Congregation and Agency Milestones 2020
Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church - 10 years
The Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church began meeting in Kitchener, Ontario in September 2010. Since many in the congregation had been part of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, they became a provisional member to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada in April 2013. Under the leadership of Mesfin Woldearegay, they are a Bible believing and Bible proclaiming, Christ-centred church that seeks to faithfully proclaim God’s word, encouraging people to grow in their walk with him and to know more of his grace in their lives. Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church celebrates 10 years!
Shalom Worship and Healing Centre - 10 years
Shalom Worship and Healing Centre, Kitchener, Ontario, a Tigrinya-speaking Eritrean congregation became a provisional congregation in Mennonite Church Eastern Canada April 2016. The congregation had begun meeting about 2010, and moved to First Mennonite several years later. The congregation of 100 persons has received pastoral leadership from Jonathan Abraham. They want to reach not only Eritreans, but anyone in Canada who needs to hear the good news about Jesus and receive the healing of the Holy Spirit to live lives of discipleship. Shalom Worship and Healing Centre celebrates 10 years!
Hunta Mennonite Church - 50 years
Hunta, Ontario is a small hamlet in Northern Ontario located about 25 km west of Cochrane, Ontario. A first worship service was held 21 June 1970 with visiting minister Robert Miller, with a total of 39 in attendance. A number of pastors from southern Ontario have served the congregation. Sam Shantz’s ten years of service is the longest. Glen Carney, a lay leader in the congregation for many years, frequently helped with pulpit supply as needed. As the only Protestant church in the local area, Hunta Mennonite Church has always played an important spiritual role in the local Hunta/Frederickhouse community. They are planning a reunion weekend on August 1 & 2, 2020. Hunta Mennonite Church celebrates 50 years!
St. Catharines United Mennonite Church - 75 years
The St. Catharines United Mennonite Church traces its beginning to the early 1940s when more and more Mennonite families were moving to the city for economic reasons. The first worship service was in July 1942. On October 1944 the first membership list was drawn up. The language of worship was exclusively German in the beginning. Sunday School for children was in German, with the use of English to explain the lesson. Parallel English and German classes were started in 1958. Worshiping as a community of believers and studying the Bible to listen to what God is saying to the church today are very important. They state that the church is called by God to share the good news of Jesus in word and deed, showing others a glimpse of what life is like under God’s rule. St. Catharines United Mennonite Church celebrates 75 years!
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate - 75 years
A small school for a big world. Seventy-five years ago on February 15, 1945, delegates of the Mennonite Conference of Ontario (now Mennonite Church Eastern Canada – MCEC) approved the creation of a Mennonite high school in Kitchener. Rockway Mennonite Collegiate provides its students with an opportunity to grow and thrive through a comprehensive school curriculum that includes rigorous academics, character building athletics with fantastic coaching, a varied arts and music program that includes drama, vocal and orchestral opportunities and additionally highlights the importance of spiritual practice. As a Christian educational community within the Anabaptist Mennonite tradition, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate integrates sound academic learning with growth in character and faith, together with a passion for peacemaking and service to God and all creation. Rockway Mennonite Collegiate celerates 75 years!
Mennonite Central Committee - 100 years
Since 1920, MCC has worked with the church, partner organizations and supporters. Started in 1920, gathering food, clothing and money to send to thousands of families affected by war and famine in southern Russia (present-day Ukraine). In the decades since then, MCC has grown and continued to do this work all over the world. MCC is a global, non-profit organization that strives to share God’s love and compassion through relief, development and peacebuilding. As an Anabaptist organization, they strive to make peace a part of everything they do. When responding to disasters they work with local groups to distribute resources to minimize conflict. MCC celebrates 100 years!
Women of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada - Concluded Ministry
The Ontario Women in Mission (OWM) (based in the United Mennonite Conference) and the Women’s Mission and Service Commission (WMSC) (based in the Mennonite Conference of Ontario & Quebec and the Western Ontario Mennonite Conference) merged in 1995 to form the Women of MCEC (WMCEC). They have now dissolved their official structure as of December 31, 2019. Through the discussion and discernment of the group, it became evident that there was a deep desire to see the continuation of some form of women’s ministry emphasis in eastern Canada. A working group will discern the way forward.
