Historical Sketch: Wellspring Christian Fellowship*
Wellspring Christian Fellowship was founded by the Evangelism and Church Development Committee (ECDC) of the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia in 1992, with Gary & Ellie Loewen serving as the first pastoral couple. Within a short period of time, they were joined by Doug & Sandy Epp, who served as church planters in training for a year. Wellspring joined the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia in June 1993.
The church began with a core group of 8 couples and 13 children. Initially the group met in the facilities of Clearbrook Mennonite Church. Eventually it moved to Harry Sayers Elementary School, were it held its first public service on September 20, 1992.
The congregation saw itself as a “reproducing and relevant cell church.” The congregation used the cell church model as a church structure. The congregation was very intentional about developing to the point where they could plant another church. After several years, Mission was seen as a potential location as it was the location of one of its cell groups. Unfortunately, this group did not grow to the point where a church plant was possible in the area. Other geographical locations were also considered but not acted upon.
The congregation came off of their conference subsidy at the beginning of 1994, one year ahead of schedule. Gary Loewen resigned in fall 1995 and Alan Dyck, the first chairperson of the new church, was called to be the new pastor. He began serving in 1996. In 1997 the congregation began holding services on Saturday evening in the facilities of Clearbrook Mennonite Church. By 1999 the congregation had an average attendance of 100 with 9 adult and 3 youth cell groups.
Robin Mauthe joined the staff as youth and worship pastor in the fall of 2000. Jeff Wall replaced Alan Dyck as lead pastor in 2003 and was very intentional in teaching the cell church model. Attendance remained around 100. Young families and youth dominated the congregation, and the church had a contemporary worship style.
In 2004 the church wanted to begin an Alpha program. Initial plans were to hold this at Clearbrook Mennonite, but a scheduling conflict led to holding the program at West Abbotsford Mennonite Church. Wellspring members provided leadership to the program, while a few West Abbotsford members helped out. A year later Wellspring and West Abbotsford held a second Alpha program jointly, again in the facilities of West Abbotsford Mennonite Church.
By 2006 the congregation seriously began to make plans to begin a new church plant in the Abbotsford area, led by newly hired worship pastor Dan & Lynn Loewen, and supported in part by ECDC. By September 2006 Re-Think Café was started. Led by Dan Loewen, the café featured discussions on a variety of topics in local coffee shops in Abbotsford, and was an attempt to reach out to people attracted to an alternate style of “doing church.” The cafés met once a month and moved to meeting twice a month for a time.
At the start of 2008 the congregation was invited by West Abbotsford Mennonite Church to explore shared vision and ministry options. Eventually discussions focused on a merger of the two congregations. Joint services were held over several weekends in the spring and at the beginning of the summer, the Wellspring congregation voted overwhelmingly to merge.
In September 2008 the congregations, West Abbotsford Mennonite Church and Wellspring Christian Fellowship, united and began worshiping together. In November 2008 they chose the name Level Ground Mennonite Church. Members from the two congregations formally joined together and held their charter service for the new congregation on January 25, 2009 with 172 charter members.
Pastors & Years of Ministry
|
PASTOR |
YEARS |
|
Gary Loewen |
1992-1995 |
|
Alan Dyck |
1996-2003 |
|
Jeff Wall |
2003-2008 |
Membership
|
YEAR |
MEMBERS |
|
1975 |
24 |
|
1980 |
42 |
|
1985 |
39 |
|
1990 |
44 |
|
1995 |
39 |
|
2000 |
32 |