Classification scheme:
III-50
Title: Brussels Mennonite Fellowship fonds
Dates of creation: 1980-2019
Physical description: 80 cm of textual records
Administrative history: Located at 239 Turnberry St. at the north end of the village of Brussels, the congregation began services in January 1980 with six core families that had been part of the Listowel Mennonite Church and Dungannon Christian Fellowship. In effect the Listowel congregation planted the Brussels congregation at a time when its own space was crowded. Brian Laverty, pastor at Listowel, provided leadership for the first half year. Doug Zehr began pastoral responsibilities in July 1980. The congregation purchased a home in June 1981 and renovated it for worship. The formal organization and charter membership took place in 1981.
In 1984 a chapel and basement were added. In 1987 an addition was made of a fellowship hall, kitchen and office. For further information see Douglas J. Zehr, Catching a vision: the first ten years of Brussels Mennonite Fellowship (Brussels, Ont. : The Congregation, 1990).
Custodial history: The congregation has made periodic donations to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. Latest donation was made in 2024.
Scope and content: There are three series: Formal records, Informal records, and Church bulletins.
Notes: For photographs related to this congregation search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
For sound recordings related to this congregation, see Hist.Mss.9.25 .
Further materials related to this congregation may be found by searching the Archives.
An encyclopedia entry for this congregation may be found in GAMEO.
Original description created January 2000 by Sam Steiner
File list:
Series 1: Formal records
- Constitution and bylaws, n.d. (1981?), 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009 (bylaw revision), 2023 (bylaw revision)
- Handbook (job descriptions, etc.), 1989
- Church Council minutes, 1979-1985 (includes photocopies of minutes from early meetings, 1986-June 2017, January-May 2018, January-November 2019, January 2020-November 2023
- Church directories,
1986, 1988, 1991, 1996
1997 update
2000 plus updates
2005, 2011, 2016, 2021, 2023 - Christian Education Committee,
1991-1999
2000
2006, 2007 - Missions Committee,
1990-1999
2000
2006 - Elders,
1994-1999 - Worship & Music Committee,
1994-1999 - Property Committee,
1994-2001 - Youth Ministry Team,
1994-2000 - Telephone/prayer chain lists, 1980-1990, 1994-1999
- Kids' Corner Planning Committee, 1982-1988, 1999
- Canadian Foodgrains Bank Project, 1998
- Project Reach-Out records, 1993-1994
- Life Project, 1990-1993
- Ad hoc Committee minutes (building), 1982-1983
- Tenth anniversary committee, 1989
- Annual meeting report & minutes
1990-1992, 2000-2024 (some early years filed with Church Council minutes) - Worship, Christian Education and Missions Committee
2001-2005 - Membership list
1989
1996, 1998
2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 - Anniversaries
Series 2: Informal records
- Doug Zehr, Catching a vision (Brussels, Ont. : The Church, 1990)
- Correspondence, 1980s
- Prayer calendar, 1981-1999, 2001-2007, Mar 2009-May 2010, Aug 2010-Nov 2013, 2014 (some missing), Jan-Jun 2015
- Huron County Family Crisis Centre materials, 1982-1983
- Sunday school class lists, 1982-1993
- News clippings, 1980-1983, 2012
- Media ministries radio spots correspondence, 1980s
- Programs, brochures, etc.
- Wendy Martin, "BMF exploding into the 90s"
- Printed inkjet photographs of pastors and various stages of the building.
- Congregational profile
Including summary of congregation's history, ca. 1995
Series 3: Church bulletins
1981-July 2012, 2013-March 2020
Series 4: Newsletters
The Buzz, December 2022-November 2023