Our History
Rev Walter Reinheimer arrived in Thompson in July 1960. His family arrived in September. Rev Reinheimer came from Red Lake ON, after being employed by the Campbell mines for nine years and establishing the church in Red Lake.
Rev Reinheimer hired in the Warehouse at INCO where he worked for the next seven years. He lived in the INCO Camp for the first two months until he got an apartment and his family arrived. Sometime later they rented a house on Hemlock. They were living there when I arrived in March of 1962. Sunday School was held in Juniper School. Church services were held in the livingroom of the house.
In those days only INCO Employees could purchase a new house. In July of 1962 Rev Reinheimer purchased a house on Beaver Cres. We all worked at helping on moving day. The next project was to build the chapel 13"‘ X 36 in the basement. We also built the pews, (some of those original pews are still at the Northern Camp). Mrs. Reinheimer was Sunday School Superintendent. We had as may as 84 in Sunday School in that facility. I think all the room, except the bathroom, in the house were used as Sunday School Classrooms.
The first annual meeting was in 1962. At this meeting the constitution was adopted.
In the Spring of 1965 the opportunity was afforded to us to tear down the Hudson Bay Store at the INCO Camp Site. The building was given to the Boy Scouts Organization. We did the work of tearing down the building. We received 40% of the material and the Boy Scouts got 60% of the material. The property lot was purchased for $2500.00 and we began building. Most of the work was done by volunteer labor. Almost all of us were on shift work. We worked during the day at the church, when on afternoon shift. We worked in the evenings on day shift. Those on the midnight shift worked where most needed. The building is now the vestibule. When our wives wished to see us they came to the Church with their baby carriages. The dimensions of the Church building were 28’ X 56’. Rev Reinheimer continued to work at INCO, he was the building site working when we were there. He even worked one week of this 1965 vacation on the building. He preached at the Sunday Morning and Evening services, as well as taught adult Sunday School class.
The first official services was a group from Central Pentecostal Bible college in early December 1965. The financing of this project was done by ten of us going to the Bank of Nova Scotia and signing up for a $1000 loan each. The Church was to seat 120 people, however there were many occasions when there were more than 120 in attendance. The Church paid off the loan and burned the mortgage in October of 1969. The Church also purchased the house from Rev Reinheimer and that became the parsonage. The district gave is the $2000 for the down payment on the parsonage.
In February 1967 the Church voted to have Rev Reinheimer paid a salary. He resigned from INCO. Until this time Rev Reinheimer has received no salary from the church. At District Conference in 1972 Rev Reinheimer was elected District Superintendent.
In 1972 Rev Gary Childerhose came to serve as the Pastor of TPA. During his time here we got Northern Pentecostal Bible Camp started. Rev Childerhose left in 1975.
In 1975 Rev Earnest Shelvey came to the Pastor. In 1977 we built the existing sanctuary of the church. Again, most of the work was volunteer, we did hire a carpenter/foreman. Most of us, including Rev Shelvey, worked at the church when not at our jobs. This time children were older, so the wives and children helped out too. This time we borrowed $50 000 for the project. During the winter of 1978 we had an excess of 200 people during morning service. February 19 1978 we dedicated the new facility. Mrs Shelvey, a born missionary, brought a lot of people to the church.
In 1979 Rev Vern Taylor came from Brandon to serve as Pastor. The youth group enlarged under his leadership. He stayed until 1982 when he was elected District Superintendent.
In 1982 Rev Gordon Peters became our Pastor. Upgrading the basement was done, such as new bathrooms and the kitchen was moved to its present location. We celebrated the 25th Anniversary November 10th 1985. Rev Peters stayed until 1988, when he moved to Evangel Winnipeg and became the district superintendent.
In 1987 Rev Gary Jennings came as the assistant pastor to Rev Peters. When Rev Peters resigned, Rev Jennings became the Pastor. During his time here the Church was full again. in 1996 we sold the parsonage and Rev Jennings purchased a house. In 2002 the present offices and classrooms were built. This time no money was borrowed to finance the project. During Rev Jennings time as Pastor, Rev Vern Kratz was hired as assistant Pastor. Under Rev Kratz leadership there was a very large youth group in the Church. During Sunday Evening services they sat in the centre section near the front of the church. On one occasion I remember counting 85 youth in the Sunday Evening Service. The mortgage was paid off during this time.
In 2002 Rev K Jamieson came to Pastor. Dion Mitchell was the assistant Pastor. Rev Jamieson left in 2004 and moved to BC. Dion Mitchell now Pastors in Alberta.
In 2006 Rev Dan Murphy was chose to Pastor, he has previously pastored in Roseisle. Jordan Mclellan was hired as assistant pastor.
Written from the Memory of Elton Dunseath
