Administrative History

The Victory Fellowship Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo, Quebec, finds its beginnings in 1972, when workers from Canadian Sunday School Mission (CCSM) began Sunday School services in the local Elementary School. James Carter, the leader of the CSSM, felt that there needed to be a church established in the area. During the summer of 1974, a group of Mennonite students from Columbia Bible Institute explained Mennonite Brethren and Anabaptist distinctives in the Sunday school programs they were running in the church. On June 15, 1975, a membership service was held and 21 members voted unanimously to request admission into the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference. Victory Fellowship was accepted into the Conference in 1975 at the Convention in Regina.

George and Ruth Wiens from Linden, Alberta, filled the pastoral responsibilities on September 1, 1977. Services continued to take place in the Waterloo Elementary School and other events such as Bible study, youth group and meetings, took place in the Wiens’s home. George had a very community-focused ministry, and it was under his leadership that the annual Corn Boil and the Victory Fellowship banquet began.

In July 1977, David and Ruth Taylor assumed pastoral responsibilities. The church began to look for a new meeting place and settled upon the Gospel Recordings of Canada in Knowlton, Québec. This facility offered enough space to hold Sunday morning services, which began there November 1, 1977. There were 9 people who were baptized during Taylor’s ministry.

In June 1979, Rod and Julia Zook arrived and assumed the pastoral position for Victory Fellowship. On June 30, 1980, a baptism was held and three people were added to the church. In February 1980, Gospel Recordings of Canada moved along with many members of Victory Fellowship; however, Fred and Mary Penner stayed behind to help with the ministry.

On September 12, 1981, Victory Fellowship decided to form two Sunday morning worship groups to meet in Waterloo and Cowansville, Québec, respectively. In January 1983, arrangements were made with a United Church in Waterloo, Québec, for the rental of their facilities. The church closed down in 1989, due to lack of members attending.

The leaders of the congregation were: George Wiens (1976–1977), David Taylor (1978). Rod Zook (1979–1983), Pierre Gilbert (1984–1985), and Fred Sommerville (1986–1989).