COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – Celebrating hope and faith
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This year, Oakbank Baptist Church joyfully celebrates its 130th anniversary.
The story of the Baptist Church began in 1895, when a group of German immigrants (the Ruttig, Krombein, Hagemaier, and Kruger families) were seeking a place to worship in their native language. For the first 13 years, services were held in members’ homes, nurturing a close-knit spiritual community.
In 1908, the congregation built its first church on Main Street in Oakbank. That humble structure, through various renovations and expansions, faithfully served generations of parishioners until the 1970s.
Until 1953, all services were conducted entirely in German. However, as the community grew and changed, the church transitioned to English services to better serve the broader population. This shift sparked a period of growth, leading to the hiring of the church’s first full-time pastor. During this time, Oakbank Baptist Church was also home to the community’s only Sunday school until 1960.
In 1972, the church acquired a building from Seven Sisters Falls and relocated it to Balsam Crescent in Oakbank. By the mid-1980s, continued growth once again made expansion necessary. This period also brought a significant challenge, as a split within the congregation led to the formation of a new building. Despite this, the Oakbank Baptist Church remained strong and unwavering in its mission. With contractors working through the week and dedicated volunteers lending their time on weekends, a new church building was completed in 1987 on Springfield Road. This building remains the heart of the church today.
Remarkably, 130 years later, the legacy of the founding families lives on. The Bredin (formerly Ruttig) and Reed (formerly Kruger) families continue to play an active role in the life of the church. Today, the Oakbank Baptist Church is home to a vibrant and growing community of 150 parishioners.
As we celebrate this milestone, we give thanks for the generations who came before us and look forward with hope and faith to the years ahead.
The work I value the most is serving you and your family as your MLA for Springfield – Ritchot. I welcome any questions or comments by email to Ron@RonSchuler.com or by mail to Box 150, Oak Bank, MB R0E 1J0.