Lacking a permanent home for the first time in nearly 80 years, Flin Flon Baptists are enjoying the generosity of fellow churchgoers.
The Baptists have been granted use of the otherwise-vacant First United Lutheran Church for the rest of the summer.
“They’re just being fantastic,” says a grateful Jim Galbraith, pastor of the First Baptist Church.
After the Baptist church was deemed unsafe last month, Galbraith planned on holding summer services at Creighton’s Heritage Manor.
After two services at the manor, the Lutherans offered use of their church, which does not hold services during the summer.
“It’s just easier to operate as a church within a church building,” says Galbraith, adding that he was thankful for use of the manor.
An added benefit of the move to the Lutheran church is that a number of Lutherans have been attending Baptist services, he says.
In terms of a long-term home for his congregation, Galbraith says a couple of possibilities are being discussed, but he doesn’t want to go public until something is finalized.
No demolition date has been set for the Baptist church, a towering Flin Flon landmark that dates back to 1938.
The front of the familiar Channing Drive building remains cordoned off amid fears the front wall may collapse.
Throughout it all, Galbraith says he has been impressed with how well his congregation members have handled the transition.
“It’s a challenge to lose your building after 76 years, but they’re very resilient and they’re very trusting in the lord,” he says.
Galbraith himself has found strength in a pastor friend who lost his Alberta church to flooding and found that it only strengthened the congregation.
Flin Flon’s Baptist roots date back to at least early 1937, when Rev. Charles J. Smith came from Bowsman, Manitoba, to Flin Flon to renew acquaintances with former congregation members now living in the northern mining town, according to the book Flin Flon.
Smith held services at Ross Lake School and a private home before eventually being tasked with establishing a Baptist church in Flin Flon.
First Baptist Church opened on Nov. 6, 1938. Additions to the building came in later years.
