103rd St., North Battleford, SK.

Bibliography

Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 71; (8 December 1989): 16.

Toews, John A. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. 1975: 164. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfTheMennoniteBrethrenChurch.

Penner, Peter. No Longer at Arms Length: Mennonite Brethren Church Planting in Canada. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1987, 178 pp. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/stream/NoLongerAtArmsLengthMBChurchPlantingInCanadaOCRopt?ref=ol#mode/2up.

Willems, Frank . "A History of the North Battleford Mennonite Brethren Church." 16 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.

Archives at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.

Author(s)	Sam Steiner
Date Published	August 2002

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Sam. "North Battleford Mennonite Brethren Church (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2002. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Battleford_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(North_Battleford,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=163577.

APA style

Steiner, Sam. (August 2002). North Battleford Mennonite Brethren Church (North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=North_Battleford_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(North_Battleford,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=163577.

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