Administrative History

In 1974, Mrs. Anita Dionne, from Grande Rivière, shared her story with her neighbours from which emerged a group of about 12 people. This group began to meet two times per month in the home of Pastor Jean-Louis Jacques in Grande Rivière. In 1980, Pastor Jacques moved to New Richmond, and began teaching this group together with a deacon from his church. If neither Pastor Jacques nor the deacon could come, the group would listen to a recorded church service from l’église Baptiste of New Richmond, Québec.

It was in 1980 that the Mennonite Brethren Churches of the Québec Association received a call from these believers requesting a pastor. Taking this request seriously L’Association Québécoise decided to send some help.

The call was made to Denis Tremblay, a graduate from Laval Bible Institute (1979), who had been working for the past two years as an assistant pastor in Saint-Jérôme. In 1981, Denis and his wife Lyne, left Grande Rivière to plant a church in New-Richmond. Many activities began to build the church. However, the group did not grow in sufficient numbers since many people kept leaving the region because of the difficult economic situation. Students also had to leave this small city to pursue their education. Yet the small group remained remarkably strong.

Meanwhile, another evangelical group emerged in New-Richmond and called Pastor Jean-Louis Jacques to move there in 1980. When he arrived, he started the Evangelical Baptist Church with only 20 members. Their numbers grew and 2 years later there were about 35 members within the church.

Problems arose in 1981 which resulted in a split in the New-Richmond church in 1982. After the split a group of 10 believers began to meet with the church in Grande Rivière. When winter came they asked Denis Tremblay to come and teach them in New-Richmond once a week in a home. Denis accepted and this group decided to join the Association des Frères Mennonites. From January until July 1983, Denis and his wife Lyne worked part time in New Richmond and part time in Grande Rivière. After that they became full time in New-Richmond due to the growing need. It was in 1984 that l’église Chrétienne Évangélique de New-Richmond became officially affiliated with the association Québécoise des églises des Frères Mennonites.

The leaders of the congregation were: Denis Tremblay (1984–1990), Marc Vanderham (1991–1992), Michael Roy (1993–1994), Bart Consuelle (1995–1997), Denis Bourdages (1998–2000).