The Way We Were: First Mennonite Church, Burns Lake
by Helen Rose Pauls

The first Mennonite settlers in the Burns Lake area were Old Colony Mennonites from the prairies who built two churches in Cheslatta and Grassy Plains in the 1940s. The churches were used as private schools during the week, but this important component to ‘life apart’ came to an end when the government insisted that settlers enroll their children in public school.  Of further concern to the elders was the long absences of fathers who worked in the sawmills. Consequently, most of this group moved to Fort St. John in 1958.

 In the meantime, Mexican Mennonites moved to the area to work in the mills, as did Sommerfelders from the prairies and General Conference (GC) Mennonites from southern BC. In 1952, a group of 15 families met in homes to have a Singstund  from the Sommerfelder hymn book or the more modern Evangeliumslieder. In the absence of a minister, “No one was brave enough to speak or pray aloud,” says Cornelia Lehn in her book, Frontier Challenge.
 When the BC Conference became aware of this group in 1953, N.N. Friesen was sent to hold meetings. His visit was much appreciated, and he traveled from Jasper to Prince Rupert, finding many brothers and sisters who had gone north to work in the sawmills, but who still spoke German and were from various Mennonite backgrounds. He served communion and also brought much needed used clothing.

 In Burns Lake, Friesen held meetings at the home of Isaac Dyck, a GC Mennonite from Swift Current. People were happy to come and had a wonderful time of fellowship. He encouraged Agnes Goertzen to start a Sunday School and soon 26 children attended.

 A year later, Elmer and Ruth Dick came as pastor and public school teacher for this group. As the remaining Sommerfelder and Old Colony groups would not allow other ministers into their gatherings, N.N. Friesen approached Victoria to place Mennonite teachers into the local public schools, and Ruth filled this need, also holding adult evening classes in the little Sunday School house. Altogether, 6 Mennonite teachers went into the region with the encouragement of the Mennonite Missions Committee, but  paid by the B.C. government.

 Meanwhile, in1958, West Abbotsford Church started Ootsa Lake Bible Camp south of Burns Lake as a youth service project. Soon, responsibilities were shared with the Burns Lake group. BC Mennonite Youth Organization supported underprivileged children to attend camp at Ootsa Lake and provided Christian literature for them as a follow up.

 In 1959, the church group formally organized with 33 charter members. The Dicks served until 1963, when John Friesens from Grande Prairie took over, followed by Ed Giesbrecht (1969-1975) and Abe Buhler (1975-1981.)

Willing Workers sewing circle began in 1954 and faithfully supported the work with fund-raising auction sales of their sewing items, MCC films, baby, bridal and “special need” showers. Some volunteered at the local hospital, and others did soap making for the MCC center in Yarrow. They held rummage and bake sales in store fronts and supplied  snacks for the camp.  In 1965, they sent members to the BC Women’s Conference. At first their meetings were in High German with all the visiting in Low German, but a gradual change to English occurred here too.

 A program started by Abe Buhler was the training of prospective leaders. The congregation also expanded into Sunday Schools at Topley and Granisle, purchasing a van to transport children. The Topley venture closed in 1975, but Granisle became a church.  They also established a group home for adults with mental disabilities.

 At present the Burns Lake church has 107 members and continues to reach out with ‘Alpha’ programs, Pioneer Clubs, Youth Church and ‘Operation Blessing.’

 Two smaller Mennonite churches in the area are affiliated with the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church:  Danskin Mennonite Church with 41 members and Decker Lake Mennonite Church with 55.
 

References:
Lehn, Cornelia.  Frontier Challenge.  Conference of Mennonites in BC, 1990.
“History of B.C. Mennonite Women in Mission 1939-1976”
“News n’ Notes,  Mennonite Church B.C.