Our History

FIFTY YEARS AGO

About fifty years ago, the Christian Reformed Church in Lynden, Washington, began the Wiser Lake Chapel as a mission outreach to the people who lived in the surrounding county. For years the churches in Lynden conducted various children's ministries at the Chapel, trying to reach the many unchurched children in the area. For more history of the early years, click HERE.  

  

PASTOR BERT CALLED TO THE CHAPEL

But gradually, the Chapel became a church itself, not just a mission outreach of other churches. In 1992 the congregation reached the point that it believed it could support its own pastor. That was when Pastor Bert was called. 


NON-DENOMINATIONAL WITH REFORMED ROOTS

Today the Chapel continues to grow and change as we work out what it means to be a congregation of Christ's Church, and how our congregation is related to the larger Church. We are no longer officially connected to the Christian Reformed Church, but we still hold to basic Reformed beliefs. Pastor Bert is himself "on-loan" from the Presbyterian Church of America, another Reformed denomination.  

    

PURITY OF DOCTRINE & SPIRIT OF UNITY

After such a beginning, the Chapel continues to have quite a diversity among its people. That has proven to be both a wonderful asset and a serious challenge as we are pushed to think carefully about what it means to be a church pursuing both purity of doctrine and a spirit of unity.