Steinbach MB celebrates milestone anniversary

Former Pastors, Charlie Peronto, Bill Lehman, John Block, Abe Klassen Walter Reimer with present Pastor Walter Fast

Steinbach MB Church is grateful for the way God has sustained and guided them for 90 years.

The congregation celebrated their anniversary Jan. 8, 2017, with a special service, featuring a choir, a PowerPoint presentation of the church’s history, a prophetic message by Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba executive director Elton DaSilva and a lunch of farmer sausage and 2,500 homemade perogies. Two of those present at the celebration have been part of the church since the first service when they were five years old!

One of the strengths of the congregation is their intergenerational relationships. The church of about 350 has an even spread of attenders of every age from 0–95 who enjoy working together.

One of more than 35 churches in a city of 25,000, Steinbach MB intentionally partners with other local congregations. During Steinbach’s annual Summer in the City Festival, they join some 10 churches to celebrate an open-air worship service. Senior pastor Walter Fast is part of a pastoral mentoring network called Church Renewal, led by the pastor of Southland Community Church.

Walter calls Steinbach MB “extremely generous.” The church sends volunteers and a portion of their budget to agencies addressing poverty in their community, including Steinbach Community Outreach, Soup’s On (a soup kitchen out of Grace Mennonite Church) and the food bank called Southeast Helping Hands. In 2016, the church welcomed an eight-member Muslim family from Somalia and continues to support them as they adjust to life in Canada.

Steinbach MB sponsors two missionary families in northern Manitoba. The church plans to send young adults on a mission trip to Faro, Yukon, and another team to Mexico in 2017. In January, they had a missionary-in-residence, Melissa from Vietn*m, who was available for one-on-one conversations or small group presentations three mornings a week.

The congregation’s prayer priorities for 2017 include adding to their pastoral staff team, raising up more committee leaders, and beginning some exciting upgrades to their building’s sound system, lighting, carpets and ceiling. Pray for wisdom as they discern these new roles and for patience and unity through the renovations.

God continues to surprise Steinbach MB with “his immeasurable grace and forgiveness in those times when we are less than faithful to his calling, both individually and corporately.” Praise God for his faithfulness to Steinbach MB over their 90-year history. Ask him to continually renew their passion to reach others with the good news of Christ in their community.