By Mary Owen
Fifty years ago, Canyon Bible Fellowship was started with a mission to serve the greater Lyons Community.
“Then Canyon Bible Church, it began with a vision, not from men alone, but also from God,” said the Rev. Lee Barton, the 10th pastor of the fellowship. “The vision is found in the Bible, arising out of the vision of the original church founded by the first followers of Jesus Christ. As it says in Acts 2:41-42, ‘So then, those who had received his Word were baptized and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’”
Barton said CBF is based on a number of biblically-based principles, including baptism, fellowship and prayer.
“Fifty years ago, the church was begun on this foundation,” Barton said. “In 2014, these foundational principles are not just a part of our past, but they affect every decision, every ministry, every effort made from the church toward the community.”
Pastor Barton grew up in Northern California and came to Christian maturity during the “flower power” era, he said.
“I worked in a ski area in Colorado, where God got a hold of my life,” said Barton, a father of three and grandfather of nine. “I got my master’s degree at Talbot Theological Seminary, and my wife, Shary, and I bundled our family off to the Middle East as missionaries.”
The Bartons worked with Muslims and Iraqi refugees in Egypt, then in Jordan, evangelizing and helping to plant a church. After nearly 20 years in missions, part of it spent in the home office, Barton accepted a position as associate pastor of a large church in Southern California. Five years later, he accepted the pastorate at CBF, where he has served for seven years.
“Lyons is a unique community because it really has no central place where people gather,” Barton said. “We see each other at the post office, some of the markets, and at the school, but there is no mall or gathering spot. So activities that affect the community are rare.”
To help fill the gap, CBF participates at the local food bank. The church provides pastoral care, grief counseling, pre-marital/ marital counseling, and informational meetings.
CBF celebrated its beginnings and longevity with an outdoor community worship service at the church. The founding pastor, Dr. Carl Blanchard, was the guest speaker, joined by pastors Troy Gulstrom of Mehama Community Church and Mike Skaggs of Santiam Chapel. Following the ceremonial celebration was a free barbecue lunch, with games, a jump house and music by the blue grass band, Jericho Road.
“The community church service had roughly 200 in attendance, which exceeds the normal attendance of the three participating churches on a typical Sunday morning,” Barton said. “Afterward, about 100 more came to the barbecue.
“Folks ate, enjoyed music and visited until late into the afternoon. It was a great day to celebrate our history and bless our community,” Barton said.
CBF weekly worship starts at 10 a.m. with adult Bible education an hour prior. Small group meetings at homes on Sunday nights are offered where people discuss the Bible and relevant cultural issues.
“We have a midweek prayer service, and we gladly take prayer requests from people who do not attend our fellowship and commit them to God,” Barton said. “We also have periodic Bible studies which meet during the week. They usually follow a DVD presentation by a well-known speaker and provide a chance to discuss and share.”
Barton said he is privileged to be “the current guardian of the flame that was ignited 50 years ago.”
“The church has been well-founded,” he said. “She has stood for 50 years. By the grace of God, she will stand for another 50, should Christ delay his return.”
For information about CBF, 446 Cedar St., call 503-859-2627.
