LPD EFCC

Timeline

Church Planting Begins

1980

In 1980 the Lower Mainland Church Planting Strategy Committee began the work of planting churches.

PCD Works With Lower Mainland Churches

1981

In 1981 there was a proposal regarding the need for re-distribution of the Pacific Canadian District, the lower mainland churches would work as a region until they became independent.

EFCC (LPD) Formed

1983

By 1983 the new Lower Pacific District of the EFCC (LPD) had formed and covered the area from Hope all the way to the surrounding islands of Vancouver Island. 15 churches were the original member churches of the newly formed district. The very first Annual General Meeting was held November 1983 and was whopping 6 hours long with 71 delegates in attendance, they had the great joy of welcoming the 16th member church and the responsibility of finalizing the constitution and bylaws of the LPD.

2 Goals: Strengthen & Plant Churches

1990

The Lower Pacific District (LPD) was formed with two goals in mind 1) strengthening churches and 2) church planting through local church planting. As the district could not fully support a district superintendent (DS) the very first DS also served as a church planter. The district office has been in the lower mainland with the exception of two years in the early 1990’s when then DS Austin Stouffer moved the whole office to Courtenay on Vancouver Island so he also could plant Central Evangelical Free Church of the Comox Valley.

Rev. Rob Stewart Served as District Superintendent

2002-2022

Rev. Rob Stewart has been the longest serving District Superintendent served from 2002 to 2022. During Rob’s watch we saw successful churches planted in Ladysmith, Richmond, Burnaby, Langley, and Surrey. Near the end of his time as DS it was not uncommon for him to speak over an average of 60 times in a year on Sundays. His most challenging dual speaking engagement was when he spoke in Sointula in the morning, rush to catch the next ferry off the island, drove 4-5 hours, and walk- in just as Ladysmith’s service started in the evening.

Rev. Evans Hundermark & Director Josephine Papp to continue to serve the LPD

Current

Fast forward 40 years with a newly minted District Superintendent, Rev. Evans Hundermark and Director of Church Support, Josephine Papp continue to seek to fulfill the district’s mission, “By God’s grace, we are committed to encourage and resource our growing family of churches to reflect Jesus Christ.” Evans and Josephine serve 36 churches with the farthest church over an 8-hour trip one way which includes two ferries. They have the great privilege of being part of God’s story in each church: celebrating the highs of anniversaries and pastor installations and they are also there during the hard times of discord or struggles.

About

Our History

Our Story in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and Fraser Valley