After more than 30 years of serving the Dapp community in the Cedar Creek Christian Fellowship, pastor Ken Stange’s dedication to the community is being rewarded.
And it came as no surprise to the community as nearly 400 people from the fellowship planned a celebration banquet at the Westlock and District Community Hall for Ken and his wife Gail on Feb. 9.
The couple were honoured and humbled by the celebration, but said the group has always surprised them. And he wasn’t joking: In 2003, the church community surprised the duo with a trip to Costa Rica.
“That’s just the kind of people they are,” Ken said. “They’re really good people and most of them are like our family.”
His wife, Gail, added why she enjoyed raising a family near the church.
“Rural Alberta has a very wholesome lifestyle,” she said with a smile. “It was truly a pleasure and a benefit to raise our children with our church family. I call it our church family because most of our family lives so far away, the people from church became our family.
“In fact, I’m sure our kids — they’re grown up now — would call some of our neighbours ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle’ because we’re all so close.”
And although the Stange kids have metaphorically flown the coop, the couple decided to stay in the region, moving from Dapp into Westlock after Ken’s pastoral resignation this winter.
But Ken’s name is one that the Dapp community will never forget.
“We’ve been attending the church for about 10 years,” said event organizer Kevin Schmidt.
“Probably the biggest thing that stands out about the Stanges is their genuineness. They’re really down to earth people who want to relate with you in a very real, tangible way.
“They’re just good people, who really want to go a little deeper and really connect with people.”
In fact, it was even suggested that Ken’s time as a pastor at Cedar Creek is possibly one of the longest serving pastors in the area.
“But I think their greatest legacy is really their ability to connect with people,” Schmidt said.
However the most important part of working with the community, in Ken’s mind, was to offer support through both good times and bad. His eyes glazed over during an interview before the banquet, while he recounted seeing the community through anniversaries, weddings, funerals and illnesses.
“It was never about balancing anything,” he said. “It was about being there for people who needed help.”
The community celebrated 30 years of ministry and community services from the Stanges and it was clear when several trips down memory lane regaled a dedicated and compassionate duo.
The night also included a compilation of historical photographs from the Cedar Creek church property and the Stanges community involvement.
In addition, there were several toasts acknowledging long-time friendships and bonds with the Stanges stand-up attitude presented by members of the community.
“If you want a friend, you’ve got to be a friend,” Bill Seatter said.
“Ken and Gail have done that.”
