Churches to integrate

Panorama Community Church (PCC) and Peach Arch Fellowship (PAF) integrated congregations and became one church meeting at two facilities at their season openers Sept. 17 and 18. PCC will now have a more permanent residence for its various outreach activities and PAF will become part of a larger congregation.

For the last three years, PCC has met at the Bell Centre in Surrey for Sunday services with a ministry centre in Newton. With the merger, the newly integrated church will continue to meet at the Bell Centre, but will also conduct services at PAF’s facility in Surrey.

“It’s an exciting time for both our congregations,” says Peter Nikkel, lead pastor, PCC. “We’ve been in discussions for quite some time with Peace Arch Fellowship and see this as a unique opportunity to integrate and be more relevant to our respective communities.”

“We are delighted about the possibilities integration will bring to us and our community here on the peninsula” articulates Art Laskowski, chair of PAF’s Leadership Team. “Our Sunday night community dinner is one of many ministries that will continue under the umbrella of the new church”.

PCC has become known for making church comfortable. “We think PCC is fun and accessible for those who have not attended a church before. The music is upbeat, the sermons are practical and the people are welcoming. It’s a good place for people to get connected in a community,” states Nikkel. Being connected is also important to PAF and is one of the reasons behind the merger.

While a new name has yet to be determined for the integrated churches, a decision is expected soon.

—news release