History of the Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene
Under the sponsorship of the Alaska
District, Rev. Trueman Shelton came from Sitka, Alaska to Whitehorse in 1958 to
open the work of the Church of the Nazarene.
The first meeting place was a rented building, down by the Edgewater Hotel. Later, a house on the corner of 4th and Jarvis was purchased from the Salvation Army. The house was too small for the growing church, so a building that was located at the airport was purchased from Crown Assets and moved to the south side of the church to serve as a chapel area. While the chapel was being added, up to 85 people would attend church in the front room.
The church was organized on March 6, 1963. Rev. Russell Hart was the pastor at the time.
In June 1969 Gene & Merrilee Morrell, along with their five children, arrived in Whitehorse. Gene writes: “We noticed immediately that there was no sign on the building or property to identify it as a church, and the weeds were three feet tall all around the building. It looked deserted. So our first job was to cut the weeds and paint and hang a sign. A total of 12 people attended our first service, which consisted of my family of seven and the former pastor’s family of five. I was introduced to two families whose children sometimes attended. The former pastor moved on, and the next Sunday we had our family and two children for a total of nine.”
From that time, the church continued to grow until after about two years they realized they needed to relocate to a bigger building.
Gene writes: “With the help of Rev. Vearl Gibson from Anchorage, we did a financial program and raised $13,000 toward new property.”
Land was purchased in Porter Creek and in August 1976 construction of a new building was begun. One of our first regular families was the Masons, Art, Lynda and boys. Art was a builder and a valuable advisor to the pastor in the sale and relocation. He oversaw the entire building project. Arts brother, Rob Mason drew the original plans for the building, and Bob Kroeker finished the plans and obtained the blueprints. John Ingalls, Art Mason, Bob Kroeker, and Gene Morrell all worked on the construction.
Al and Dedee VanderStoep, who had helped prepare the old building for sale, now came and stayed three months and helped daily on the new building project. Several local pastors also helped at various times, from as far away as Ross River.
During construction, the church worshiped in a school for a year until the basement was completed at the new location.
When the basement was completed it was used for worship services. At the end of the very first Sunday in the basement, a Bible reading program was started in which the Bible was read in the basement, from Genesis to Revelation, 24 hours a day, until completion – 77 ½ hours.
The next year the main floor was finished. The outside walls were raised all in one piece, with a great deal of help. A carpenter friend of Pastor Morrell’s came from California. And John Ingalls, an RCMP officer, enlisted the assistance of half the police force, and many from the local congregation were also helping. Kenny Wright, a layman from Totem Park Nazarene in Fairbanks, sold the windows at cost and then came and installed them. He made them, and they were the first triple-pane windows in Whitehorse.
The building was completed and furnished at a total cost of $98,000. It was dedicated by Dr. George Coulter on October 8, 1978.
On the day of dedication, former pastor Russell Hart was invited, and just when he came in through the doors, the entire ceiling in the pastor’s office collapsed onto the floor. Because Pastor Gene was on his way out the door to pick up General Superintended, Dr. Coulter, Russell Hart quickly re-installed the ceiling where it belonged!
In November 1980 we began the operation of a Daycare Ministry. A few months later, Sheila Brown was hired to serve as director. She stayed in that position until October 2000.
In 1983 the Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene became a part of the Canada Pacific District. Until that time the church was part of the Alaska District.
In 1986 Pastor Norayr (Norman) Hajian and his wife, Heather came to fill in for the summer in order to give the district superintendent, Rev. Charles Muxworthy, some time to find a suitable candidate to serve as pastor. Towards the end of the summer, Rev. Muxworthy, after consulting with the church, asked if the Hajian’s would return to Whitehorse in 1987 (after he completed his studies at seminary).
Over the winter of 1986/87, Rev. Titterington came to serve as interim pastor.
In 1987, Norman & Heather Hajian returned to Whitehorse and soon had their first of four children in Whitehorse.
Over the winter of 1987/88 the north wing of the building was added to serve as a church foyer, daycare office, daycare coat room, and washrooms. A grant had been secured to finance the project. Before construction began, a basement was added to the project, which would serve as a Sunday School area. The main floor was completed and dedicated on August 14, 1988.
The following winter another project was undertaken on the opposite side of the property. Again a grant was secured and again a basement was added. The south wing would be used for the expansion of the daycare nursery. The basement, originally built as a fellowship hall, was eventually used for the growing after-school program of the daycare.
After nearly 20 years of service, in the fall of 2000 Sheila Brown announced her retirement. Over the years she had seen the daycare grow from a tiny one room operation into a daycare licensed for 104 children. She was a great friend to many of the daycare families and a strong supporter of the church in all of it’s activities.
In an effort to further emphasize the Christian ministry of the daycare, in June 2002, the church hired Clayton Keats to serve as Associate Pastor responsible for our daycare ministry. His education in both biblical studies and child care proved to be the combination we needed. He was ordained in June 2005 and continues to serve as worship leader and daycare director.
Also in 2002, Megan Polowski came to the Yukon, to work in the daycare for a summer. After spending her summer here in 2002 and 2003, she returned in 2004 after completing her education. She soon started a youth group, received her district ministers license and was ordained in June 2011. She served as youth pastor in Whitehorse until Oct. 2011 having led the youth in hundreds of events and several trips, including trips to Mexico and Poland.
Over the years, we have seen many people attend the Church of the Nazarene and many lives have been touched by the grace of God.
The first meeting place was a rented building, down by the Edgewater Hotel. Later, a house on the corner of 4th and Jarvis was purchased from the Salvation Army. The house was too small for the growing church, so a building that was located at the airport was purchased from Crown Assets and moved to the south side of the church to serve as a chapel area. While the chapel was being added, up to 85 people would attend church in the front room.
The church was organized on March 6, 1963. Rev. Russell Hart was the pastor at the time.
In June 1969 Gene & Merrilee Morrell, along with their five children, arrived in Whitehorse. Gene writes: “We noticed immediately that there was no sign on the building or property to identify it as a church, and the weeds were three feet tall all around the building. It looked deserted. So our first job was to cut the weeds and paint and hang a sign. A total of 12 people attended our first service, which consisted of my family of seven and the former pastor’s family of five. I was introduced to two families whose children sometimes attended. The former pastor moved on, and the next Sunday we had our family and two children for a total of nine.”
From that time, the church continued to grow until after about two years they realized they needed to relocate to a bigger building.
Gene writes: “With the help of Rev. Vearl Gibson from Anchorage, we did a financial program and raised $13,000 toward new property.”
Land was purchased in Porter Creek and in August 1976 construction of a new building was begun. One of our first regular families was the Masons, Art, Lynda and boys. Art was a builder and a valuable advisor to the pastor in the sale and relocation. He oversaw the entire building project. Arts brother, Rob Mason drew the original plans for the building, and Bob Kroeker finished the plans and obtained the blueprints. John Ingalls, Art Mason, Bob Kroeker, and Gene Morrell all worked on the construction.
Al and Dedee VanderStoep, who had helped prepare the old building for sale, now came and stayed three months and helped daily on the new building project. Several local pastors also helped at various times, from as far away as Ross River.
During construction, the church worshiped in a school for a year until the basement was completed at the new location.
When the basement was completed it was used for worship services. At the end of the very first Sunday in the basement, a Bible reading program was started in which the Bible was read in the basement, from Genesis to Revelation, 24 hours a day, until completion – 77 ½ hours.
The next year the main floor was finished. The outside walls were raised all in one piece, with a great deal of help. A carpenter friend of Pastor Morrell’s came from California. And John Ingalls, an RCMP officer, enlisted the assistance of half the police force, and many from the local congregation were also helping. Kenny Wright, a layman from Totem Park Nazarene in Fairbanks, sold the windows at cost and then came and installed them. He made them, and they were the first triple-pane windows in Whitehorse.
The building was completed and furnished at a total cost of $98,000. It was dedicated by Dr. George Coulter on October 8, 1978.
On the day of dedication, former pastor Russell Hart was invited, and just when he came in through the doors, the entire ceiling in the pastor’s office collapsed onto the floor. Because Pastor Gene was on his way out the door to pick up General Superintended, Dr. Coulter, Russell Hart quickly re-installed the ceiling where it belonged!
In November 1980 we began the operation of a Daycare Ministry. A few months later, Sheila Brown was hired to serve as director. She stayed in that position until October 2000.
In 1983 the Whitehorse Church of the Nazarene became a part of the Canada Pacific District. Until that time the church was part of the Alaska District.
In 1986 Pastor Norayr (Norman) Hajian and his wife, Heather came to fill in for the summer in order to give the district superintendent, Rev. Charles Muxworthy, some time to find a suitable candidate to serve as pastor. Towards the end of the summer, Rev. Muxworthy, after consulting with the church, asked if the Hajian’s would return to Whitehorse in 1987 (after he completed his studies at seminary).
Over the winter of 1986/87, Rev. Titterington came to serve as interim pastor.
In 1987, Norman & Heather Hajian returned to Whitehorse and soon had their first of four children in Whitehorse.
Over the winter of 1987/88 the north wing of the building was added to serve as a church foyer, daycare office, daycare coat room, and washrooms. A grant had been secured to finance the project. Before construction began, a basement was added to the project, which would serve as a Sunday School area. The main floor was completed and dedicated on August 14, 1988.
The following winter another project was undertaken on the opposite side of the property. Again a grant was secured and again a basement was added. The south wing would be used for the expansion of the daycare nursery. The basement, originally built as a fellowship hall, was eventually used for the growing after-school program of the daycare.
After nearly 20 years of service, in the fall of 2000 Sheila Brown announced her retirement. Over the years she had seen the daycare grow from a tiny one room operation into a daycare licensed for 104 children. She was a great friend to many of the daycare families and a strong supporter of the church in all of it’s activities.
In an effort to further emphasize the Christian ministry of the daycare, in June 2002, the church hired Clayton Keats to serve as Associate Pastor responsible for our daycare ministry. His education in both biblical studies and child care proved to be the combination we needed. He was ordained in June 2005 and continues to serve as worship leader and daycare director.
Also in 2002, Megan Polowski came to the Yukon, to work in the daycare for a summer. After spending her summer here in 2002 and 2003, she returned in 2004 after completing her education. She soon started a youth group, received her district ministers license and was ordained in June 2011. She served as youth pastor in Whitehorse until Oct. 2011 having led the youth in hundreds of events and several trips, including trips to Mexico and Poland.
Over the years, we have seen many people attend the Church of the Nazarene and many lives have been touched by the grace of God.
Dedication Service
Feb 27, 1966
Rev. Roy J. Yeider – speaking
Rev. C. Preston – Invocation
Rev. R. Hart – Pastor
M. McElharen – Song leader
| 
Dedication of new building, 1978
|
| Pastors:
Rev. Shelton Dr. R.G. Fitz Rev. Aubry Ponce (1962) Rev. Russell Hart (1963-1966) Rev. Paul Chavet (1967) Rev. Gene Morrell (1969-1979) Rev. Larry Darby (1980-1982) Rev. Houseman (interim) Rev. Gibson (interim) Rev. M. Westmacott (1983-1984) Rev. George Rempel (1985-1986) Rev. Titterington (interim) Rev. Norman Hajian (1987- ) |
To see some recent pictures of the building, click here.
