Embedded Files
*This page needs additional information and history. If you would like to contribute information to this project, please email info@restorationhistory.ca*
The Maritime Christian Fellowship (MCF) had it's early beginnings in 1968, although the first official MCF was not held until 1971. It began with the purpose of connecting Christians to worship God together and to be inspired to strengthen our journey with God. The MCF is hosted each year by Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (Instrumental) in the three Maritime provinces.
The MCF was originally born out of the need created when a number of churches withdrew from the Maritime Christian Missionary Society in 1968 (Click link to learn more).
In the March 3, 1968 edition of the Douglas Avenue Christian Newsletter, the following article was published:
A Convention This Year?
Last Thursday... Mr. Merle Zimmerman, and Justin Marshall of Southville met with our pastor, Cecil Fletcher, in Digby N.S. to discuss future fellowship among our churches. Plans for a convention for fellowship, Bible Study, Prayer and Inspiration were tentatively drawn up for August of this year.
Should these plans prove attractive to the other churches, and arrangements be successfully worked out, details of the proposed convention will be announced as they mature.
It is felt that much can be gained by each congregation as we fellowship together in the things of Christ according to His word as contained in the New Testament. We are certain that there is also much we can do together for the cause of Christ in these Maritime Provinces.
Certain it is that the Lord of the Church will be among us and bless our efforts as we seek to honour and serve Him alone.
The first attempt at a convention was held that summer in Weymouth on August 24th and 25th, called the Weymouth Bible Conference. There were approximately 65 present on Saturday, and over 100 present Sunday afternoon and evening.
Following the success of this event, and at the prompting of several individuals, K.T. Norris (President of Maritime Christian College at the time), convened an ad hoc committee to plan for a future convention or fellowship, to continue on into the future. While K.T. Norris agreed to do so, he emphasized the need for this annual convention or fellowship to be organized by a committee made up of local church leaders, and not by Maritime Christian College. It was agreed that they would meet at the college building on September 15th, 1970. Invited to the meeting were the following: Dean Tate, Rankin MacKinnon, James Matheson, Neil Burt, Stewart Lewis, Ivan Raynor, Douglas MacLaren, Merle Zimmerman, Maurice MacCabe, W. Quigley, Cecil Fletcher, David Haddon, Medford Conley, Herbert Stuart, Melville Young, and Edgar McDormand. All these men were instructed to bring at least one other to join in the planning.
On September 16th (the meeting having been delayed by a day), an ad hoc committee convened as planned. Present were Maurice MacCabe, Austin Allan, Dean Tate, Wilfred Macdonald, Ed Norton, Stewart Lewis, Ivan Raynor, Les Jones, Neil Burt, and K.T. Norris.
The group agreed that the purpose of the convention or fellowship should be as follows: "To strengthen the brethren, to mutually encourage the brethren and the churches, and to inspire all to greater dedication to Christ and the preaching of His Word."
Notes from Ad-hoc planning meeting - Courtesy of Maritime Christian College (KT Norris Archives)
With this purpose defined, a motion was made by K.T. Norris to appoint a planning committee of 5-7 individuals, for this convention to be held in August, and for the Weymouth Church of Christ to host for the year. The motion was seconded by Dean Tayte and approved. Nominations for the planning committee for this first year were as follows: Merle Zimmerman, Sherwood Barr, Arnold Marshall, David Haddon, W. Quigley, Don Stewart, Floyd MacKinnon, Les Jones, and Howard Ling.
With this decided, the planning committee began preparations. That summer (1971), a convention was once again held in Weymouth, this time under the title of the Maritime Christian Fellowship. Since that time, the Maritime Christian Fellowship has continued almost yearly.
At some point, the leaders of the three provinces agreed to divide the work of planning, taking turns to host and organize the MCF on a rotation, with separate provincial committee's planning each year. However, in 2019, a planning committee comprised of individuals from all three provinces was once again formed to work together as one in the planning process.
MCF Meeting Locations and Themes:
Click theme to view promo material. Courtesy of Maritime Christian College (KT Norris Archives)
1971 - Weymouth, NS. Theme: Life in Christ
Speaker(s): Ken Norris / Les Jones / John MacDonald / Stewart Lewis / David Haddon
1972 - Deer Island, NB. Theme: Reaching into All the World
Speaker(s): Alan Smith / Ken Norris / Daniel Kalnin / Merle Zimmerman / Jim Fagerskog
1973 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Let Us Be One That They May Be Won
Speaker(s): Merle Zimmerman / Ken Norris / David Haddon / Alan Smith
1974 - Johnston Park, NS. Theme: You Are Christian: Live It!
Speaker(s): Bill Weale / Ken Norris / Ivan Rayner / Alan Smith / Rankin MacKinnon
1975 - Deer Island, NB. Theme: Complete in Christ
Speaker(s): Geoff Conley / Merle Zimmerman / Paul Carson / LaVerne Morse
1976 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: The Christian Family
Speaker(s): Joe Dampier / A.C. Oliver / E.P. Benoit
1977 - Johnson Park, NS. Theme: A Family Time
Speaker(s): Merle Zimmerman / Ken Norris / Alan Smith
1978 - Garnett Settlement, NB. Theme: Because Christ Lives
Speaker(s): Larry Dale Green
1979 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Kids of the Kingdom
Speaker(s): George Mansfield / Glen Barton / Terry Tanner
1980 - Johnston Park, NS. Theme: Committed to God's Purpose
Speaker(s): Earl Ohl / Wayne Lambert / Ed Benoit / Fred Osbourne / Dick Hollis
1981 - Nauwidgewauk, NB. Theme: What is Truth? (Click Here for Poster)
Speaker(s): Merle Zimmerman / Earl Ohl / Dave Haddon / Ivan Rayner / Dale Eynon / Stewart Lewis
1982 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: 1st Century Christianity for the 21st Century
Speaker(s): A.C. Oliver / Paul Carson / David Haddon / Alan Smith / John MacDonald / Geoff Conley
Discussion Panel: David Peppin presiding: William Weale / Fred Osbourne / David Weale
1983 - Johnston Park, NS. Theme: In Christ
Speaker(s): Lou Outhouse / Murray Marshall / Donald Stewart / Leota Lewis / Fred Osbourne / Stewart Lewis
1984 - Garnett Settlement, NB. Theme: Jesus Is All I Need
Speaker(s): Dennis Hirschauer / Victor McCullough / Dale Eynon
1985 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Give Us A Vision
Speaker(s): Merle Zimmerman / Lou Outhouse / James Matheson / Victor McCullough / Ken Norris / Stewart Lewis
1986 - Johnston Park, NS. Theme: Lift High The Church
Speaker(s): R. Allan Dunbar
1987 - Cassidy Lake, NB. Theme: What Your Faith Means To You
Speaker(s): Dick Hollis / Bobby Morse / David Morse / "Several Local Preachers"
1988 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: The Majesty of God
Speaker(s): Blayne Banting / Dale Eynon / Victor McCullough / Leslie Jones / Merle Zimmerman / Rankin MacKinnon
1989 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Times of Refreshing.
Speaker(s): Dennis Hirschauer / Stewart Lewis / Wayne Lambert / K.T. Norris / Calvin Warden / Maurice MacCabe
1990 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Whatever It Takes!
Speaker(s): Jim Dewar / Grant MacDonald / Alan Beck / Mark Ellie / Dave Schrader
1991 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Run To Win.
Speaker(s): Earl Ohl / Robert Kidwell / David & Norma Morse
1992 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Colossians.
Speaker(s): Andy Rayner / Blayne Banting / George & Murray Marshall / Wayne Lambert / Geoff Conley
1993 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: He Must Become Greater.
Speaker(s): ?
1994 - UPEI in Charlottetown, PEI. Theme: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Speaker(s): Blayne Banting / Victor McCullough / Maurice MacCabe / Mark Ellie
1995 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Celebrate
Speaker(s): ?
1996 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: For Christ Alone.
Speaker(s): Geoff Conley / David Morse / Greg Nicholson / Jim Dewar
1997 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: The Crimson Bridge
Speaker(s): ?
1998 - Berwick, NS. Theme: One In Christ.
Speaker(s): Dr. Leroy Garrett
1999 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Soon and Very Soon
Speaker(s):
2000 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: On to Maturity
Speaker(s):
2001 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Keeping in Step
Speaker(s):
2002 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Joy in Christ.
Speaker(s):
2003 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Walking in Graceland.
Speaker(s): Jim Tune
2004 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Take Up Your Cross.
Speaker(s): Jim Franklin / Giles Mullen / Dale Eynon / Jeff Snell
2005 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Extreme Makeover: Bound for Glory.
Speaker(s): Michael Hogg.
2006 - MCF Cancelled (PEI Host). Provincial Rallies held at Canoe Cove (PEI) and Bayview Christian Camp (NB)
2007 - Berwick, NS. Theme: Run For Your Life.
Speaker(s): Peter Bowyer
2008 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Extreme Makeover 2.
Speaker(s): Bob Russell
2009 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Releasing the Power of the Smaller Church.
Speaker(s): Ben Merold / Mark Taylor
2010 - Unknown (NS Year)
2011 - Beulah Campground, NB. Theme: Send Me Out.
Speaker: Danny Curry
2012 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Passing The Torch.
Speaker(s): Fred Osbourne / Jared Johnson
2013 - Canoe Cove, PEI (NS Planned). Theme: Faith at Home
Speaker: Brian Siewert
2014 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Why This Way?
Speakers: Jim Tune / Robbie Sevilla
2015 - Canoe Cove, PEI. Theme: Writing Your Story
Speaker: Chuck Sackett
2016 - Cancelled (NS Host)
2017 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: The "Fellowship" Fellowship
Speaker: Dan Foreman
2018 - Cancelled (PEI Host)
2019 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: Resurgent Living.
Speaker: Tom Marshall
2020 - Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 - Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: A Call For Courage.
Speaker: James Stevenson
2023 - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: God's Plan A: The Family
Speaker: Jim Midgett
2024 (Upcoming) - Beulah Camp, NB. Theme: To Be Announced
Speaker: Stephen Weatherby
Google Sites
Report abuse