Our Mission
To Experience and Share God's Love and Grace
Statement of Faith
Mennville EMC abides and agrees with the EMC Statement of Faith:
1. The Bible
We believe that the Bible, is the Word of God. It is inspired by God and is without error in all that it teaches. It is the final authority in matters of belief and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
2. God
We believe in only one God. He exists and reveals himself in three persons. God the Father of all believers and in a special way, of Jesus Christ. God the Son; fully God and fully human, without sin and the atonement for us. God the Holy Spirit; comforter, guide and equipper of believers. All persons in this trinity are fully and equally God (Matt. 6:9, 2 Pet. 3:18, John 14:16).
3. The Creation
We believe that God created the world, as revealed in the Bible, and that nothing exists apart from what God has made. (Gen. 1–2).
4. The Dignity of Human Beings
We believe that God created human beings in his own image and that every human life is sacred and must be protected (Gen. 1:26-27).
5. The Fall of the Human Race
We believe our first parents, by choice brought the whole human race into sin and separation from God, resulting in death and corrupting our relationships with God, each other and creation (Rom. 3:23).
6. Satan
We believe that Satan is a real spirit being who opposes God and seeks to destroy humankind (Matt. 4:1-11).
7. Salvation
We believe that since Jesus Christ has atoned for all sin by His death, all people may now be saved by grace through their faith in Him (Eph. 2:1–10).
8. Discipleship
We believe that our relationship to Jesus Christ is to be an unconditional commitment to a total life of discipleship (1 Pet. 2:13–14).
9. The Life of Peace
We believe we are called to walk in the steps of the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace. We may not participate in or support anything that will violate this life of peace but should be peace makers and ministers of reconciliation (Matt. 5).
10. The Church
We believe all who have experienced new life in Christ belong to his body, the church. As a body, we are called to share the love of God (1 Cor. 12).
11. The Ordinances
We believe Christ has given us two ordinances: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper— and that these should be observed by the church as symbolic reminders of spiritual truths (Matt. 28:18–20, 1 Cor. 11:17-34).
12. The Resurrection
We believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and that all people will be raised as well, either to life or to condemnation (John 5:29).
13. The Return and Final Triumph of Christ
We believe that Jesus will return at the end of the age. He will judge the living and the dead, triumph over Satan, bring rulers and powers into subjection and destroy death itself (1 Cor. 15:24).
Meet Our Pastor
Rev. Michael Vanderzwaag
In 2012 Michael felt God’s call to ministry while studying at Millar College of the Bible. In 2014 Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and following his internship the following year he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Ministries.
Following his internship year at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Swift Current, SK. Michael was hired on as the full-time associate pastor.
In June 2017 after nearly 3 years of service, God saw it fit to close the doors to Cornerstone Fellowship Church.
In September 2017 Michael was hired by the Mennville EMC as their full-time lead pastor, a position in which he continues to serve.
Michael is passionate about God’s Word and desires to grow alongside others as they journey in their pursuit of Jesus Christ.
Michael is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity with McMaster Divinity College.
Michael and his wife Katrina live in Riverton with their son Levi.
Our History
Mennville Evangelical Mennonite Church, located near Riverton, Manitoba, was the first Evangelical Mennonite Conference congregation established in Manitoba’s Interlake Region. In the early 1950s EMC families moved to the Washow Bay district for various reasons, including seeking freedom for their religious practice, land for farming, and to reach out spiritually to the wider area. They began a Sunday School and built a school (that was also used for worship). EMC deacon Jacob D. Friesen from Morris and minister Peter P. Friesen from Blumenort moved to the area with their families in 1952.
In 1954 David P. Thiessen and his wife Katherine became leading pastoral couple. They served till 1973. Leonard Dueck and Milton Friesen were elected as additional deacons in 1967 and 1974, respectively. Additional ministers were elected -- Harry Friesen in 1968 and Terry (and Eloa) Dueck and Roger Plett in 1985. The congregation had a period of paid leadership and also a time of local unpaid ministers who provided leadership.
The language of worship was German in the beginning and transitioned to English in the 1970s.
The church grew rapidly and by 1960 had 113 members. Church growth peaked at about 170 in the 1970s. In 1989 it had about 135 members. In 2016 its membership was 154.
When the Washow Bay post office closed in 1966, the area became known as Mennville, and the church name Mennville EMC.
The Mennville Church is a member church of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. For more info on the EMC please visit
Church Facility Rental
If you wish to rent the Mennville EMC for a gathering or other event please call the church office at
204-378-2985 and fill out the rental agreement below