|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1927:
In early spring of this year, two young men from the newly organized
Pentecostal Bible College in Winnipeg, introduced the Robinson family of
Lloydminster to Pentecost (parents of Sarah Ball, who later would pastor the
church with her husband, Rev. W. F.
Ball). With Wesley O'Brien at the
organ and Gordon Atter speaking about the move of the Holy Spirit, the presence
of the Lord became very real in services held in private homes, in a tiny room
over an old bakery, in a small band
hall, and in an uncompleted funeral parlor. 1928:
In early spring, Saskatchewan District Superintendent Walter McAlister,
along with Pastor and Mrs. Alfred Scratch from Cutknife, and Mervold Jackson of
Spruce Lake, erected a small gospel tent on the edge of an oat field, which
today is 47th Street and 54th Avenue. The
workers in charge, Miss Nellie Hendrickson (who later became a missionary to
Kenya) and Miss Ivy Sparks saw victories won in the Lord's name. 1929-1930:
At this time Miss Hilda Volens and Pastor and Mrs. Tom
Kennedy gave leadership to the Pentecostal believers. 1931:
Rev. Wilbert Greenwood
pastored the Pentecostal group for $5.00 a month, living in a tent with wood
flooring and eating a lot of cracked wheat with milk and sugar. 1947-1951:
Samuel and Mrs. Peregrym along with 7 sons and 3
daughters, moved from Beaverdam, AB to a farm west of Lloydminster.
Samuel Peregrym began having Ukrainian Pentecostal meetings in the home
of Nick Kutney. Later an apostolic brother and his wife, Fred and Mrs.
Shorland moved to Lloydminster and joined in on the meetings. As more English-speaking Pentecostals began to attend, the
gatherings developed into 2 language services.
Samuel Peregrym invited Rev. Bill
Melnychuck, Superintendent of the Western Slavic Conference to a gathering, and
it was decided that a church should be built. 1952:
A parcel of land along 50th Avenue
on the north Alberta side of Lloydminster was purchased from Ray Nelson.
Construction began as Samuel Peregrym and sons Peter, Bill, and Steve
went working in a logging camp to obtain material for a new church building. 1954:
On the third Sunday in March, the Pentecostal Tabernacle in Lloydminster
held its first dedication service, with many Pentecostal believers attending
from other churches in Alberta. 1955-1958:
Samuel Peregrym turned the ministry over to Rev.
Peter Kerychuk, who was able to preach in English as well as Ukrainian.
Quarterly business meetings were changed over to bi-annual meetings. 1958:
The first church board consisted of Emie Hamre, Metro Fedow, Lloyd Hess,
Fred Shorland, Peter Peregrym, Bill Peregrym and Pastor Kerychuk.
Church secretary-treasurer was Joan Peregrym.
Women's Missionary Circle President was Mrs. Hess with Mrs. Kerychuk as
assistant and Joan Peregrym as secretary-treasurer.
Though Steve had previously married the year before; during the fall and
spring of 1958-1959, three Peregrym children were wed: Peter to Darlene, Helen
to Mike Kashuba, and Bill to Lorraine. 1958-1963:
During this period, Rev. and Mrs. W. F. Ball were
brought in to pastor since they could stay with relatives, thus allowing the
parsonage to be rented out to pay church debts. By end of 1961 all outstanding bills were paid except for a
PAOC loan. Pastor Ball's salary was
raised from $125 to $150 per month. It
was through this time of ministry that many young couples had baby dedications.
And the church grew. 1963-1971: With
the arrival of Pastor Mike and Jesse Wall and sons Calvin and Wesley, the work
took on a family type of ministry. Since
E. L. and Norma Sunderland lived near Paradise Valley with their 5 sons Myron,
Wilfred, Delmar, Dennis, Eldon, and one daughter Myrna, soon there were 2 weekly
bible studies. Tuesday night in
Lloydminster and Thursday night at the Sunderland farm.
Friday night became youth and family night.
The MeRae, Stellmacher, Lane and Hendricks children along with others,
became Uncle Mike's children's choir. Pastor
Mike Wall suggested a mortgage burning ceremony at the 10 year anniversary March
1, 1964. All the congregation were
in favor. 1972-1978:
During this period of church history, the work again
took on a change. On March 20, 1972
the congregation made the choice to move from the Western Slavic branch of PAOC
to the Alberta and Northwest Territories District of PAOC.
Also on October 11, 1973 the church became registered with the Alberta
government as Pentecostal Tabernacle Lloydminster.
Under the ministry of Rev. George
and Linda Richmond, the assembly moved into a new church building program. Two cattlemen families from Marsden area, Harold and Roy
Biensch, joined the fellowship at this time and became very much involved in the
new building work. On April 7, 1974
the membership had a second building dedication.
This time the location was on the south end of the city adjacent to a
yellow canola field, which today is 5 1 01
3 1 " Street. From this time
forward, baptism services could be conducted in the sanctuary.
With these new facilities complete with a sound system, a youth band was
formed. Through efforts of two
brethren, Peter Peregrym and Brian Kilback, additional property was obtained for
future growth. 1978-1980:
Through this short tenure of Pastor Ken and Mrs. Smith,
a dial-a-meditation telephone ministry developed. From the sale of the old church manse, funds were made
available to pay off the new church loan. The
congregation was now more able to direct their resources toward church ministry.
Since other Pentecostal works were developing within the city, the
assembly chose the name Living Faith Pentecostal Tabernacle Lloydminster. 1981-1986:
Pastor Angus and Hilda McCIain, together with their
Pastor son Stuart as assistant, led the congregation into a close, strong and
hard working group of believers. It
was during these 6 years that a 3-bus ministry reached out to children
throughout the city. A men's
fellowship developed and the work grew into a labour of love. 1987-1989:
Pastor Bob and Mrs.
Osbome, along with assistant Pastor Paul Burke, carried on a short
ministry at Living Faith. It was a
time of strong pulpit ministry. Through youth work, the drama ministry of Heaven's
Gates and Hell's Flames made an impact within the community. 1990-1993:
Pastors Jack and Joanne Wright came on staff to provide
a husband and wife evangelistic style of ministry.
Also during these years, Cliff and Cherith Quist, with their son Shane
and daughters Jill and Leslie, ministered anointed gospel music in the services.
Often other members of the Quist family would join in with the band.
Outsiders would come and join in because of the type of ministry in the
services. Oct
1993-Mar 1994: Pastor
AI Werbiski from Vegreville provided interim ministry to the congregation until
new pastors could be acquired. On
weekends, Jeff and Chontelle Butters would journey out from Northwest Bible
College in Edrnonton to provide ministry for the church youth. 1994-Present:
By Divine appointment and church choice, two pastor
families provide ministry at Living Faith Lloydminster.
Fresh from Bible college studies and with zeal to win souls for Jesus,
these two families along with the other families of this assembly, have a mind
to work for the Lord. Pastor Tim and Lucy Acey with their 2 sons and daughter,
originally provided ministry in the Arctic before entering college and coming to
Lloydminster. Pastor Jeff and
Chontelle Butters with their son and daughter, having both had Bible college
training, now carry on a ministry to the youth of this assembly and the youth of
this city, Pastor Caroline Morgan also assists in this youth and young adult
ministry. Special mention has to be made of the women of this
assembly who have laboured and ministered, and are ministering in the Lord to
this area and this generation. Some
have been in the forefront and some have been behind the scenes.
The Lord knows. Today along with other Pentecostal works, there is a
PAOC sister church on the Saskatchewan side of Lloydniinster known as Lloyd
Gospel Fellowship. Until
Jesus comes, there is a Living Faith in Lloydminster!
|
|
|
