Administrative History

In the spring and summer of 2007, Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church began discussions with the English language congregation of Pacific Grace MB Church to talk about ways in which the two congregations could plant a new congregation. A joint task force was formed in July and a proposal to merge was presented to both congregations on 16 September 2007. Formal approval was given by the leadership of both congregations on 30 September, and a new name, South Hill, was selected on 5 November 2007.

Vancouver MB congregation began services about 1935 and formally organized on 25 April 1937 with a few dozen members. The congregation was the first Mennonite Brethren congregation in Vancouver. The first building was occupied in 1945. The group initially met in a rented hall. The church basement was built in 1941, and the sanctuary was completed in 1944. John Peters is considered the founding leader of the group.

The congregation originated through the urbanization of Mennonites from the Fraser Valley. David B. Wiens was pastor of the congregation from 1957 until 1968 when he became pastor of a daughter congregation, Culloden Mennonite Brethren Church. Roughly 75% of the the church's membership followed Wiens to the new daughter congregation. The years 1974/75 saw tremendous growth due to immigration from South America, but, by 1980, many had moved to the Fraser Valley or back to Paraguay.

After six years, the congregation voted to disband on 16 June 2013. The church also agreed at that time to turn the building over to Christ City, a new C2C church plant being birthed by Westside Church.

Mike Nishi served as pastor of the congregation from 2007 until 2013. Membership was 86 in 2010.