Justice MB Church celebrates 75 years

The Loewen house, where the former Brookdale MB Church met 1940–43.

Current meeting place of Justice MB Church.

“The Lord is a God of Justice” (Isaiah 30:18). A banner with these words hung in the Justice (Man.) MB Church as the congregation celebrated 75 years of God’s love and faithfulness, Oct. 15–16.

Psalm 100:5 (“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”) was the key verse for the event. The celebration began Saturday with a tour, guided by Jake Loewen, to sites where the congregation worshipped during the last 75 years. Russian immigrants who settled in the area in 1927 began meeting and, in 1930, formed the Brookdale MB Church. They met in homes and rental facilities until 1944 when their first meeting place was built, in Justice, and the name changed to Justice MB Church.

A musical program followed the banquet Saturday evening. Sunday morning featured a call to worship by pastor Gerry Harms, and a children’s feature by Jake Harder, a member for more than 50 years, and his grandson, Darren, age 12. Guest speaker was Lawrence Warkentin, church planter and missionary in Germany and Austria. He and Selma have been friends of the congregation for many years.

The celebration ended with lunch. Many friends, relatives and community people joined the congregation for the two-day festivities.

—from report by Mary Willms