If you visit Nobleford CRC, please take a moment to introduce yourself to Pastor Gary.

Pastor Gary and his wife, Helen, along with their son, Thomas, arrived in Nobleford, Alberta in July 2023 after serving three other congregations in Ontario. He grew up on a dairy farm outside of Listowel, Ontario.

His passion in ministry is studying and teaching God’s Word, the Bible to both adults and youth. He is convinced that through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit understanding God’s revelation of himself and his will results in living a more Christ-centred, God-pleasing life. Having faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ and living faithfully go hand in hand.

Continuing education has always been an important part of his ministry, and currently he is working toward a Masters of Theology in the Old Testament after having completed a Doctorate of Ministry several years ago.

In addition to preaching and teaching and visiting with members of the congregation, Pastor Gary enjoys engaging in a variety of activities. He is developing his woodworking skills, enjoys reading and having coffee and breakfast with colleagues.

The Word of God: The Bible is the true word of God. It is without error and was written by men under inspiration from the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible has supreme authority in all matters of faith and life.

The Trinity: There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, each equal in divine perfection. They have distinct yet harmonious roles in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

God the Father: God the Father is an infinite and personal spirit perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, mercy and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the lives of all believers. Through His grace, He saves from sin and condemnation all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the only Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, miracles and teachings. His death on the cross and bodily resurrection atones for the sin of all who believe in Him. He ascended into heaven where he intercedes for His people and from where he will visibly return to judge the world and gather all those who believe in Him.

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, its need for righteousness and the coming judgement. He empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer. He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. Regeneration: All mankind are sinners by nature and by choice. All are under condemnation by a Holy God. But, those who through God’s grace repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are forgiven their sins. They avoid condemnation and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Sacraments: Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper as a commemoration and visible proclamation of his death. The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace, uniting partakers in the bond of the Spirit. Christ also commanded us to administer baptism to believers and their children. God includes the children of believers in His covenant – all of God’s promises are for them as well as us.

Christian Conduct: All believers are to live for the glory of God and are to be concerned for their fellow men, be Christlike in all actions, blameless before the world and faithful stewards of all God has given us.

Alberta – The Land of Opportunity

Leave your country, your relatives and your father’s house and go to a land that I am going to show you.Genesis 12:1b

Our Church and our province were both born in 1905. Before the organization of the church, enough people had to have moved here to warrant organizing a church. The stories of our own pioneers, their dreams, their failures, their perseverence, and their reliance on God, could fill volumes of fascinating history.

Word had reached those first families, while they were still in the Netherlands, Iowa, Montana and Wisconsin, that Southern Alberta (still NorthWest Territories for some) had great potential and opportunity for farmers. Many of them were more concerned for their childrens’ futures than their own, when they left areas of less promise and accepted the challenge of a new frontier.

The rumors that lured them were of rich, available, flat farmland stretching for miles, no brush to clear, a lot of sunshine, and warm Chinook winds that broke the cold winter and dried up mud in a few hours. They found all this to be true but rumors never seem to tell all. The treeless prairie, convenient for farming, could become quite depressing, day after day. The sun, when it beat down on parched land and dried up crops, was not as welcome as a heavy rain would have been. The Chinook wind, when it blew hard for days, driving their topsoil into the ditches and their homes, was an enemy that could bring them to despair. Some brush to hold the soil intact would have been a blessing at those times.

Many pioneers lost the battle against the elements and left Southern Alberta, either because they wanted to, while they were still ahead, or because they had to, having lost everything.

Those who stayed were glad they did, because they found that the positive factors still outweighed the negative ones. Though the years of pioneering were not easy, they were rewarding for those who had the fortitude and means to persevere.

These early people from Reformed background also had faith that if they worked together, they could, with God’s help, establish a church. And that they did, in 1905, making the Nobleford (and Granum) Christian Reformed Church the first Christian Reformed Church in Canada. Today, there are more than 260 Christian Reformed Churches in Canada.

More detailed historyof the Christian Reformed Church of North America is available from our official website.