The locations may have changed, pastors have come and gone and there have been different names, but the church now known as Encounter Church celebrated a milestone birthday on the weekend.
Pastor Brandon Cousineau said despite changes over the years, “we're still the same church” after 80 years. A dinner was held Saturday evening to celebrate with Sunday morning's service also commemorating the occasion. The sermon for the latter was delivered by Pastor Chris Walker, who was the lead pastor from 2006-09.
Walker noted his path to the church started with Terry Bone, who also preached at the church, as they were once travelling to a baseball game when they had to take refuge there during a strong thunderstorm. Then-Rev. Ken Mervyn allowed them to sleep at the church and it led to Walker starting to work there and eventually become lead pastor. He recalled meeting his wife there and celebrating life milestones in Amherstburg.
Walker went on to a church in Sudbury and is now based in Leamington.
“This church will always be special to me,” said Walker.
Encounter Church originally started Jan. 30, 1944 in the I.O.O.F. Hall on Richmond St. It started as an outreach of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Windsor.
The first pastor was John Cleeves and they built a “basement church” on Rankin Ave.
Under the name of Amherstburg Pentecostal Church, the “basement church” was completed in 1969-70. In 1970, it was renamed Trinity Pentecostal Church under the leadership of Rev. James Dunlop. That building was eventually sold to the Lutheran Church in 1987 and the Pentecostal church relocated to the Amherstburg Community Centre until the current building at 125 Alma St. was completed in 1989. It was in 1989 when the church was renamed Amherstburg Community Church.
Other lead pastors have included Mervyn, Walker, Barry Antle, John Bustard and now Cousineau, though have have had many interim pastors, children's pastors and youth pastors as well.
The church was renamed again in 2022 to its current name.
“There's a lot of history here,” said Cousineau.
Many former pastors, staff and missionaries brought greetings, most via video. Among the messages was from Bustard and his wife Myrna, with John being the pastor from 2013-20.
“We look back on that time with warmth in our hearts,” said John.Bone stated “you helped me get started on a whole new path” while interim pastor Al Saunders, there in person, thanked board members and previous pastors and staff.
Cousineau said 80 years is symbolized by both pearl and oak, with the latter being a theme for the church.
“To celebrate our 80th anniversary, we're going to be planting 80 trees in the community,” said Cousineau, with that planting coming later this year at Pat Thrasher Park. “It's a way to give back to the community.”Volunteers with Encounter Church already planted 70 trees in Warren Mickle Park earlier in the spring as part of anniversary celebrations.
“Eighty years, that's something to celebrate,” said Cousineau, telling parishioners “I'm so glad to be part of this with you.”
Local church celebrates 80th anniversary with two days of events
By Ron Giofu
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