Pastor Jeremy Vogt
Special to the Tribune/Advisor
The Cariboo Bethel Church family is celebrating 50 years as a part of the Williams Lake community.
Jubilee celebrations will be happening throughout the weekend of Sept. 25-27.
More information about these events is available at the end of this article.
In 1963 a group of Christians in Williams Lake began to spend time together praying and studying the Bible together. They began to believe that God was inviting them to start a new faith community in Williams Lake.
The Mennonite Brethren family of churches had no presence in this part of British Columbia, and this group of men and women believed it was time to change that.
By 1965 Cariboo Bethel Church was a fully functioning, contributing part of the Williams Lake community. Fifty years later we are still seeking to faithfully serve and contribute to this city.
How does a local church contribute to the community? What difference does a lively, Jesus-centered church make?
For starters, local churches enjoy serving our local community by hosting music and choir festivals, concerts, weddings, celebration of life services, conferences, educational events, unity events and more.
However, a church is not a building — it is a movement of people finding new life with Jesus together.
A local church community provides a place for friendship, grace, healing and transformation as we encounter the love and kindness of God together.
A local church welcomes and serves people from every walk of life with solid teaching from the Bible.
Churches offer relevant programs and group encounters designed to help people live in healthy relationship with God and with one another.
When people find healing and new life, every part of the local community benefits.
Healthy churches and Christians are called to be lighthouses of God’s love and the good news about Jesus.
This is the kind of church Cariboo Bethel has strived to become these past 50 years.
Cariboo Bethel Church is filled with ordinary individuals and families who are encountering the extraordinary love of God and the truth about Jesus.
We are learning to be positively engaged in every aspect of life here in the Cariboo through our daily lives as: carpenters, plumbers, doctors, teachers, millworkers, school district administrators, local and provincial government service providers, painters, dentists, small business owners, contractors, counselors, coffee baristas, librarians, electricians, millwrights, lawyers, nurses, and more.
Cariboo Bethel people have truly enjoyed working, serving and volunteering in many community endeavors, because we believe the light and love of Jesus shines through us as we do so.
For the past 50 years we have been committed to the goal of shining this light and love through our day-to-day lives.
As the church has attempted to do this faithfully through the decades, many individuals and families have been drawn into relationship with Jesus.
This is what church is ultimately about, and this is what Cariboo Bethel will pursue for the next 50 years — life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
Everyone is warmly invited to come and share in our Jubilee celebrations. We are anticipating a really fun and meaningful time together.
We are asking folks to register by Sept. 1 for the events on Saturday, Sept. 26th so that we can prepare enough food for everyone.
You may register or ask for more information by sending an e-mail to cbc50th@gmail.com.
Please visit www.cariboobethel.com for more information.
Or, please call the Cariboo Bethel Church office Tuesday-Friday during normal business hours (250-398-6731).