Our History
Wolf Creek Community Church (W.C.C.C.) began in August 2003,with 12 families committing to it. On February 1, 2004 we held our official organizational service with Pastor Martin Contant of Home Missions presiding. Our vision was, and still is, to reach out and enfold people for Jesus, together becoming devoted disciples of Him. We decided that this would best be done in team based ministry. As a church, we decided that we want to be permission giving. If someone has a passion or a deep desire to reach out into the community in a certain way, we want to encourage and support that initiative.
For our first facility, we were able to rent the commercial space downtown Lacombe beside the Laundromat. The facility was painted and chairs were purchased. In this humble beginning, we offered Alpha and enthusiastically met every other week for worship. We also had Membership classes for those who wanted to join the church. On Easter Sunday, April 11, we had our first baptisms, profession of faith, and membership covenant signing day with Pastor Evert Gritter officiating. What a celebration! We continued our search for a full time pastor and for a larger, more permanent home. After a considerable search process, we called and welcomed Pastor Andy Geleynse and his family to our church community. On October 24, 2004, he was installed as our first pastor.
With the blessing of new people joining our community the need for a larger facility became increasingly important. In early 2007, after having considered other places, such as the old Pentecostal church and the Empress Hotel, we purchased the Lacombe RV building and lot. On July 2007 we took possession of our new building. After doing extensive renovations and lots of painting we had our first worship service on December 16, 2007. We praise God for such wonderful provision: a facility located between the Wolf Creek and Wolf Creek Drive. Only God could have orchestrated that!
In the first five years of our ministry, we have offered a variety of programs such as Alpha, Dobson’s video series Bringing Up Boys, and the Essentials of Discipline, we have shown the Passion movie and followed it up with a Bible Study. We have run the MOPS program, began a vibrant youth program, done special Christmas services, held family camps and family fun days. We began Sunday School and Children in Worship. We do highway clean-up. We have games nights and movie nights. We have offered craft courses through the town’s “Don’t Hibernate” series. We have put on a large scale drama production, and hosted a community choir. We have done the leg work for “Tools For Schools” through FCSS. God has allowed us to be a presence in the community. We praise Him for that.
Although God has blessed abundantly, Wolf Creek has not been immune to difficulties. In the spring of 2008 after a period of increasing tension and difficulty Pastor Andy and WCCC mutually agreed that they would part ways. With the help from individuals in the larger Christian Reformed denomination, Wolf Creek was able to move ahead from this difficult time. In efforts to move forward during this transitional time, Henk John Kuipers was hired fulltime as the Director of Ministries and Pastor Harry Valstar as part time pastor and mentor.
The following year was a time of looking forward. New initiatives such as the Marriage Course, MOM’s Time, Sunday brunches and even dance classes began. By January, 2009 the positive mood had again regained momentum with approximately 130 attendees worshiping regularly on a Sunday morning and many others involved in week day activities and ministries. Many new initiatives were tried, such as Doubt Night, which people were encouraged to express any doubts or questions they may have regarding faith and Christianity. In the spring of 2009 we held our first “Hands and Feet Sunday”. Instead of the regular Sunday service, we went out and served many in the Lacombe community. In the fall of 2009 we held our first “Fall Family Education Night”. Six to eight weeks of education for the whole family on all different aspects of faith and life. Many of these new initiatives are continuing on to this day.
Wolf Creek continues to be involved in the community in different ways, including the free pancake breakfast at Lacombe Days, Hands and Feet Sunday, Men’s Ministry, Marriage Course, the ever well-liked and important MOM's Time and host of other activities to numerous to mention which are carried on by individuals, small groups, and the church together as a community.
It is with anticipation that we begin this next chapter in the life of WCCC with the coming of our new Pastor Leon Johnston, along with is wife Joy and their children. Pastor Leon looks forward to his new role of pastor at WCCC. He looks forward to encouraging and teaching this church to go out and enfold people for Jesus, together becoming fully devoted disciples of him. As our story unfolds, we are continually impressed upon how much our story is a part of His grand story.
