The Story of ABC
Jesus promised to build his church, and while he was mainly referring to the universal church, it has been thrilling to watch Him build this body of believers known as Arrowsmith. The church is named after the most prominent mountain in the area.
Arrowsmith Baptist began with a desire to start a Sunday School on the north side of our city. In January of 1965, Wes Lindbloom and Cliff Gustafson, two leaders in the Baptist General Conference, met with 19 interested people in the home of Joe and Agnes Effa. Two months later, on March 25th, Arrowsmith Baptist Church was officially formed with 24 charter members. The Conference Church that sponsored Arrowsmith was Mount Pleasant , later called Global Community Church, in Vancouver. Sunday morning services were held in the IWA Union Hall. I have heard stories of people cleaning the hall, and opening the windows to clear out the smell of stale beer so that there would be a more conducive worship atmosphere!
In June of 1965, Leo Dellaire was called as the first pastor. He and his wife Joan served Arrowsmith for four hard years. During that time a building site was purchased, along with a five-bedroom house. The house served not only as the manse (the pastor’s residence) but also as the meeting place for the new church. Joe Effa gave a year of his life to lead the building program, commuting each day from Parksville. It was dedicated to the Lord in May of 1969. This building has served our congregation and community well, and at the time of this writing the Port Alberni Christian School meets there. The Dellaires moved to Minnesota later in 1969. Rev. Gordon Carlson came out of retirement in Seattle to serve as interim pastor for four months. Under his ministry the church was unified under a common vision and the Sunday School grew.
In February of 1970, Pastor Les Goertz and his wife Vernagean were called to pastor Arrowsmith. Together they faithfully and wholeheartedly served the church for almost 14 years. Vernagean led many successful Vacation Bible Schools. Pastor Les was and continues to be a gifted evangelist and motivator. Arrowsmith grew substantially, and soon the little church was overcrowded, even with many Sunday School classes meeting in the pastor’s home. The Sunday School grew to over 100 during this time. There were strong outreach programs, youth groups, and boys and girls clubs.
A new church building was begun in 1977 to better accommodate the growing congregation and plan for the future. In September of ’81 the new structure was dedicated to God’s glory. However hard times struck the church. Strikes in the forest industry and a recession caused many to move in search of stable employment. High mortgage payments left little money for outreach. Pastor Les accepted a call from Blue Mountain in Coquitlam in the summer of 1983. Crandall Wilson from California served as interim for the next nine months, and the church grew under his powerful pulpit ministry.
On April 1, 1984. Bruce Moir (with wife Linda and four daughters) became Arrowwsmith’s third full-time pastor. For the most part, these were difficult years characterized by a static or shrinking congregation, financial struggles, and doctrinal differences. For a while Pastor Bruce was principal of the Christian Life School which operated out of our church, and this took time away from pastoral responsibilities and was hard on the pastor. In June of 1993 he resigned and later accepted a call to Ladysmith Baptist Church.
Once again good people stepped in to help as interim pastors: Roy Nash from Australia visiting his daughter Pam Mann, John Davies the beloved Welshman, and Roger and Marion Erickson. After more than a year, the Search Committee recommended Tim Bartel as our next pastor. At the end of September, 1994, Pastor Tim began his ministry and was soon joined by his wife Cynthia and their four children. Under Pastor Tim’s excellent leadership, the church grew numerically and foundationally.
The church prospered and we were able to hire more staff. After evaluating the needs of our church, we were able to hire Lee Boehm as pastor of Youth and Worship. Lee and his wife Sandra began ministry in January, 1999, and have served the church well. In 2002 Sandy Wiebe joined the staff as counsellor of women and children. Sue St. Christopher has been hired as Office Administrator. A mission statement was developed: “We exist to be a healthy Christian community that draws individuals and families to Jesus Christ.” A strategic plan was drawn up to take us to the year 2010. Our parking lot was paved, and the interior of the church was painted and re-carpeted. And as we were rejoicing over all the blessings from God and enjoying being a growing, happy and healthy church, Pastor Tim resigned to become District Executive Minister for our BC Conference.
And so the process began again to find a new senior pastor. In the interim, Ken Castor from Parksville and John Wilton from Victoria filled in well. The church continued to grow and many became new members. Pastor Lee took on new responsibilities, became Associate Pastor instead of Assistant, and transitioned into Minister to Families. In December of 2007, the church welcomed Pastor Leland Botzet and wife Nancy to Arrowsmith. The Search Committee had cast the net wide, and the Botzets came all the way from Wisconsin. Pastor Leland is our first pastor with a doctorate (although he does have difficulty pronouncing such simple words as “roof” and “root”!). The church loves this family, and look forward to many fruitful years ahead.
Written by Ben Potter, December 2008.
Arrowsmith Baptist began with a desire to start a Sunday School on the north side of our city. In January of 1965, Wes Lindbloom and Cliff Gustafson, two leaders in the Baptist General Conference, met with 19 interested people in the home of Joe and Agnes Effa. Two months later, on March 25th, Arrowsmith Baptist Church was officially formed with 24 charter members. The Conference Church that sponsored Arrowsmith was Mount Pleasant , later called Global Community Church, in Vancouver. Sunday morning services were held in the IWA Union Hall. I have heard stories of people cleaning the hall, and opening the windows to clear out the smell of stale beer so that there would be a more conducive worship atmosphere!
In June of 1965, Leo Dellaire was called as the first pastor. He and his wife Joan served Arrowsmith for four hard years. During that time a building site was purchased, along with a five-bedroom house. The house served not only as the manse (the pastor’s residence) but also as the meeting place for the new church. Joe Effa gave a year of his life to lead the building program, commuting each day from Parksville. It was dedicated to the Lord in May of 1969. This building has served our congregation and community well, and at the time of this writing the Port Alberni Christian School meets there. The Dellaires moved to Minnesota later in 1969. Rev. Gordon Carlson came out of retirement in Seattle to serve as interim pastor for four months. Under his ministry the church was unified under a common vision and the Sunday School grew.
In February of 1970, Pastor Les Goertz and his wife Vernagean were called to pastor Arrowsmith. Together they faithfully and wholeheartedly served the church for almost 14 years. Vernagean led many successful Vacation Bible Schools. Pastor Les was and continues to be a gifted evangelist and motivator. Arrowsmith grew substantially, and soon the little church was overcrowded, even with many Sunday School classes meeting in the pastor’s home. The Sunday School grew to over 100 during this time. There were strong outreach programs, youth groups, and boys and girls clubs.
A new church building was begun in 1977 to better accommodate the growing congregation and plan for the future. In September of ’81 the new structure was dedicated to God’s glory. However hard times struck the church. Strikes in the forest industry and a recession caused many to move in search of stable employment. High mortgage payments left little money for outreach. Pastor Les accepted a call from Blue Mountain in Coquitlam in the summer of 1983. Crandall Wilson from California served as interim for the next nine months, and the church grew under his powerful pulpit ministry.
On April 1, 1984. Bruce Moir (with wife Linda and four daughters) became Arrowwsmith’s third full-time pastor. For the most part, these were difficult years characterized by a static or shrinking congregation, financial struggles, and doctrinal differences. For a while Pastor Bruce was principal of the Christian Life School which operated out of our church, and this took time away from pastoral responsibilities and was hard on the pastor. In June of 1993 he resigned and later accepted a call to Ladysmith Baptist Church.
Once again good people stepped in to help as interim pastors: Roy Nash from Australia visiting his daughter Pam Mann, John Davies the beloved Welshman, and Roger and Marion Erickson. After more than a year, the Search Committee recommended Tim Bartel as our next pastor. At the end of September, 1994, Pastor Tim began his ministry and was soon joined by his wife Cynthia and their four children. Under Pastor Tim’s excellent leadership, the church grew numerically and foundationally.
The church prospered and we were able to hire more staff. After evaluating the needs of our church, we were able to hire Lee Boehm as pastor of Youth and Worship. Lee and his wife Sandra began ministry in January, 1999, and have served the church well. In 2002 Sandy Wiebe joined the staff as counsellor of women and children. Sue St. Christopher has been hired as Office Administrator. A mission statement was developed: “We exist to be a healthy Christian community that draws individuals and families to Jesus Christ.” A strategic plan was drawn up to take us to the year 2010. Our parking lot was paved, and the interior of the church was painted and re-carpeted. And as we were rejoicing over all the blessings from God and enjoying being a growing, happy and healthy church, Pastor Tim resigned to become District Executive Minister for our BC Conference.
And so the process began again to find a new senior pastor. In the interim, Ken Castor from Parksville and John Wilton from Victoria filled in well. The church continued to grow and many became new members. Pastor Lee took on new responsibilities, became Associate Pastor instead of Assistant, and transitioned into Minister to Families. In December of 2007, the church welcomed Pastor Leland Botzet and wife Nancy to Arrowsmith. The Search Committee had cast the net wide, and the Botzets came all the way from Wisconsin. Pastor Leland is our first pastor with a doctorate (although he does have difficulty pronouncing such simple words as “roof” and “root”!). The church loves this family, and look forward to many fruitful years ahead.
Written by Ben Potter, December 2008.