Faith Mennonite Church Logo

OUR HISTORY


"This congregation shall think of the church as a fellowship of believers who, when they meet together, gather with the living reigning Christ in their midst"... so said the founders of Faith church. The idea of a new Newton Mennonite church was prompted by the increasing size of Bethel College Mennonite and First Mennonite churches.

The first meeting was March 24, 1957 with 120 adults and 40 children. They met in Sister Frieda Chapel, the current home of a more recently formed New Creation Fellowship at 221 Muse St. By October 1957, they called Howard Nyce to be their first pastor.



Sister Frieda Chapel was the home of the new Faith Mennonite Church from March 24, 1957 until April 15, 1962 when the new building at Northridge & Anderson was dedicated. Sister Frieda



1959 Congregation Meeting Congregation meeting at Sister Frieda Chapel, summer of 1959



First pastor, Howard G. Nyce
1958 - 1961
Howard G. Nyce



John Guhr and John Thiessen John Guhr, a deacon, with John Thiessen, Interim Pastor,
Sept. 1961 - 1962



Early construction of the new Faith Mennonite Church, 1960 Faith Mennonite Church, 1960



Faith Mennonite Church, 1961 Construction progress, 1961



The cornerstone of the current building was laid in January 1962. Needing more educational space, the church built a house north across the street in 1966.

Additional space needs in 1980 led to the building of an educational wing extending south of the church.


Victor Sawatzky, Pastor
June 1962 - Dec. 1966		 Victor Sawatzky



Myron Schrag and Family Myron Schrag and family, pastor
1967 - July 1973



John Duerksen, Interim Pastor
July 1973 - 1974		 John Duerksen



Church with Educational Wing
Church with completed educational wing


New educational wing, constructed 1978 - 1980, was dedicated June 15, 1980 Education Wing Dedication



Leonard Wiebe and Family Leonard Wiebe, Pastor
Sept. 1974 - Sept. 1986, with family



Donovan Graber,
Youth & Assistant Pastor
1985 - Feb. 1992		 Donovan Graber



In 1987 the church was having two Sunday services, so decided to start a second congregation. Eighteen families became the nucleus of the current Shalom Mennonite Church.



Ed. R. Stucky, Interim Pastor
Nov. 1986 - Sept. 1987



Earl Sears Earl Sears, Pastor
Oct. 1987 - June 1997



Mike Regier, Youth & Assistant Pastor
March 1992 - August 1995		 Mike Regier



Louis Goertz, Interim Pastor
during Earl Sears' sabbatical
June - August 1994


Vicki Penner, Youth & Associate Pastor
August 1995 - July 2000		 Vicki Penner



James Dunn James Dunn, Interim Pastor
June 1997 - July 1998



Gordon Smith, Pastor
August 1998 - Present		 Gordon Smith



Alan Lepard Alan Lepard, Youth & Young Adult Pastor
May 2001 - May 2004



In 2002 the church approved a building project to include a ground-level multipurpose fellowship hall, kitchen, additional classrooms, and an elevator.

Lead Pastors have included:

  1. Howard Nyce '58-'61
  2. Victor Sawatzky '62-'66
  3. Myran Schrag '67-73
  4. Leonard Wiebe '74-'86
  5. Earl Sears '87-'97
  6. Gordon Smith '98-.


Home | Contact Info | About Us | Pastors / Staff | Our History | Worship | Programs / Activities

Printable Version of This Page