A Century of Ministry in Manitoba

Rev. Peter van Vliet preached from the Gospel of Matthew to the small group gathered in an old blacksmith's shop for a church service that day 100 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The pastor spoke about the need for the new church to build itself upon the Word of God.

"A warning was given not to build on the sand of our idea but on the rock, Christ. Christ, then, became the foundation rock on which our church was built," says a recently completed book that details 100 years of Christian Reformed Church in North America ministry in Manitoba.

"After the service, the president opened the discussion about the request to be considered whether to join in fellowship with the Christian Reformed Church. The motion was made by an elder and accepted by all."

This was only the third CRC congregation to be established in Canada.

The new book is titled "Living and Worshiping in Hope: Reflections on the Centennial of the Christian Reformed Church in Winnipeg." It includes many photos, first-person reflections, and historical overviews of the handful of churches and various ministries founded by the CRC in Manitoba, Canada over the last century.

The Centennial Celebration was Nov. 7- 9 in Winnipeg The weekend included a chance for people to view and discuss a display of photographs, games, a banquet, and combined worship service held in Covenant CRC . James Schaap, novelist and author and professor of literature at Dordt College spoke at the banquet and the Sunday afternoon joint service.

"The Christian Reformed Church in Winnipeg started as an ethnic enclave providing ministry to Dutch members. It has moved from that... it reaches out to disabled people, aboriginal people, and it wants to be a good neighbour in Winnipeg," Rev. Bruce Adema, Director of Canadian Ministries for the CRC, told the local newspaper in Winnipeg that did a story on the 100-year-history.

Several churches and ministries, including a Christian school, have emerged out of that first service in the blacksmith's shop. Many of these ministries have been funded by the CRC.

One ministry in Winnipeg is Hope Centre, which was begun in 1972 by Christian Reformed congregations to meet the needs of people on the north end of town.

The centre has now evolved into distinct ministries, ranging from a church to health clinic, and from a food bank to various services to the physically challenged and a community garden.

"Our aim is to support individuals in their spiritual walk, to celebrate their gifts and to encourage them to be part of the faith community," says Margaret Jongsma in the book. She moved to Winnipeg 20 years ago to work at one of Hope Centre's ministries.

The Indian Family Centre was founded in 1974. Still operational today, the centre "seeks to be a Christian Healing Community which honors and respects Aboriginal understanding of life with its gifts expressed through culture, teachings, governance structures, and other aspects of life," says the book.

For more information about the history project, visit www.covenantcrc.ca.