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Winfield, B.C.
Orchard Valley Church holds opening


Orchard Valley Church, the new Mennonite Brethren church plant in Winfield by the B.C. MB Conference Board of Church Extension, held its opening service Oct. 17.

In attendance were 106 people, including people from the community and from two MB churches in Kelowna, B.C.

The Church meets in a former elementary school that was converted into a community centre; the church is able to use some classrooms for a nursery and its Kidzone children’s ministry.

The theme for the opening was “New beginnings” based on II Corinthians 5:17. Pastor Steven Pahl used a video clip from his son’s birth as a springboard for his message. Special music was given by the 20 children who make up the core of the Kidzone ministry, led by Bruce and Terri Elwood. Elwood is also associate director for Canadian MB Conference Board of Evangelism. The worship part of the service was facilitated by the use of multimedia.

James Nikkel, executive director of B.C. Board of Church Extension, said a few words and declared the the church open with a cake cutting, signifying that the opening of a church was much like a ‘birthday” celebration.

Other guests at the hour-long service were the director and two board members of the Woodsdale Community Centre.

The church, which met through the summer in Winfield Community Church, has been receiving help from Willow Park MB and Garden Valley Community churches in Kelowna. During the summer Sunday evening worship times, Orchard Valley Church averaged between 30 and 40 people, and since then has built up a core group of about 50 people.

About 13,000 people live in Winfield, and the church hopes to target young families in the community. During the first five Sundays, the church has average about 90 people in attendance, representing various age groups.

Steven and Angela Pahl, along with their two children, Sarah and Michael, started their assignment July 1, after serving seven years in student ministries at a church in Medicine Hat, Alta. Steven has also interned at Forest Grove Community Church in Saskatoon. He is a graduate of Bethany Bible Institute and has a B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan.  – PW

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Last modified December 10, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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