‘The loss is very real’: Island Gospel Fellowship’s sanctuary destroyed in fire
During the early hours of December 20, 2025, a fire was reported at the sanctuary of Island Gospel Fellowship (IGF), Burns Lake, B.C. By the time volunteers from the Fire and Rescue team arrived, the church sanctuary was completely engulfed in flames.
‘For such a time as this’
♪It was the last day of my children’s first week of school. Every morning, I walk with them to school and cry on the way back because I’ve discovered that crying warms your eyes, and you need all the warmth you can get when you’re walking in minus-forty degrees. That morning, I dropped the children off as usual and began the walk home. The tears came again, but this time they were not for warmth.
Family atmosphere a blessing at Prairie Rose
We continue to be blessed here at Prairie Rose. We have many long-time members and attendees in our congregation, and this contributes to a close, family atmosphere. We have welcomed a few new families and individuals into our midst in the last year or two which is encouraging.
ConneXion’s ‘mosaic’ shows beauty of diversity
We can behold the beauty of the mosaic that the Creator has crafted: people from Syria with their hijabs and accents rooted in their mother tongue (Kurdish), talking with people from Ukraine, searching in English for a common point to understand each other. At another table, we see someone from Kenya laughing during a chat with some Canadians and Brazilians.
A time of exciting changes
We held our pastor installation service on February 23, 2025, in front of family and friends who came out in support. Peter and Martha Doerksen came to bless the Unger family as they celebrated. Our church leadership continues to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit as we work to meet the needs of the people in our church and community.
Church faces challenges, but trusts God to lead
This past year has been a season of transition for our church family. When Pastor Norm Bueckert resigned in 2024, we once again found ourselves without a pastor. Though we continue to be without one, we’ve come together as a congregation—sharing responsibilities, supporting one another, and trusting God to lead us through this time of change.
Congregation inspired by stories of life change
On Sunday, September 28, it was a pleasure to have a group from Adult & Teen Challenge come to serve us. We enjoyed testimonies from a few of them. It was so wonderful to hear about the way their lives have been changed, and they gave reports about how their lives have been saved.
Service in Mexico brings together multiple generations
It has been over six months since the Kola EMC church sent a team of 14 participants to Guadalajara, Mexico, to serve with Israel and Sandra Chavez Plett. What was intended to be a youth trip turned into a multi-generational service team age 12 to 50-plus.
Stony Brook Fellowship adds pastoral position
We are so excited to have Andreas Warkentin join our staff at Stony Brook Fellowship (SBF) as our community life pastor in September 2025.
Much thanksgiving for building expansion
At Pansy Chapel, giving thanks for our new spaces has been an ongoing highlight of the year. It is indeed a precious thing to gather as one family (since February) instead of feeling fragmented by two services.
Blessed by arrival of interim pastoral couple
The first week of July is over and so is VBS. This is an annual event and once again we had many youngsters attending. On Friday evening we had a closing program with many parents and other family members present to listen to the wonderful message of what had been taught throughout the week.
Fun and meaning intermingles at church camp
The annual Kleefeld EMC church camp took place from May 30 to June 1, 2025, at Roseau River Bible Camp. Church families settled into camp cabins or set up their campers on the grounds in preparation for a weekend filled with fun things like zip lining, swimming, horseback riding, and more, interspersed with meaningful worship sessions, good fellowship, and delicious meals.
True North
This summer’s VBS at ACF focused on trusting Jesus, the only True North. With the help of various animal characters, relevant Bible truths were reinforced and the 67 attending children were immersed in life-changing faith formation activities.
From pulpit to paddle: Winnipeg pastor inspires faith-filled adventures
A Winnipeg pastor and adventure seeker is sharing some tips and tricks to have an ‘EPPic’ summer. As of April 1, 2025, Pastor Paul Epp stepped into his first lead pastor role at St. Vital EMC.
Roseisle celebrates pastor’s ordination and more
So much to celebrate in Roseisle: Ordination for Pastor Fernando, a growing Sunday school program and everything God is doing in our midst!
Region 1 leaders refreshed, renewed during retreat
The distance between Region 1 churches has always been a challenge. Recently we have met somewhat centrally in the Best Western Plus in the beautiful “Gateway to the Rockies” town of Hinton, Alta.
PBMC’s young adults go to Mexico
“Maybe we can get 10–12 people!” Those were the thoughts of Jonathan Neufeld and Pete Hiebert when they first began planning a mission trip for the young adults group at Picture Butte Mennonite Church (PBMC). An opportunity to volunteer at El Buen Samaritano (a seniors home) in Vicente Geurrero Baja California, Mexico, was presented to Jonathan in early 2024.
On the ministry calendar at Kola EMC
Some 200 ladies gathered in our new fellowship hall for food, singing and worship. The speakers shared how God had led them in and through difficult seasons of life.
Three young people join Kleefeld EMC
November 24, 2024 marked the day when two young men from our church family chose to publicly declare their desire for baptism and membership in the Kleefeld EMC.
Memories of spring and summer 2024
Spring sprang into action at Westpointe Community Church (WCC) in Grande Prairie with 18 of our youth, along with five leaders, heading to Merida, Mexico for a short-term mission experience.