Canada Conference Celebrates 100 Years of Ministry

WINNIPEG, MB (April 30, 2004) - The dedication of a new book about the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada highlighted Thursday night's opening worship service as part of this year's annual meeting of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Nearly 200 delegates, leaders and friends met at Faith Covenant Church to celebrate the conference's 100th anniversary. The annual meeting theme is "Giving Thanks And Going Forward." Thursday's worship service provided an opportunity to thank God for the many people who have gone on before them. Conference Supt. Jeff Anderson praised God and the many early pioneer leaders and pastors who are documented in the recently published One Hundred Years: The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada, edited by longtime Canada Conference pastor and former superintendent Keith Fullerton.

Using Psalm 78 as a text, Anderson introduced the 100th anniversary book to the audience, praising both Keith and Viola "Vi" Fullerton for their faithfulness in editing the publication. Neil Josephson, president of Covenant Bible College, prayed that the book will bless the next generations of Covenanters, also giving thanks to the Fullertons for being "a living legacy of faith" to the local church in Canada.

Faith Covenant Church pastor Gerald Froese, former Canada Conference superintendent Gerald Stenberg and Evangeline "Vangie" Dennis also participated in Thursday's opening service. Dennis, who eventually became a Covenant missionary to Congo with her husband, Vern, shared her testimony and told of the love and faith of her father, D.N. Ericson.

Ericson was a key figure in the Canada Conference, serving as a pastor and superintendent. Dennis mentioned the work of her father as he taught six-week Bible institute classes to young people in various areas. His efforts more than 60 years ago helped the conference establish Covenant Bible Institute, which has since become Covenant Bible College. She said that her father's steadfast faith during a time of theological controversy during his four years as superintendent also had a deep effect on her faith journey.

Anderson preached from Luke 22 and Hebrews 12, reminding his audience that throughout the changing times in the conference, the Christ of the cross remains the same - the ONE thing that always reminds us of life's ultimate meaning. "What I want to say to our congregations is that as important as it is to connect with society, it means nothing without the cross," Anderson said. " . . . It all goes back to the tree of the cross. That's how we can celebrate and that's how we can go forward . . . and I believe the church is called to sacrifice because of the cross."

Later, Anderson used the example of the rapid growth of the Anglican Church in the Sudan as he encouraged others to hope in the cross. He also referenced an earlier skit portraying Mary "Grandma" Schenk , a Sunday school teacher in an early conference church who wanted her students to find Jesus. He expressed optimism that churches will find a similar undying hope as they continue their faithful ministries.

Worship leaders included pastor Paul Lessard of Hope Community Covenant Church in Strathmore, Alberta, and Del Pease, admissions director of Covenant Bible College International, along with Ben Borley of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Minnedosa, Manitoba, and Nadine Piamsalee of the host church. An offering was received for conference ministries, including a portion for the work of short-term medical missionary Linea Lanoie and her upcoming trip to Congo.

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