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The Church of God property at 214
Fairford St. West, Moose Jaw was built in the early
1900's by the Standard Church (a branch of the Holiness
Movement).
The church was purchased by the Pentecostal
Assemblies of Canada (P.A.O.C.) in 1929 or 1930.
Rev. Sayers
was the first pastor. Mrs. Sayers was Dorothy Goldsney's
Sunday School teacher. Rev.
Fleming was the Pastor when the PAOC
sold the church building to the Church of God in
1944. The Certificate of Title was received December
23, 1944. The property was valued at $1,800. Trustees
were Roy A. Reid, Curtis Wharran, and Paul E. Bachman.
The Church of God first came to Moose
Jaw in 1943 when the Overseer,
Rev. Wm. Pospisil came to start a radio
program over CHAB radio station. The program was
called "Church of God On The Air". Rev. Pospisil
called a pastor, Rev. M.G. McLuhan and his wife
to move to Moose Jaw to direct the program.
The Church of God Bible School, then
called The South Saskatchewan Bible Training School,
was founded by Rev. F.
W. Bruce at Consul, Sask in 1936, and
then was moved to Robsart, Sask in 1937. The Bible
School was moved to Moose Jaw in 1943 to be more
centrally located for transportation and opportunities.
A three-storey house with full basement was purchased
from a judge. It was located on University Heights,
east of the former Aldersgate College. During the
first year, the staff and students attended the
First Pentecostal Mission on Hochelaga St. West
in Moose Jaw. The Pastor was Rev.
Odegaard. The following year, once the
Fairford Street church had been purchased, the Bible
School students attended there. Some of the P.A.O.C.
members joined the Church of God at that time. In
Moose Jaw, the Bible School was called the Church
of God Bible Training School.
In 1944, Rev.
M. G. McLuhan was the first Pastor. They
lived in the 3-room suite in the basement of the
church. He taught at the Bible College and continued
to direct the radio program. In the summer of 1944,
the McLuhan's evangelized so Rev. Arnold Erickson
was called to fill in as radio program director.
In the Fall of 1946, Rev.
J. G. Hall and family came to pastor
the church. He also taught at the Bible School.
In the Fall of 1947, the Bible School
was moved to Outram, Sask, 14 miles west of Estevan.
An airbase was purchased and the name of the school
was changed to "International Bible College" (I.B.C.).
Here a High School Department was added as well
as a Public School Room.
In the Fall of 1947, Rev
Paul Sexton and his wife came to pastor
the church. They lived in a rented house and remained
until 1949. Rev. Sexton also directed the radio
program.
In 1949, Rev.
Joseph Kisser and family came to pastor
the church. They also lived in a rented house. I.B.C.
now produced the radio program.
In July 1950, Rev.
Chester Roset and family came to pastor
the church. They lived in the church basement suite.
Rev. Roset was often called to take the radio program
when I.B.C. didn't get a tape ready in time. In
September 1953, they moved to the Bible College
to be Business Manager and teach. Later, he also
directed the radio program and was campus pastor.
In 1953, Rev.
David Barsness and family came to Moose
Jaw to pastor the church. They also lived in the
basement suite of the church.
In 1957, Rev.
Albert Soderberg became Pastor. He was
a widower with 2 children. During this time, he
married Lydia Engel and they lived in the basement
suite. At this time a gas furnace was installed
in the church.
In the summer of 1957, Rev
Albert Grimes and family pastored the
church as interim pastor.
In 1958, Rev.
Osborne Cowan and family moved into the
basement suite and pastored the church. They were
there until I.B.C. moved back to Moose Jaw.
In 1962, Rev.
James Hay, who married Sandra Lindsay,
came to pastor the church and teach at the Bible
College. The College rented an H-hut near the present
shopping mall until the new buildings were ready.
Pastor Hay and wife lived in rented quarters.
In the late fall of 1966, Rev.
Jack Bridal became pastor. The family
lived in their own house on Home St. East, Moose
Jaw. In the spring of 1970, the church auditorium
was remodeled and the following year, in 1971, the
basement was fully remodeled. In 1972, Pastor Bridal
and family moved to Toronto to pastor the Humberlea
Church of God.
Rev. Phillip
Siggelkow, President of I.B.C. filled
in as interim pastor from February to August 1972.
In August 1972, Rev.
Arthur Aspinall and family came to be
the Pastor. The church took a step of faith and
purchased a house at 12 14 Warner St as the new
parsonage. Pastor Aspinall was here for 6 years
and much was accomplished. The church auditorium
was remodeled, a frontage was built on to the church
with an office and nursery added and full basement
below. New carpet was laid throughout the auditorium
and addition. An air conditioner was installed and
new pews and pulpit were purchased.
At the beginning of 1979, Rev.
Wayne Aiken and family came from Illinois
to be the pastor. He remained for 3 years, and then
moved to Brooks, Alberta to start a church.
In 1981, Rev.
Wallace Rampy, who recently lost his
wife in a car accident, came from the state of Washington
to pastor for one year.
In 1982, Rev.
Walter Engel and family came to pastor.
During this time, the church grew to where we were
having two Sunday Morning Services and renting the
building next door for classes on Wednesdays and
Sundays. We began looking for a lot to build of
for larger facilities. We purchased the Apostolic
Church on 50 Hochelaga St. E, Moose Jaw in early
1984 and took possession on September 1. This property
had a parsonage on it so we sold the Warner Street
house and applied the funds to the purchase price
of $350,000. On September 14, 1984 a Loan was taken
from the Royal Bank for $277,000 with a 15 year
amortization. The Fairford Street property was rented
out until it was sold to "Joe's Place" in 1998.
In 1986, Rev
and Mrs. David Barsness returned to pastor
the Moose Jaw Church of God. They were here until
the end of June 1988 when they moved to Weyburn.
In October 1988, Rev
and Mrs. Paul Seagraves came to interim
pastor, but stayed on until June 30, 1991 when he
retired.
On October 15, 1991, Rev.
Wesley McLeod, a student at Briercrest
Bible College, agreed to be the interim pastor until
June 30, 1992.
On September 1, 1992, Rev.
Elmer Dueck and family came to be Pastor.
Some major painting jobs were done in the church
and we celebrated the church's 50th Anniversary.
Pastor Dueck stayed until early 1996.
In the spring of 1996, Larry
Hasmatali, a graduate of IBC was asked
to be interim pastor. The Lord blessed his ministry
and both Larry and the church believed God was leading
for him to be the permanent pastor. Pastor Larry
took his Pastoral and Ministerial training to become
a licensed minister with the Church of God.
In October
2000, we celebrated the "Burning of the
Mortgage". We were reminded again of God's blessings
on this church with faithful members who continued
to support the church through some difficult times
to bring us to this time of thankfulness for His
faithfulness to us.
In 2002 two IBC students, Dwight
Cameron and Brian
Reesor stepped in as our youth pastors.
After both graduated Dwight stayed on accepting
a full time youth pastor's position in the fall
of 2004.
In 2002 the church offices were moved
to the vacated parsonage (Pastor Larry and Connie
resided in their own home). The upper floor became
offices and meeting space while the basement was
converted into a youth room for our growing youth
group.
A third member was added to our staff
in August 2005 when Amber
Esau came into the office as Administrative
Assistant and clerk. In 2007 Toby Ning became the fourth staff member, taking on the position of Children's Ministry Coordinator.
The spring of 2008 brought with it much change. We began renovations on the church in earnest and said goodbye to three staff members. In June of 2008, Michele Krieger replaced Amber as Administrative Assistant and clerk. In August of 2008, Jeremy Erickson took over as part-time Youth Pastor, and Kyleigh Coad became the new Children's Ministry Coordinator. August 2009, Brad Funston joined the team as full-time Young Adult and Spiritual Formation Pastor.
During the 13 years of Pastor Larry and Connie's
ministry, God has blessed the church with many new
families and converts. Extensive renovation and
upgrading has taken place in the auditorium, with a new upper and lower foyer, two upstairs washrooms and a chairlift installed. Downstairs has also
been renovated and new furnaces installed.
We are excited
as we look forward to what God has in store for
the Moose Jaw Church of God, as He allows us to
move forward into greater ministry both at home
in our congregation and community, as well as around
the world.
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