July Praise & Prayer Guide

Each month MBCM produces a Praise & Prayer Guide highlighting 2 Manitoba MB churches or programs. The following is an example: The July guide featuring Elm Creek and Crossroads MB Church. Click here to subscribe to the monthly mailing and receive your praise & prayer guide as PDF.

Elm Creek MB Church

Elm Creek MB Church

Affiliated with the Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church, Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church came into existence on March 16, 1926 when a group of 23 members joined under the leadership of H. J. Wiebe. On January 2, 1931, the baptized members assembled in the Dakota School and officially formed a Mennonite Brethren Church. They established the church on 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The new church built it’s first house of worship in 1937.

In 1985, the membership wished to play a greater part in the surrounding community and it was decided they would build a new 25,000 square foot facility in the village of Elm Creek. It is from this location that the people who form Elm Creek MB Church work out their mission of Making God’s Love Known.

Elm Creek is currently led by the pastoral team of Jason Dyck (senior pastor), and Scott Isaak (youth pastor). Dyck recently wrapped a sermon series entitled Bouncy, a response to a card survey the congregation completed in the new year that collected and identified their biggest worries and concerns. The series challenged and equipped the church to bounce back from adversity and face their fears. The summer series will focus on the book of Acts, recounting the adventures of Paul.

Vacation Bible school runs July 13-17. Elm Creek solicits prayer for the families of the 100 children that will participate, and for the 30-35 volunteers who run the program.

Pray also for youth leader Aleida Riedstra who will be participating in the MB Mission TREK apprenticeship program in September. Riedstra will be interning at Walls of Freedom Outreach in Winnipeg. Elm Creek’s partnership with Walls of Freedom began when the Elm Creek senior high youth group delivered nearly three truck loads of donated supplies supplies to the inner city church. Youth then helped promote the Walls of Freedom annual Spring carnival by handing out flyers around the community.


Marvin and Edith Dyck

Crossroads MB Church

Located in the heart of St. Boniface—bordered by giant oak trees—Crossroads Mennonite Brethren is the little church that could. Formed in 1987 as a daughter church of Fort Garry MB, they have been worshipping and operating out of 231 Kitson Street since 1998. In the vacant lot beside the church is a community garden of 5’X10’ and 10X10’ plots, most of which are used by people in the neighbourhood. One plot is dedicated to growing vegetables for Winnipeg Harvest. It is here that they plant seeds of love and compassion. Seeds that take root deep within the soil and spread well beyond Kitson Street. Like the oak tree, Crossroads provides shelter and breathes life into the local—and global—community.

Crossroads makes it a priority to get together with others who also follow Jesus to form bonds that transcend racial, social, and national barriers. They also emphasize the importance of the family, believing it to be a primary place where God’s love can be shown in loving relationships.

In 2007, Crossroads purchased the 100-year-old house next door to the church. Members have invested more than 700 volunteer hours in home improvements. Through a partnership with Manitoba Housing, the dwelling is offered to new Canadian families. Crossroads is more than a landlord however. A team of five households are committed to working with the tenants, connecting them to social workers, walking children to the school bus, babysitting, providing practical and spiritual care wherever needed.

Crossroads members are heavily involved with Christians Helping All Immigrants (CHAI), a local charity that helps newcomers integrate into Canada. And currently, with the help of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), they are working to reunite a Congolese refugee and his wife. These are the things that make it easy to forget that—with 100 members—Crossroads is a relatively small church.

Pastor Marvin Dyck is pleased to have recently added a youth leader to the team. Through MB Mission’s TREK program, Stefan Klassen (The Meeting Place) will intern at Crossroads in 2015. The church will be looking for someone to take over for Stefan in 2016. They are also looking for volunteers – especially women – to assist in adult and youth programs.

Summertime is a special time of year to Crossroads. This year Pastor Marvin and others will be preaching from the book of Mark. The congregation will hear how the Kingdom of God is like the tiny mustard seed. Following the service, families gather for watermelon and munchies under the oak trees, sheltered like the birds in the mustard bush, peacefully advancing the mission of the Church.

Crossroads MB Church photo: Tony Schellenberg