Two Lloydminster congregations are now one.
Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship and Living Faith Church held their first unified service Sunday, launching under a single name – One Church – after six months of merger discussions between the lead pastors of each congregation.
The merger brings five pastors under one leadership structure. Tyler Evenson serves as lead pastor. Samuel Acey and Chris French are associate pastors. Jesse Allen leads the Next Generations ministry, and Ryley Ankney oversees Children and Families. All staff from both churches were retained.
A new Pastor’s Council, drawn from both former boards, now handles church governance.
Both buildings remain in use. The former Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship location is now called One Church: Saskatchewan Hub, hosting the main Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. The former Living Faith building operates as One Church: Alberta Hub, serving as the administrative home and midweek gathering space.
Not everyone came into the merger without history. Some members of each congregation had previously left the other, carrying concerns with them. Leadership’s response was direct.
“We want to manage conflict and not ignore it,” the church said in a written statement.
“Leadership took the approach of overcommunicating, having an open-door policy, and letting it be known that if anyone didn’t know something or had a concern that they could ask and that an answer would be given.”
Weekly programming will not be set immediately. The summer period is being used for the two congregations to get to know each other before programming decisions are made in the fall. Leadership said those decisions will be based on what serves the congregation going forward – not on what either congregation did individually before the merger.
The church described Sunday’s launch service as seamless, noting that members from both congregations chose to sit among each other and that conversations were observed crossing former affiliation lines.
Looking ahead, leadership cited sustainable growth, a larger community footprint, and eventually a new facility as five-year goals. Both current buildings are viewed as transitional – the Saskatchewan Hub is leased, and the Alberta Hub is considered too small for long-term use.
“We desire to bring unity where division has often ruled,” the church said.
“We have put our belief into action, and we believe there are greater things to come from this than simply a larger gathering on Sundays.”
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