Assemblée chrétienne de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC
From BrethrenPedia
Contents |
[edit] Address/Contact
Street
Phone #
Street
Phone #
[edit] Links
[edit] History
In 1946, a tract distribution campaign in the town of Cap-de-la-Madeleine offered a free New Testament to anyone who requested one. About 100 responded, and Paul Boèda, Noah Gratton, and John Spreeman from Montreal came to visit those homes in early 1947. This resulted in the formation of the Assemblée chrétienne de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC, meeting in the home of Fernand and Yolande St. Louis. Dorothy Kenyon and Elsie Scott were actively involved in the beginning of this assembly. After nine months, the Christians were able to buy a small building seating about 40 persons. They affectionately called it “The Shack.” Roland Lacombe was commended by the Assemblée chrétienne de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC in 1950, the first French Canadian Christian to be commended to full-time work. Since then, Fernand and Yolande St. Louis and others have been to the Lord’s work by the assembly.
Paul Boèda and Sheldon Bard were full-time workers in the assembly for about the first ten years. In 1955 the assembly had a fellowship of about 100. In about 1957, Norman Buchanan came to work in the assembly. Michel Pedneault has been a full-time worker since 1988. Douglas Virgin, Fernand Montplaisir, and Guy Dupont serve as elders. About 400 are in the assembly today.
The Assemblée chrétienne de Trois-Rivières-Ouest and the Assemblée chrétienne de Grand’mère both came into existence in 1977 as a result of home meetings in these two areas, separated from each other by about twenty-five miles. Marc Champagne, commended to the work by the French assembly in nearby Cap-de-la-Madeleine, was actively engaged in the realization of these new testimonies. In 1979 and 1982 respectively, new buildings were completed for both of the assemblies and the work continues in each to the present time.
The Assemblée chrétienne de Shawinigan in Shawinigan Falls, 20 miles north of Cap-de-la-Madeleine was established as an outgrowth of the Cap assembly. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boèda began the work in 1949, followed soon by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Darling. The Shawinigan assembly began about 1950. Almost immediately these Christians came under persecution, for when 10 fellow-believers from the nearby Three Rivers/Cap-de-la-Madeleine area joined them for a meeting, a mob attacked and greatly damaged the building they were in. For a long time the assembly was unable to get a meeting place, so they met first in a rented basement and then in the Darling’s kitchen. In 1954, Mr. Darling obtained permission to build a chapel at 1894 St. Laurent Street. Persecution continued from neighbors objecting to their presence and by physical damage to the building. Gradually the tension abated, but many years passed before any neighbors began attending the fellowship or any were saved.
Roland Lacombe served the Lord in Quebec beginning in 1952. He had come to the Lord in 1948 at the assembly in Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Three years later, he started in the ministry that God had reserved for him in the small town of La Tuque, about 100 miles north of Cap-de-la-Madeleine. There he distributed New Testaments. The transition from Scripture distribution to an assembly of believers was an arduous one. Preachingthe Gospel in French was opposed by police,
magistrates, and religious leaders in attempts to stifle the Gospel. In spite of opposition, a brethren assembly was founded. Paul Boèda also helped in the ministry. Today the Christians at the Assemblée chrétienne de La Tuque, QC have their own chapel, built in 1961, and carry on a good work.
Drummondville is a sizeable city south of Trois-Rivières. The assembly there was started by James B. Howitt, who spoke only a little French but desired to start a French_speaking work. When two married couples from the Cap-de-la-Madeleine assembly moved to Drummondville in 1951, a Remembrance Meeting began in one of their homes. However, by 1953, both couples had moved to Richmond, and J.B. Howitt was alone once again. He invited Roland Lacombe, who was evangelizing in La Tuque, to come to Drummondville for door_to_door visitation and literature distribution. Several people were converted as a result of this effort, and in 1954 Mr. Lacombe moved his family to Drummondville. The revitalized assembly met in his home.
[edit] Also See
Assemblée chrétienne Source de Vie, Lennoxville, QC
Assemblée chrétienne de Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Assemblée chrétienne de Trois-Rivières-Ouest, QC
Assemblée chrétienne de Grand’mère, QC
Assemblée chrétienne de Shawinigan, QC
[edit] Author
Dan H. Smith, Ed.D. President, Emmaus Bible College
[edit] Resources
Looking Backward, Pressing Forward: A Brief History of the Montreal Assemblies of Christians known as brethren, 1860s-1993 by George H. Dixon.
30th Anniversary of God's Faithfulness to Huntingville Community Church, 1955 _ 1985.
Sorel - Dedication of a New Chapel, 1996
Portfolio of Huntingville Community Church, undated
News of Quebec, vol. 41, #1, spring 1986; vol. 41, #2, summer 1986; vol. 41, #3, fall 1986; vol. 42, #1, spring 1987; vol. 42, #2, summer 1987; vol. 44, #2, summer 1989; vol. 44, #3, fall 1989.
Letters of Interest, June 1945, p. 13; September 1946, p. 33; June 1948, p. 19; May 1950, p. 17; October 1955, p. 14; November 1955, p. 7; January 1958, p. 3; June 1962, p. 21; July/August September 1963, p. 8; April 1971, p. 16; September 1973, p. 6; January 1985, p. 8.
[edit] Ending Note
There about two dozen additional present-day assemblies of French-speaking believers in Quebec for which the necessary historical information is lacking
