It was like Acts Chapter Two community. Breaking of bread together was so special. The first year in the church, Katy led the women’s Bible study. There were about 15 women. It was a need, especially for the women whose husbands weren’t Christians and wouldn’t attend church. The men met, starting with five or six in Steinbach. They studied “The Measure of a Man” by Gene Getz. Later, in Richer, there were about ten men. Billy was the first church board chairman. He was also the building contractor. John and Charity were the first family to live in the basement suite with their three children. Their bedrooms were used as Sunday School rooms at the beginning, before the upstairs of the church was completed. The suite bathroom was used by the church as well as the kitchen. The only time this arrangement inspired real panic was one Sunday morning in April when the time change was sprung on the Shellenbergs without their remembering. Steve and Mary walked in for church while they were all still eating breakfast in their pajamas. With Stuart’s help, we got the whole place ready for church in ten minutes.
In an effort to relate to the people in the community, John and Charity joined the Richer Pro-Life group. MaryAnne Lepp was also a member. Relationships with people in the community were formed which remain to this Onday.February
The process of even finding the property was Spirit-led. We met on that property and claimed it for the Lord. This was also done around the centre of town by some of us on a regular basis.
21, 1982 the first charter membership meeting was held with eleven charter members. On May 2, 1982 there was a sod-turning ceremony on the site of the present church. On October 2, 1983 the completion of the church building was marked with a dedication service to which the whole community was invited.
Susan Reid, who is still a member, tells about that time: (Susan Reid, 2007 for the 25th Anniversary): “ I was one of the charter members when we formally started Richer Fellowship Church in 1982. We held a bap tism and charter membership service that February, while we were still meeting at the Richer School. We were baptized by D.K. Friesen who poured water on our heads. As charter members we had to sign a paper for the bank, acknowledging financial responsibility for the loan we received to build a church later that year. That was a very exciting time. The church was being built, there were mostly young families and their children there and we met often. We held membership meetings frequently at each other’s homes. Our Sunday School was a good size. We supported each other, prayed for each other and grew in the knowledge of God’s grace. Since then, our church has always been a small church. Even so, we have faced as many obstacles, heartbreaks, disappointments, difficulties and testings of faith as any larger church. Many people have come and gone in our 25 years – and here is what make it all worthwhile – many have gone on to serve the Lord in many exciting ways. We have also celebrated, rejoiced and praised God’s goodness to us through all seasons of life!”
In the late 1990’s several families moved away and left for various reasons. Many of them had been in leadership positions in our church and all of them had children. We sorely missed them and the church struggled for a few Inyears.2000, our church became a replant. A Steering Committee was appointed to assist the pastor in spiritual mat ters as we had no elders. Now we are happy to say that we have been financially self-supporting for a number of years. We have elected two Elders: Paul Manning in 2017 and Henry Wiebe in 2021. We completed the process of becoming incorporated in 2018. At the 2021 FEBC Convention, Richer Fellowship Church was approved as a Full Autonomous Member… no longer a church plant or re-plant! This year, 2022 is our 40th anniversary. Many people have come and gone in those 40 years. Some continued to serve the Lord in other communities or on the mission field. We continue to support one another, pray for each other and grow in God’s grace. We are thankful for pastors who have faith fully preached the Word. We celebrate God’s faithfulness through all the years and in every season of life.
Pastors Our pastors have been: D.K. Friesen February 1982 - January 1986 Randy & Dorothy Heinrichs February 1986 - June 1990 Ken & Marion Graham July 1990 – January 1994 Larry & Wilma Priebe August 1994- October 2001 Simon Cheung September 2002 – June 2014 Ryan & Uma Rear July 2014 – March 2015 Ben & Marjorie Funk August 2015 to Present Randy & Dorothy Heinrichs Larry & Wilma Priebe Ken & Marion Graham
Pastors Simon Cheung September 2002- June 2014 Ben & Marjorie Funk August 2015- Current Ryan & Uma Rear July 2014 - March 2015
Ken Labossiere, Stan Labossiere, Wayne Astrope, Marion Graham, Joy Nemez, Mary Anne Lepp, Sharon Singbeil, Brandy Kadobiansky, Wilma Priebe, Ang Penner, Lorna Annell, Mikaela Driedger, Rick Betts,
Anke Karg, Paul Manning, Lucille Plett, Billy & Carey Reimer Sopko,
Children’s Church Marj Betts - Coordinator Teachers: Helen Schroeder, Georgina
Children’s Ministries since 1996 Sunday School Teachers
Susan Reid Morning For Moms - 2009-10 Susan Reid Flo StephanieSmall Reimer Carissa Embury-Hyatt
Dennis Kadobiansky Jan – June 1995 George Coyle
2009- 2015
2021
1988-1990
1982-1986Treasurer
Susan Reid
David Reimer Billy Reimer Wayne Astrope Rick Betts 1995 Dennis Kadobiansky Carey Reimer D.K.Friesen 1987-1994 Rick Betts 1993-1997 Susan Kadobiansky Noelle Semko Anke Karg Carissa Embury-Hyatt
1986-1987
1993-1994
1986-1987Trustees
2005-2016
Rev. Tom Peachy, Rev. Dave Smith, Jim Mack James Thiessen, Billy Reimer, Dave Loeppky Billy Reimer, Gordon Reimer Paul Manning elected as Elder, installed December 2017 Henry Wiebe elected as Elder, installed July 2021
2019 Ministry Council (same as above) Lorna Annell, Lucille Plett, Paul Manning, Henry Wiebe
2016-2018
1982-1991Secretary
2008-2016
1991-1994
1992-1994
2016-Present
2002-2008
Billy Reimer Elder Board (Steering Committee)
1983-1992
2021*
1998-2001
1982-1983Moderator
2017-2018
Trustee
2005
Tracy Labossiere Angie Astrope
Church Officers 1984-1995Deacon
July 2021
July 1995 John Schroeder 2000 Paul Semko Rick Betts & John Schroeder Board – Property & Finance – 2009 Rick Betts, Anke Karg, Lorna Annell Rick Betts, Anke Karg, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, Lorna Annell Lorna Annell, Lucille Plett, Paul Manning, Loni Ross
2002-2004
1987-1988
Marlin Thiessen
Richer Fellowship Church was approved for Full Autonomous Membership in FEBC D.K. Friesen Billy Reimer
201620142004-201419981995-19961993-19951991-19921990-19911988-19891984-19851982-1987Lakeland)D.K.FriesenStephenStuartMarlinThiessenKenLabossiereKenLabossiereEdSingbeilDennisKadobianskyPaulSemkoPastorSimonCheungPastorRyanReartocurrentPastorBenFunk
2017*
1994-1995
Lucille Plett MOEC (Manitoba, Ontario, Extension Committee) (now
1991-1993
2000-2004
Brian & Deeonna
February 1996
Betts March 1990 Susan
member July 1985
Wilfred & Gertrude Kropp, Allyne Ptasznik
Sharon Singbeil, Singbeil
January 1994 Dan Nemez August 1994
Anke Karg a
Jennifer
September 1990 Edward
person who was baptized was also included in Church Membership February 1982
Williams transferred membership January 1997
Trisha
Labossiere April 1992
Irene Caron, Ray & Denise Nowicki, Karg
became
January 1986 Mary Ann Lepp transferred membership August 1986
& Helen Schroeder transferred membership September 1992 Joshua
Brown April 1995 Dustin
John Astrope
Dan & Lynda Betts, Brandy Kadobiansky, Kevin Nemez, Barrett Romaniw
Richard (Rick) & Marj Kadobiabsky, Ken & Liz Labossiere
March 1993
Semko transferred membership April 13, 1997
Denis Kadobiasky, Brian Labossiere Singbeil, Janet Zychowka, Denis Graham, Stan & Tracy
George & Joyce Coyle
Nina Lepp June 2001 Lisa Munro transferred membership January 2002 Kenneth Karg May 2003 Deanna Unruh transferred membership May 2004 Scott & Stephanie Reimer transferred membership May 2005 Felicia Reimer, Elmer Sawatzky December 2006 Ang Penner transferred membership April 2008 Shane Reimer, Carissa Embury-Hyatt April 2011 Georgina Sopko Lucille & Nathaniel Plett and Paul and Carol Manning transferred membership August 2013 Cheryl Dash-Davidow, Drew Hanney Yvonne St. Onge transferred membership October 2013 Wally & Michelle Driedger transferred membership Mikaela Driedger transferred membership May 2014 Gillian Hunt transferred membership Darson & Amanda Dueck transferred membership July 2016 Laurie Peters, Melissa Reimer, Jan Ostash, Loni Ross September 2017 Joshua Birta, Emily Birta, Ashley Bergen, Matthew Prud’homme November 2017 Victor & Susan Wollmann transferred membership January 2018 Pastor Ben & Marjorie Funk transferred membership June 2020 Heinrich & Gertrude Wiebe transferred membership Sybille Funk transferred membership (Garry) Gerry Funk was baptized April 2021 Rosemary Angell transferred membership Tedd Vidler transferred membership July 2021 Peter & Anna Martens transferred membership
Annell transferred membership
Donna Friesen, Christeena Stuart, Anna Schroeder
Lorna
Joy Nemez
Baptisms and New Members in the Richer Fellowship Church
November 1983
Each
Stephen & Mary Stuart, Susan Reid Sandra Friesen, Marlin Thiessen
transferred membership August 1985
May 1990
Annell
Paul & Noella James R. Reimer, Quintin Schroeder,
Dan Torresan, Kari
July 1982
Betts November 1993
Reimer, Steven
August 1984
June 1993
Maria Giesbrecht, Connie Schroeder, Sheri Kadobiansky Heidi Annell, Brandi
Friends in Fellowship The first organizational meeting took place at Carey Reimer’s on December 14, 1982 These are the Presidents over the years: 1983-1984 Katy Reimer 1984-1985 Carey Reimer 1985-1986 Susan Reid 1987-1988 Kim Thiessen 1989-1990 Carey Reimer 1991-1992 Sharon Singbeil 1993-1994 Marion Graham 1995-1998 Lorna Annell 1998 Susan Kadobiansky Reorganized 2003-4 Lisa Munro 2005 -2006 Anna Reimer (Martens) 2006-2007 Anke Karg & Lorna Annell 2008-2009 Lorna Annell 2009-2017 Susan Reid 2017-2022 Anke Karg
Betts 2003-2008
Pastor
Rick
Fisher Bay Bible Camp Board 1982-1987 Stephen Stuart 1987-2000 Sharon Singbeil 2001-2003
Paul
Manning
Ken
Karg 2011-2012
Cheung 2016-present
Simon
Fisher Bay Bible Camp Volunteers Camp Counselors Trisha Singbeil Barrett Reimer Kari Annell (Director 1998) Stephanie Reimer April Annell Jennifer Karg Heidi Annell (Lifeguard) Kenneth Karg Britta LarrySimonSpeakersWilmaHelenGeorginaLucilleMaryMichelleMarjAnkeCarolKitchenRickAngieRachelBarryMelanieAdamJoshPaulRitaJamesKeithKevinSheriBrandyConnieGracieMikaelaAnnellDriedgerDriedgerSchroederKadobianskyKadobianskyNemezNemezGrahamGrahamManningAstropeAstropeAstropeJanzenJanzenAstropeBettsHelpersManningKargBettsDriedgerAnnLeppPlettSopkoSchroederPriebeCheungPriebe
The AWANA program at Richer Fellowship Church began unofficially in the Fall of 1987 when Wayne and Angie Astope introduced the Junior Varsity program. This was chartered in the Fall of 1988.
Awana
In the Spring of 1989 a training course was held for AWANA leaders. During a week in August, we held an “AWANA Week” for Daily Vacation Bible School at the church. September 1989 the AWANA program for grades 3-6 officially began at Richer Fellowship Church
In
with: Pastor Randy Heinrichs Commander Dorothy Heinrichs Secretary Joy Nemez Games Director Marlin Thiessen Pal Leader Kim Thiessen Guard Leader Carey Reimer Chum Leader Commanders following Pastor Randy Heinrichs 1996 Joy Nemez 2001 Larry Priebe 2003 Clarke Family 2004 Friesen Family 2005-2018 Rick Betts
Youth Director 1988-1991 Wayne Astrope 1991-1992 Barry Janzen 1992-1996 Rick Betts 1996-1998 Brian Williams 1998 Susan Kadobiansky 1998 (JV Awana) Ken Karg, Quentin Schroeder, Dennis Kadobiansky, Brandy Kadobiansky, Larry & Wilma Priebe 2003 Pastor Simon Cheung, Lisa & Allen Munroe, Rick & Marj Betts, Ken Karg 2004 Pastor Simon Cheung, Ken Karg, Rick Betts, Deanna Unruh, Scott & Stephanie Reimer 2005-2007 (Youth drop-in) Felicia Reimer, Scott & Stephanie Reimer 2009 Rick Betts, Shane Reimer, Anja Schweng, Wally & Michelle Driedger 2010-2014 Wally & Michelle Driedger & Shane Reimer 2014-2015 Pastor Ryan Rear 2015-2019 Michelle Driedger “Fireside Youth” continued (outside the church)
Record of Deaths – Members of Richer Fellowship Church are marked with an (*) & Regular Attenders Charlie Smith October 20, 1993 Edward Singbeil* April 3, 2001 Esther Feilberg November 20, 2002 John Albert Amundsen July 8, 2004 Jim Wilson January 21, 2007 Don Carriere July 4, 2007 D.K. Friesen* June 1, 2007 Paul Semko* November 26, 2009 Ron Cole November 26, 2010 Niels Annell May 10, 2011 Shirley Cole July 9, 2012 Russell Ducharme August 9, 2012 Tracy Labossiere* December 2013 Ann Smith December 18, 2013 Dorothy Heinrichs* May 13, 2014 Ramesh Chohan July 3, 2014 Georgina Sopko* January 6, 2015 Doug Small June 21, 2015 Irene Caron* August 31, 2016 Janet Ostash* February 22, 2017 Leonard Poetker March 25, 2017 Dave Loeppky (Steering Committee) December 26, 2017 Will Linklater August 12, 2018 Willard Elliot August 2019 Shirley Romanchuk November 13, 2019 Val Marie Moskaliuk November 2018 John Schroeder* May 17, 2019 Cheryl Dash Davidow* December 30, 2019 Amy Maynard January 14, 2020 Nelson Friesen October 28, 2020 Florence Small February 24, 2021 Wayne Astrope * October 23, 2021 Stanley Sainnawap February 18, 2022 Reinhard Horch March 10, 2022 Sadie Friesen April 29, 2022 Dave Reimer May 1, 2022 Tedd Vidler May 27, 2022 Carl Herman Quappe July 2, 2022
Friends in Fellowship
