Port Kells Church is a historic church from the 1880’s in Surrey, BC.
It was born Methodist, grew up United as the Presbyterians and Congregationalists joined, and later became independent and part of the Vision Ministries Network.
Bob Cottrill remembers visiting there and getting to know the congregation 40 years ago.
Then 7 years ago, Bob became the pastor.
He describes Port Kells Church as small but stable.
There’s a consistency among its people that’s admirable.
But, as retirement age approached, Bob realized that it would be difficult to find a new pastor.
The cost of living, our unique cultural moment, coming out of COVID, and few available pastors – all meant that this was something that God would have look after.
There was not an easy solution.
While the aging congregation prayed and wondered about its future, God was preparing two men for church (re)planting.
Ben Hilson from BC and Dan Gillis from PE were also praying about ministry opportunities.
Through God’s creativity and grace, these two men were introduced to Bob at Port Kells. (That’s a whole other story!)
Ben and Dan appreciated the Wesleyan roots – the call to holiness, reliance on the Holy Spirit, concern for injustice.
With much thanks and praise to God for working things out, Bob is grateful to know that Ben and Dan will carry on the work at Port Kells and continue the Christian legacy that has been there for almost 150 years.