April 27thBethel Mennonite Church Merging with NLCC
On Sunday, April 24, the congregation of Bethel Mennonite Church approved four motions which will result in the church withdrawing from Mennonite Church BC and merging with North Langley Community Church (NLCC), a BC Mennonite Brethren congregation.
This arrangement will facilitate a church plant by NLCC pastoral and program leadership at the Bethel church location. The building will be gifted to NLCC. Current Bethel membership will be welcomed as NLCC members.
We ask for prayers for the Bethel congregational community as they transition into a new denominational and organizational structure. May Jesus’ inspiration and assurance guide them on their journey of discipleship.
Bethel Mennonite Church Pastor Jon Reesor comments on the merger decision:
"In 2019, the congregation of Bethel discerned that God was calling us to pursue four specific Vision Statements, one of which was to 'think and act like a church plant.' In January of 2022, we learned that North Langley Community Church was planning to plant in the Aldergrove area, near where Bethel is located. The leadership of Bethel and NLCC had a series of conversations to see whether and how our churches could be a mutual blessing and soon thereafter presented the possibility of a merger between Bethel & NLCC to both congregations. There was a season of discernment and discussion culminating in a vote in favor from both churches. Key to this whole process has been the question, 'can we do more for the Kingdom of God together than we could apart?' and we believe the answer is yes! There will be much change and transition for us at Bethel as one chapter comes to a close and another one begins, and there will certainly be grief and loss. Despite that, we trust and believe that we will see amazing things happen for God's Kingdom as a result. We ask that you keep us in prayer, whenever we come to mind, so that we would see God's Kingdom come and His will be done in Aldergrove as it is in Heaven."