Who We Are:
History & Statement of Faith
Smithers Fellowship Baptist Church exists to glorify God
By bringing lost people to Christ and Christians toward spiritual maturity
Our History
The congregation of Smithers Baptist Church was founded in 1961. The present building was erected in 1966
In November of 1958, Bruce Mateika and his wife Helen began a tent making ministry in Smithers at the request of the BC Regular Baptist Home Missions. In the 1960's, they had a Sunday School of over 100 students. At one time, the evening service was broadcast from the rented Elk's hall in which the church met. The church ran several camps at Tyee Lake, 'nameless lake' and at Topley Landing. At this time, people from the Smithers Church helped plant the Baptist Church in Houston. The church at this time was a melting pot of believers from various church backgrounds as is common in small towns
In the years that followed, Bob Roth, Robert Plant, and Henry Ford (mid 70's) gave solid leadership to the work. During this time, the church began its association with Camp Driftwood. Church and camp prospered together in the 70's and 80's.The Evangelical Free Church started in town at this time and some families left to join it
Ken McNaughton led the congregation in the early 1980's. A small group program flourished at that time. Church attendance reached 140. During this time, an Alliance Church was started in Smithers
Mark Kennedy had a healing ministry in the church. At this time, a teen's work under the leadership of Bond family occurred in Smithers and flourished until they left Smithers.
Todd and Karen Chapman brought enthusiasm and energy to the church. Todd was involved in the community in soccer. Karen had 40-50 kids in her church program. At this time, there was a Moms and Tots program which drew many moms. The church was involved in the local Fall Fair parade and many people enjoyed this
Building expansion was revisited during Todd's ministry. The committee determined that expansion at this site would be too expensive because more land must be purchased for parking and handicap modifications required for the church
In the 80's, Northern Association support for Camp Driftwood dwindled. Camp business became too much for a small church. The church was defining itself apart from the camp
Will and Rhea Corbett came in early 2007. A highlight of their first year was the 'Just walk across the room' campaign and 6 small groups were started. Following 4 years of ministry, Will and Rhea left in August 2011
Chris Kibble came initially as interim pastor in January 2012, and became pastor in the same year. After leading the congregation through some significant changes, he retired in March 2016
Warren Trenholm came to serve as interim pastor in April 2016
Summary of pastoral staff:
Bruce Mateika: 1959 - 68
Wally Eadie:(interim): 1968
Bob Roth: 1970 - 74
Robert Plant: 1974 - 76
Henry Ford: 1977 - 80
Ken McNaughton: 1980 - 85
Helmut Rauser: 1986
Mark Kennedy: 1987 - 1999
Todd Chapman: 1999 - 2006
Will Corbett: 2007 - 2011
Chris Kibble : 2012 - 2016
Warren Trenholm: 2016
Bryan Reagh: 2017 - Present
Statement of Faith
1. Bible
The Bible to be the complete Word of God; that the sixty-six books, as originally written, comprising the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by the Spirit of God and were entirely free from error; that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and the true basis of Christian union. (Mt. 5:17-18; Jn. 16:12-15; 2Tim.3:16-17; 2Pt.1:20-21)
2. God
We believe in one God, creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal, existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1-2; Deut.6:4-5; Mt. 28:19-20; 2Cor. 13:14)
3. Christ
We believe in the absolute and essential deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, in His eternal existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return (Mt. 1:18-23; Jn. 1:1-18; Rom. 5:12-19; 1Cor 15:1-8)
4. Holy Spirit
We believe in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Holy Spirit Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; Who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Jn. 7:37-39; 14:16-17; Rom.8:9; 1Cor. 12:13)
5. Satan
We believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, the originator of sin, the archenemy of god and man. (Gen. 3:1-15; Job 1:6-12; 2Cor. 11:13-15; 1Pt. 5:8-9)
6. Man
We believe that man was divinely created in the image of God; that he sinned, becoming guilty before God, resulting in total depravity, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death. (Gen.1:26-27; 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3)
7. Salvation
We believe that salvation is by the sovereign, electing grace of God; that by the appointment of the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a vicarious, expiatory and propitiatory death; that justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of the Lord. (Jn. 6:35-40; Rom.3:19-26; 8:28-30; 1Pt. 1:18-23)
8. Future Things
We believe:
- in the personal, bodily and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ;
- in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust;
- in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed in a literal heaven; and,
- in the judgment and conscious, eternal punishment of the wicked in a literal hell. (Mt. 25:31-46; Jn.5:28-29; 1Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20-22) Just as Jesus Christ promised and His apostles affirmed.
9. Local Church
We believe that this church is a company of believers, who have been baptized by immersion, called out from the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus, voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word, the mutual edification of its members, the propagation of the faith and the observance of the ordinances. We believe it is a sovereign, independent body, exercising its own divinely awarded gifts, precepts and privileges under the Lordship of Christ, the Great Head of the church. We believe that its officers are elders and deacons. (Rom. 12:3-8; Eph. 4:1-16;1Tim. 3:1-15; 1Pt. 2:9-10)
10. Ordinances (visible symbols of the gospel)
Among the things commanded by Christ, there are two visible symbols of the gospel, which he instituted for observance by his followers until he returns, one as a sign of Christian initiation and the other as a means of ongoing nurture.
A. Baptism which is the immersion of the believer in water, whereby after he publicly professes his faith, he obeys Christ's command and sets forth his identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. (Mt. 28:19-20; Rom. 6:3-4)
B. The Lord's Supper which is the memorial wherein the believer partakes of the two elements, bread and drink, which symbolize the Lord's body and shed blood, proclaiming His death until He comes (Lk 22:19-20; 1Cor. 11:23-24)
11. Church and State
Both church and state have divinely ordained functions to perform in obedience to God, but the two are not to be confused. The state is responsible to seek public justice for the good of all, not to give a special status to any particular religious community. (Mt. 22:21)
12. Religious Liberty
We believe in religious liberty; that every man has the right to practice and propagate his beliefs. (Rom.14:11-12)
13. The Lord’s Day
We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord's day and that, in a special sense, it is the divinely appointed day for worship and spiritual exercise. (Acts 20:7; 1Cor. 16:1-2)
14. Civil Government
We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest and good order of society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honoured and obeyed, except only in the things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the only Lord of the conscience and Prince of the kings of the earth. (Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:1-7; 1Pt 2:13-17)