Administrative History

In the mid 1970s, Lloydminster was a booming town characterized by a sudden influx of labourers, tradesmen, professional and business people and their families. The Saskatchewan Conference identified a need for a Bible-centred fellowship and subsequently, in 1978, hired Eric and Marg Penner as church planters. Initially, a phone ministry and personal contact resulted in a home Bible study. By 1979, approximately 18 people used the rented facilities for a regular worship service. A team of students ran Day Camps throughout the summer.

In August 1980, a permanent church home was purchased. Since the Penners felt a sense of calling toward a lay ministry the church called a pastoral couple Herb and Betty Schmidt in September 1980. On November 16, 1980, the Colonial Park Mennonite Brethren Church was formally organized with Eric and Marg Penner, Vernon and Dorothy Jean Jantzen, and Herb and Betty Schmidt as charter members. A little later, Gerald and Joyce Voth joined the leadership team as one of the first deacon couples. The group received impetus and encouragement from the Saskatchewan Conference Board of Church Ministries.

Lloydminster inhabitants were severely affected by the financial decline of the early 1980s, and the former "boom-town" witnessed a great exodus. This had repercussions for the church as many of its leaders and other committed Christians left Lloydminster to seek employment wherever they could find it. In spite of this setback, the church had a membership of 21 in 1985 with an average attendance of 40 persons. The church was sometimes named the Cornerstone MB Church after November 1988.

Ministers were Herb Schmidt (1980–1983), Lawrence Redekopp (1985–1986), and Ted Haas (1987–1990).

The Colonial Park MB Church was closed by a decision of the Board of Church Extension in 1990 (see Yearbook of the Saskatchewan Conference of MB Churches, 1991, p. 20).