NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
New Life Christian Church sign
In the summer of 2008, a couple, that had attended Sardis Fellowship Baptist Church when I was interim senior pastor, approached me to see if I would be willing to preach occasionally at their small fellowship. They informed me that they were now a part of a group, New Life Christian Church, that had just started holding Sunday morning services in a Chilliwack motel. It was an independent church, with the majority of the folks attending having come from a mainline church. One of their reasons for leaving that church was that the Word of God was not being preached.
I started preaching at NLCC in Chilliwack in September 2008, taking a turn along with a couple of other pastors. Within a few weeks there were five of us retired pastors, a Lutheran pastor, Mennonite Brethren, Pentecostal and two of us Alliance pastors that took turns speaking. On average I would preach at NLCC about every five or six weeks. It was a very small group. I remember in my early weeks at NLCC that one Sunday morning I counted seventeen people that were present. I never said it to any of those attending, but I seriously wondered whether Chilliwack needed another church.
Well, I have to compliment them for their vision and determination and admit that I was wrong in my thinking. This small group was determined to see it grow. Within weeks of their beginning, maybe it was days, they purchased a supply of brand new hymnals. If you haven't already figured it out, their style of music was the traditional hymns. As much as I appreciate some of the contemporary songs, I still have a fond love for the old hymns. That's what I sang when I was in Sunday School.
NLCC has an annual hymn sing with the Songs of Praise Orchestra. Ivan Pettigrew was the inspiration behind this orchestra and the hymn sings, which originally began at SFBC. Ivan recruited some teens from SFBC plus a few adults, he being one of them and these hymn sings were solely at SFBC. Today the orchestra members are thirty plus members, with the members coming from several church backgrounds. Some of the members play in other orchestras and their one practice for the hymn sing is a couple of hours prior to the actual hymn sing. Ivan has been the conductor for the past several years, having just resigned as conductor. The hymn sings are now held a half dozen times each year and in several different churches, New Life Christian Church being one of them.
Slowly but surely, this group grew. After holding their meetings in a motel for about a year, they moved into an elementary school. They were only there about a year when they moved to another elementary school, where they still meet.
I began to see that this fellowship was meeting a real need, particularly for seniors, who love a more traditional style of worship. They were also a very missionary minded church and gave generously to missions. During my ministry at NLCC, one of their men went to the Ukraine on a short term missions ministry. A couple of other men designed a website which served as an outreach ministry. One of those men passed away three years ago and this website www.greatcommissionnetwork.com is now under the umbrella of Wagner Ministries International.
It was a treat, the last three years or so that I was there, to have about a six piece orchestra, along with a piano and keyboard, accompanying the congregational singing. The orchestra often played the offertory.
Leona and I always looked forward to the Sunday when we got to travel to Chilliwack and minister to a very appreciative audience. In the early years, following the service, they served cookies, cake and coffee. As the church has grown, it has now become a luncheon with sandwiches, fruit, dessert, coffee, tea, etc.
I served NLCC for a little over six years. My final sermon, which I preached there, was in November 2014. The church grew to the point where they were able to hire their own pastor.
At this stage of life, I don't foresee any more interim ministries. However, I must say that being able to share with Sardis Fellowship Baptist Church, Immanuel Fellowship Baptist Church and New Life Christian Church in my retirement years was all very fulfilling for me. I've been told many times that once a pastor always a pastor. I have begun to believe that maybe that remark has an element of truth in it. For me, these opportunities made me feel good, useful, appreciated and not just "on the shelf" like some retirees have experienced.
Well, I have to compliment them for their vision and determination and admit that I was wrong in my thinking. This small group was determined to see it grow. Within weeks of their beginning, maybe it was days, they purchased a supply of brand new hymnals. If you haven't already figured it out, their style of music was the traditional hymns. As much as I appreciate some of the contemporary songs, I still have a fond love for the old hymns. That's what I sang when I was in Sunday School.
NLCC has an annual hymn sing with the Songs of Praise Orchestra. Ivan Pettigrew was the inspiration behind this orchestra and the hymn sings, which originally began at SFBC. Ivan recruited some teens from SFBC plus a few adults, he being one of them and these hymn sings were solely at SFBC. Today the orchestra members are thirty plus members, with the members coming from several church backgrounds. Some of the members play in other orchestras and their one practice for the hymn sing is a couple of hours prior to the actual hymn sing. Ivan has been the conductor for the past several years, having just resigned as conductor. The hymn sings are now held a half dozen times each year and in several different churches, New Life Christian Church being one of them.
Slowly but surely, this group grew. After holding their meetings in a motel for about a year, they moved into an elementary school. They were only there about a year when they moved to another elementary school, where they still meet.
I began to see that this fellowship was meeting a real need, particularly for seniors, who love a more traditional style of worship. They were also a very missionary minded church and gave generously to missions. During my ministry at NLCC, one of their men went to the Ukraine on a short term missions ministry. A couple of other men designed a website which served as an outreach ministry. One of those men passed away three years ago and this website www.greatcommissionnetwork.com is now under the umbrella of Wagner Ministries International.
It was a treat, the last three years or so that I was there, to have about a six piece orchestra, along with a piano and keyboard, accompanying the congregational singing. The orchestra often played the offertory.
Leona and I always looked forward to the Sunday when we got to travel to Chilliwack and minister to a very appreciative audience. In the early years, following the service, they served cookies, cake and coffee. As the church has grown, it has now become a luncheon with sandwiches, fruit, dessert, coffee, tea, etc.
I served NLCC for a little over six years. My final sermon, which I preached there, was in November 2014. The church grew to the point where they were able to hire their own pastor.
A summer Sunday Morning at New Life Christian Church 2018
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