The First Christian Reformed Church of New Westminster, B.C.

The First Christian Reformed Church of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, is a Christian congregation affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). It is registered as a nonprofit organization under the business registration number 119233054RR0001. The church is located in Burnaby, a city adjacent to New Westminster, and serves a community committed to expressing the renewing power of God in Christ Jesus.

History and Background
The church was originally organized in 1952 and has a long history of serving the Christian community in the Greater Vancouver area. It celebrated its 70th anniversary in October 2022, marking decades of ministry, fellowship, and community involvement. To commemorate this milestone, the church commissioned a documentary film highlighting its history and aspirations for the future.

Ministry and Community Life
The First Christian Reformed Church of New Westminster is a congregation focused on worship, spiritual growth, and community healing. It aims to be a tangible display of God’s power to bring unity and healing across all dimensions of human life. The church offers Sunday worship services, which are also live-streamed online to reach a broader audience. It promotes active participation through small groups and special devotional opportunities, such as Holy Week activities centered around the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.

Worship and Membership
The church holds weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:00 am with services conducted in English. The average attendance is approximately 115 people, and its membership totals around 293. The facility is partially barrier-free to accommodate people with disabilities, with provisions for sound and projection accessibility.

Leadership
Over the years, the church has been served by various ministers who have contributed to its growth and spiritual leadership. Past ministers include Henry Van Andel, Jacob Kuntz, Peter Brouwer, Michael W. Goheen, and Ray P. De Lange, among others. The current leadership continues to advance the church’s mission within the Classis B.C. North-West region of the CRCNA.

Affiliations
As part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, the First Christian Reformed Church of New Westminster aligns with the denomination’s theological and ecclesiastical standards while maintaining its unique community presence in the Burnaby/New Westminster area.

The church continues to welcome visitors and new members, inviting all to experience its community life and worship. It remains dedicated to providing spiritual nurture and fostering a supportive, faith-based community.

This article reflects information current as of 2024.

[1] https://www.nwcrc.ca [2] https://www.crcna.org/churches/930 [3] https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=7066926 [4] https://causes.benevity.org/causes/124-119233054RR0001 [5] https://www.crcna.org/churches/954