- CA_MHA-2020
- Corporate body
- 1977-2012
The Portage Mennonite Church traces its beginning to 1977 when three couples in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba longed for a church where they could express their Mennonite faith. They invited others to join them, and they began holding services in an unused Presbyterian facility. Initially the congregation grew quickly and reached a maximum of about 40 members. When the Presbyterian building was sold, they rented space from a Seventh Day Adventist group, and later purchased a former Christian and Missionary Alliance building. The congregation formally organized in 1980, and began a practice of annual membership renewal on "Commitment Sunday" that continued to 2011. The congregation became a member of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba in 1983 (subsequently known as Mennonite Church Manitoba). They only had one paid minister in their history -- Karen Schellenberg from 2003 to 2010. Previously the pulpit was filled internally or by outside speakers. For several years Charleswood Mennonite Church sent speakers on a regular basis, followed by a series of part time pastors who commuted to Portage la Prairie from Winnipeg (a distance of about 90 km). Though small, Portage Mennonite Church, had an active ministry, including helping to start and manage the local Mennonite Central Committee thrift shop and the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. The congregation sponsored three refugee couples from Laos and Thailand during the 1980s. By 2012 the attendance had dropped significantly and it became difficult to maintain structure and program. The congregation held its last service on 1 July 2012.