The Assiniboia Alliance Church cele颅brated it鈥檚 75th anniversary with an ex颅tended worship and thanksgiving service on October 30, which was followed by a fellowship luncheon.
The guest speaker was Rev. Dr. Doug (Glendyne) Gerrard, former midwest dis颅trict superintendent, now executive vice president of the C&MA Canada. Gerrard began his message listing 75 actions and events of faith by this congregation over the years in response to the love of God.
Special guests in attendance included: Rev. Al and Joan Fedorak, the Canadian midwest district superintendent; Rev. Norman and Shirley Morris, pastor of the church, 1968 and 1973; Rev. Lawrence and Ruth Hahn, pastor of the church, 1984-1992; and Rev Professor Travis and Daniel Johnston, associate pastor 2008-2015 and now instructor at Millar College of the Bible.
Three worship packages highlighted three different eras of worship in song. The service included a children鈥檚 feature: 鈥淲here are They Now鈥�, which was about people who have grown up in the church and how the church was formative in their spiritual journey as a child and youth.
Pastor Greg Dermody, senior pastor since 1999, gave a rundown of the church history from Vacation Bible School from 1941 to 2016. A history booklet was avail颅able to those attending and there were slide shows of pictures throughout the years. Rev. Fedorak, Pastor Dermody and Professor Travis signed an Acts 1:8 Seam颅less Link agreement which is an ongoing partnership with Johnston in this new min颅istry. The children came up the front to sing 鈥淛esus Loves Me鈥�.
Pastor Dermody and the elders gave a charge toward the next 25 years, focus颅ing on our great opportunity to show the children and young people the way of faith and the calling of God to ministry for all believers. The elders led a prayer of dedi颅cation for the next 25 years.
Harvey Mayell, founding member and member of the first executive board, cut the anniversary cake for the fellowship luncheon, catered by Rita Walters. Decor颅ations included a time-line of the life of the church with pastors, buildings, and ministries highlighted.
Some significant Christian and Mis颅sionary Alliance workers from this con颅gregation and area included: Eugene Kelly, Connie (Johnson) Healey, Curtis Passmore, Graham Knox, Cheryl (Wil颅son) Pagarigan, Brad & Jackie (Willer) Williams, Jennifer (Dietrich) Holtslander, Dwight Greiner, Amy (Archer) Walgreen, Wayne Berg, Marion (Greiner) Shellrude.
The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada consists of 437 churches across the country. The C&MA was founded by a Canadian, Albert Benjamin Simpson, in New York in 1887. The first Canadian church was founded in Toronto the same year. As of 2014 the Alliance has 20,282 churches, unorganized church groups and preaching points across the globe. The Alliance has a focus on the deeper life in Christ and taking the gospel to the difficult and least-reached places of the world.
This rural, small church and its faith颅ful people bringing their message about the Kingdom of God has impacted people across the globe. There have been difficult times, significant issues and trials.
There have also been times of great growth and response as people have fol颅lowed Jesus Christ. From generation to generation the Lord is praised. It is the congregation鈥檚 fervent hope and prayer that God will raise up a new generation of servants to embrace the gospel.
