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Quebec MB Conference Convention  ·  Saint-Eustache, Que.
Yes to development


When delegates met Saturday, September 8 in the St-Eustache MB church for the 2001 convention of the Quebec Mennonite Brethren Conference, there was a sense that it was an historic occasion. The key item on the agenda was to create the post of Director of Development and to hire Patrice Nagant to fill this new position. Nagant’s responsibilities would be to help train church leaders and others responsible for evangelism; to provide appropriate evangelism tools to Quebec MB churches; to meet with cultural minority churches which might wish to join the Quebec MB Conference; and to determine places where new MB churches could be planted.

The seeds for the new development were planted 18 months earlier when the Conference executive developed a new vision statement for the Quebec Conference: “to develop the church of Jesus Christ in Quebec by working together for the proclamation of the gospel, the harmony of its communities, the discipling of believers and works of charity for the purpose of glorifying God”. That vision statement was accepted at the Quebec Conference convention in September 2000.

At this convention, the new position was approved unanimously after a thorough discussion. Concern was expressed over whether the finances would continue to be in place to support the appointment and over the need for the existing eight churches to be strengthened in addition to new ones being planted.

Canadian MB Conference executive director David Wiebe addressed the convention, reminding delegates that it was 40 years ago (in August 1961) that former missionary to the Congo Ernest Dyck arrived in Quebec

David Wiebe

to plant the first Mennonite Brethren church there. That seed has since been watered by a team of Quebecois church leaders, and God has given the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). The new project, he said, raises the challenging questions of who will plant and who will water; it is necessary to develop a new partnership with the Canadian Conference, find the right strategy and pray for God’s grace and guidance.

Ewald Unruh, director of Evangelism Canada for the Canadian MB Conference, presented the proposal to make Montreal the third key city under the Canadian Conference Key Cities Initiative program. That proposal still needs the approval of the Canadian Conference Board of Evangelism and Executive Board in January 2002 and the Canadian Conference convention in July 2002.

Dealing with crises

Quebec Conference moderator Jean Théorêt reported that the St-Laurent congregation had experienced a major crisis, losing a number of members. The church has now stabilized and is looking toward the future, but the crisis consumed a lot of energy.

The Conference executive has agreed to a request from the New-Richmond congregation in eastern Quebec to leave the MB Conference and join another denomination. That small congregation is geographically distant from the other MB churches in the province and feels that a congregation of the other denomination in nearby Rimouski can offer it more assistance. The Quebec Conference is now negotiating with the congregation over the future of the congregation’s building.

That situation raised again the issue of putting the title of congregational buildings in the name of the Quebec Conference (they were originally placed in the name of the Canadian MB Conference, before the Quebec MB Conference was organized). This has been delayed many times because of the legal costs involved, but $2000 has been set aside to see that this is done in 2001–2002.

Camp and school

President Éric Wingender reported on L’école théologique évangélique de Montreal (ETEM, the Evangelical Theological School of Montreal). Martha Wall operates a research centre at the school, which has just published its 14th children’s curriculum (In the very beginning . . . from creation to the tower of Babel). The Centre’s curricula are purchased by about 100 customers, including six school boards, which use them in religious education classes. The Centre has annual sales of $6000 and has been supported by an annual subsidy of $5000 from the Canadian MB Conference Board of Christian Education Ministries.

ETEM’s budget is a challenge because “education is not a lucrative enterprise”, Wingender said. ETEM is dependent on external subsidies,

Richard Gervais

including a subsidy from the Canadian MB Conference which increases 3% this year. In its development plan, ETEM wants to enlarge its student base, develop links with other schools, recruit new teaching personnel, diversify its student body.

Camp Péniel, which had suspended operations for several years, is now back in full operation and served over 500 people in the last year, mostly in groups who rent the camp, including some churches which had never been there before. The financial accounts, under new treasurer Sylvain Ouimet, are in equally fine form. Camp director Richard Gervais received enthusiastic applause for the “miraculous” turnaround at the camp over the last few years.

Development has a price

In 2000–2001, the Quebec Conference had revenues of $25,821 (including subsidies of $14,755 from the Canadian MB Conference) and expenses of $22,357,

France Joly

leaving a small surplus of $3464.

Treasurer France Joly presented two possible budgets for 2001–2002. The first envisions a substantial increase in revenue and expenses to produce a balanced budget of $62,725. The Canadian Conference would increase its subsidies to $32,000, and the per-member norm the churches are expected to contribute would increase from $20 to $26. The second budget would hold the per-member norm at $20 but slash spending dramatically. After considerable discussion, delegates approved the first and larger budget.

The prime reason for the budget increase is the hiring of the Director of Development. This project will cost $41,000. The Canadian Conference will fund $20,000 of this through its increased subsidy; Patrice Nagant and the Canadian Conference Board of Evangelism will raise $13,000; the Quebec MB churches will contribute $3000, and the remaining $5000 will come out of the general Quebec Conference budget.

Rallying support

On Sunday morning, the annual rally was held in the St-Jérôme MB church, bringing all of the churches together for a joint worship service. Almost 500 attended. None of the Quebec MB churches has more than 100 members, and the rally is one of the few times Quebec MBs have to worship with hundreds of other believers. The worship, led by Jean-Guy Carvalho and the Ste-Rose worship team, was as usual one of the high points of the rally.

Moderator Jean Théorêt preached on the new vision for development, saying, “I have been on the Mount of Transfiguration, I have sailed in the boat with Jesus, I have walked through the valley of death, I have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. . . . In all these experiences, I have tasted that the Lord is good. God has changed my life, but around me are millions of people who have not tasted that God is good. . . . If the Lord is good for us, He is also good for the 3.5 million inhabitants of Greater Montreal. Montreal is a strategic city and a spiritually sinister place. If God has found us worthy of being entrusted with the gospel in making us His partners, what is our responsibility?”

Ewald Unruh gave the Quebec Conference $5000 as the first installment of the Canadian Conference subsidy for the new development. He said, “There is no other place I would rather be this morning. Jesus invites us to partner in the greatest adventure on earth. One day we are going to stand before the throne as a great multitude from every nation, tribe and language.” He added that there is an immense need, requiring a great amount of work but that it is a great project that will be achieved neither by money nor famous leaders but by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6).

Patrice Nagant said he is convinced that God has prepared the way for this project. His studies and experiences in recent years have increased his passion for evangelism, and in Quebec there has been a coming together around a common goal.

An offering of $2417 was received at the rally, which concluded with an outdoor barbecue served by members of the St-Eustache MB church.

 – from reports by Annie Brosseau in Le Lien; translated by Jim Coggins

Quebec Conference assistant moderator Philippe Bonicel, Canadian Conference executive director David Wiebe, Canadian Conference evangelism director Ewald Unruh, Quebec Conference executive committee member Robert Dagenais and Quebec Conference moderator Jean Théorêt pray prayers of dedication for new Quebec Conference director of development Patrice Nagant and his wife Cindy.

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Last modified October 13, 2006.

© 2006 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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