About Us
I John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called the children of God!
Pender Harbour Community Church is a part of God’s growing family in Pender Harbour.
We are a church family with diverse backgrounds who desire to share God’s love with everyone through the gifts He has placed in each of us.
We are passionate about helping others come to know how much God loves them and to find the daily joy, purpose and peace that comes from following Jesus and being part of the family of God.
Pastor Rich & Noreen Phillips
Welcome to Pender Harbour Community Church
We welcome your visit to our website today.
Pender Harbour Community Church exists to love God, love others and grow in grace.
If you are looking for a community church to connect with other Christians, grow spiritually, and be part of a community of people who love Jesus or if you’re curious about Jesus and His followers:
Welcome home!
Our Board of Elders
Ron (Marilyn) Seymour
Pauline (Stuart) Gicquel (not pictured)
We are thankful for the faithful service of our board members and pray the Lord will bless them and their families and give them strength, wisdom and clarity as they work on behalf of our church family.
PHCC is affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
https://paoc.org/
https://www.bc.paoc.org/
The gospel boat run by Captain Harford is an early memory of Christian ministry to the scattered residents of Pender Harbour. The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada had a keen eye for service and in 1948 sent Rev. Irvin and Helen Wenzel to pastor in this community. They were settled in one of the Leigh's cottages in Martin Cove at Murdocks. At that time there were no connecting roads, so travel was by boat or on foot. The minister had to adapt to boat handling and acquire local knowledge of reefs and bay entrances, understand nautical charts, develop a keen eye for weather and acquire docking skills. Services were in homes. Helen Wenzel played a vital role in service and ministry as she nursed at St. Mary's Hospital in Garden Bay and became loved in the community.
In 1952, Rev. Walter & Ester Ackroyd with their 3 daughters: Beverly, Ruth and Violet arrived to fill the role of home missions. Walter enjoyed boating and acquired a boat adequate for passengers. He also took on the work of dismantling the hotel on the waterfront at Irving's Landing. This was done with a view to using the lumber to build a church in Madeira Park. Ester ran a girl's sewing club in the community hall. Through his friendship with the Littles, Walter acquired the land and built the present church and included a home for his family within the church building. This was before contractors, codes or regional district oversight. Ackroyd's ministry concluded in 1978 when they retired.
In 1979, Tim and Donna Shepcott came to ministry directly from Bible school. Their service to youth and open door hospitality left a lasting legacy. They were blessed with 2 children; Christopher and Kathyrn and in 1989 they moved on. In 1989, Rev. Mike Klassen, wife Lu and daughter served a full Sunday school with classes for all ages. Mike led the singing for the church and was particularly gifted at leading lively discussions for his well attended adult bible classes.
In 1995, Jeff Beckmeyer filled in kindly as interim pastor directly from Bible college.
1996, Rev. Michael Cyr and wife Nadine began ministry and were blessed with 2 children, Jessica and Gabe. Nadine led the worship, organized Sunday school and women's ministry. Michael had a steady friendly heart with deep love for the word. At that time Michael established Greg & Deyon Chiasson as respected and dedicated youth leaders along with their family; Julian, Shaylynn and Arianna. They brought forth musical participation from a wide range of youth.
In 2013, Rev. John and Del Cann filled in as interim supporting all ministries.
In 2014, Rev Larry Koslof and wife, Heidi with children; Mikayla, Bennett and Preston were welcomed into our church family. They had a very successful kids club and youth group. They embraced the community and their ministry was respected and outreaching. During Larry’s and Heidi’s time at PHCC they were joined by Xander and Mokie de Winter who helped pastor the growing children and youth ministry at PHCC. Their four young children were a delightful addition to our growing church family.
In 2019, Dr. Doug Atha, a professor at Trinity Western University became interim pastor with enthusiasm to support and serve.
In 2020, Rev Jarmo and Else Heiti ministered during the restrictive outbreak of covid 19. All services and church fellowship came to a stop. Sermons were delivered online. Adapting to this, they made faithful contact by phone and outdoor visiting.
In 2021 Dr. Doug Atha resumed the role of interim pastor.
Over the years guest speakers, special ministries and our missionaries have visited and we are privileged to call them friends of PHCC.
Welcome Home
The Statement “Welcome Home” speaks of the desire of Jesus to welcome everyone into His family, the Family of God, and His promise of enduring love and relationship in community.
In Luke 15 Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son: As the son returned home after squandering his earthly inheritance, his father ran to him and welcomed him home.
We believe this is how Jesus greets us when we come to Him;
He comes running to us saying, “Welcome Home!”
From God’s Heart
John 3:16
For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only only Son,
that whoever believes in him will not perish
but have eternal life.
John 1:12
Yet to all who received him,
to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God.
Loving God - Loving Others - Growing in Grace
As God’s children and members of His family, it is our mission to grow together in loving God and loving others, through the power of Christ’s grace that is at work in us; as together we grow in loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and one another in accordance with this prayer for our oneness and unity that Jesus prayed to His Father:
John 17: 22 – 23
“I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as We are one:
I in them and you in me.
May they be brought to complete unity
to let the world know that You sent me
and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Loving God
Matthew 22: 37 - 38
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Loving Others
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
Growing in Grace
Ephesians 2: 8 – 10
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own: it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.