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Waterloo, Ont.
Waterloo MB Church marks milestone; holds commissioning


“Celebration” was the byword for Waterloo (Ont.) Mennonite Brethren Church on November 5. The congregation of 1200 plus gathered at Bingeman Park Ballroom to mark three occasions: the 40th anniversary of a mission Sunday school at the church; the commissioning of three recently appointed pastors; and the commissioning of its church plant, The Dwelling Place.

Some of the charter members of Waterloo MB Church: (back, l-r) Vic Hiebert, Howard Shuh, Fred Pfisterer, Loreen Ens, Walter Ens, Helmut Mathies, Arnold Baerg, Ann Baerg, David Martens, Marv Musselman; (middle) Elenore Rogalsky, Alyce Hiebert, Tim White, Eileen White, Nell Mathies, Glenna Musselman; (front) Paul Rogalsky, Katy Shuh, Helen Pfisterer and Alice Martens.

History

Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Sunday School, a mission endeavour of Kitchener MB Church and spearheaded by Vic Hiebert, began November 13, 1960 with five students. Enrollment had increased to 12 students by March 1961 and then climbed to 19 that fall. A monthly family worship service also began that year. By the next fall, enrollment in the mission Sunday school had increased to 25 students. In 1966, Kitchener MB Church arranged for the Waterloo congregation to be independent. Waterloo MB Church officially began January 1, 1967 with 43 charter members. Frank C. Peters conducted the organizational meeting on January 8, assisted by Henry H. Dueck. The motto chosen by the Waterloo congregation was John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Commissioning

At the celebration service, Henry Wiebe, moderator of the Ontario MB Conference, conducted the commissioning service for David Macfarlane as senior pastor, Jen Brazeau as pastor of student ministries and Vicki Grassick as pastor of children’s ministries. Wiebe gave the charge to the pastors and the congregation and led in a prayer of dedication.

Macfarlane then conducted the commissioning of The Dwelling Place, which is under the leadership of K.J. Weinberger. Macfarlane challenged the audience with his message based on Hebrews 11, “Godly Past – Great Future”.

 – from reports submitted by Nell E. Mathies and Alyce Hiebert, for Waterloo MB Church

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Last modified January 31, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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