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Kitchener, Ont.
Two MB church plants target spiritual needs


Over the past several months, two new Mennonite Brethren church plants have emerged in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and in St. Catharines, Ont., in the hope of appealing to Canadians who have a spiritual yearning yet are suspicious of institutional churches.

The Dwelling Place

The Dwelling Place, a church plant of Waterloo MB Church, targets the postmodern generation. Its pastor is K.J. (Kurt John) Weinberger, a former church planter with the Baptist Conference in Ontario and Quebec.

Charlene and K.J. Weinberger with their children Mikayla and Lucas

Gateway Christian Community in St. Catharines, led by Ed Willms, sets out to develop lasting friendships.

Weinberger, who grew up in a Mennonite home, states, “We seek to be a church for the 21st century. Our vision is to build relevant communities of people who follow Christ in the context we live in.” He stresses that the vision of the church is to be a multicultural and multi-economic community of believers. The church targets what he calls a postmodern audience, referring to it as a “ ‘Five-D culture’ – divorced, displaced, digitized, distrustful of institutions and down-sized”.

Weinberger began pastoring The Dwelling Place on May 1. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Divinity degree from Tyndale Seminary in Toronto. He also has studied at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and Regent College in Vancouver. He and his wife Charlene have two children, Lucas, 5, and Mikayla, 2.

In order to begin the church-planting phase, the church asked area residents two specific questions – “What needs do you see in this area?” and “What advice would you give to a new church starting out?” Most responded by saying they felt it was important that a church responds to the needs of children and youth in the areas of nurturing, recreation and moral education. Another common response was speaking to the issue of connectedness. The area is made up of people from various ethnic backgrounds and language can be a problem.

While studying at Regent College in Vancouver, Weinberger attended an Alliance church. This church had a ministry to the Khmer people from Cambodia. Weinberger was asked to pastor that group because the church didn’t have the resources to do so.

The Dwelling Place has had initial visits from a variety of ethnic groups, including a couple from Burundi and a couple from El Salvador. The church uses Spanish, French and English in its services. Worship coordinator at the Dwelling Place is Gareth Goossen, who can sing in three languages, says Weinberger.

Earlier this year, The Dwelling Place held an exhibition service and has done outreach into the community. It started meeting at A.R. Kaufman School in Kitchener in September. On October 14, the church held a community carnival where 700 people showed up for games, a barbecue and an outdoor children’s concert. The Dwelling Place’s opening service was scheduled to take place on November 12.

Gateway Christian Fellowship

Gateway Christian Fellowship has been meeting since the Labour Day weekend. While the church’s existence is the effort of eight congregations in the Niagara Peninsula, it is the vision of two couples,

Ed and Karen Willms with their children Kiersten, Breanna, and Renee

Dave and Wendy Franz of Orchard Park Bible Church of Niagara-on-the Lake, and Marvin and Nannette Klassen of Scott Street MB Church.

The mission statement of the fellowship is “leading friends and acquaintances to passionately follow Jesus”.

The congregation held its grand opening and chartering service November 5. About 270 people came out, with a large representation from other churches. Guest speaker was Ed Heinrichs, who spoke on the theme “Chartering challenge”. Rudy Bartel, Ontario MB Conference minister, and Clinton Bell, Ontario MB Conference church extension director, extended greetings. The focus was mainly celebrative, said Ed Willms, pastor of the new church.

During the service, the church held a charter signing, where 52 people joined the church as members. Also featured was a four-by-eight-foot board with the church’s emblem that people signed, indicating their association with the new church. A music video, featuring the song “I’m Divin’ In” was also presented. Food and fellowship followed the service.

According to a brochure distributed by the fellowship, its name is based on the dictionary definition of the word “gateway”. The congregation uses the image of a gateway or “entrance” as a way to develop friendships and to enable communication on biblical concepts such as love and forgiveness. The congregation’s vision statement states, “To be a growing, caring community of believers, who experience the life-changing power of the Spirit, reflect the character of Christ and enjoy an intimate relationship with the Father.”

Gateway Christian Fellowship uses five “gates” as part of its membership covenant: Conversion, discipleship, fellowship, spiritual gifts and stewardship. Eight core values – worship, prayer, small groups, biblical teaching, evangelism, spiritual gifts, servant leadership and church planting – are emphasized.

Previously, Willms was associate pastor at Scott Street MB Church for five years, was lead pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Dartmouth, N.S., for three years and associate pastor there for three years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg, a Bachelor of Religious Studies from MB Bible (now Concord) College in Winnipeg and a Master of Divinity degree from MB Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Calif. He and his wife Karin have three daughters, Kiersten, 13, Renee, 9, and Breanna, 5.

The fellowship has been averaging about 150 people in attendance and meets in Lakeport Secondary School, which is also the home of Eden High School. The congregation, which targets the entire Niagara Peninsula, uses a cell-based ministry and emphasizes relational evangelism, says Willms.

 – pjw

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Last modified December 11, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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