Williams Lake Free Presbyterian Mission Church
Spring 2023
On Monday, October 31, 2022, I sat with the trustees of First Baptist Church Williams Lake to hear a proposal—a proposal that our outreach ministry be given their church building and its contents for the furtherance of the gospel in that area. Unknown to them, on Sunday, October 9, I stood in that church’s parking lot and asked the Lord if it was His will for us to have the building for our ministry, then He must give it to us. The Lord answers prayer and provides exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think.
The session and committee of Heritage Free Presbyterian Church (Prince George) met on November 8 to discuss the proposal. Although this would mean a significant financial commitment by Heritage FPC, the men unanimously believed that this was the will of the Lord. I am very thankful for the hard work and commitment of the committee thus far. It has been a significant undertaking with many hours spent dealing with the practical matters of transferring a building.
We have a building—what now? The Heritage FPC session has now accepted the outreach ministry as a Free Presbyterian Mission Church under our care. The congregation meet on Sunday mornings to watch our live-streamed service from Prince George. Then, on Sunday evenings I preach in person to the congregation. Mr. Jonathan Eccles, from Northern Ireland and a third-year Whitefield College of the Bible student, will be coming to Williams Lake for the summer, God willing. He will preach at the Sunday services and prayer meetings and conduct outreach in the local area. The church has a comfortable basement suite for visiting preachers to stay in.
Williams Lake is a city located in the British Columbia interior with a population of 10,000 people. The city also acts as the primary service area for the surrounding area. To my knowledge, our mission church is the only conservative and reformed church within a three-hour radius by car. The opportunities here are immense, especially with the increasing population of the city.
Rev. Ian Goligher made initial contact with the people from the Williams Lake area, and they became regular listeners to his Sermonaudio and radio broadcasts. I held one meeting in 2016 when visiting for the summer, and then a monthly meeting began in 2019. The congregation met in several buildings, and although the expenses of owning a building are higher, it has brought stability to the work.
We would greatly value the prayers of God’s people as we seek to plant a church for the glory of God in this area. The Lord would have us do this, but we need divine power and blessing to come upon the work in ways we have never known before. “Brethren, pray for us!”
Oh, for the flood on the thirsty land! Oh, for a mighty revival!
Oh, for a sanctified, fearless band, Ready to hail its arrival!