Situated in southern Alberta's foothills are the communities formerly named Black Diamond and Turner Valley. These two historic towns are now amalgamated as Diamond Valley, but the old names still identify the specific part of town. Foothills Bible Fellowship exists to serve these communities and the surrounding area with Bible based care and teaching.
OUR STORY
The story of Foothills Bible Fellowship (FBF) began with an email from Pastor Kelly Henning, then newly elected president of the AFLC Canada, asking John and Brenda Attwood if they would be willing to consider beginning a house church in Black Diamond. After a summer of soul searching and prayer - and even a few 'fleeces' (cf. Judges 6:36 – 38) - then seeing God confirm this call in a very miraculous way, we began on Labour Day Sunday in 2017.
There were four adults present and two children, and God has blessed us with a healthy contingent of children ever since! Since the fellowship's start, we have always tried to integrate the children into our Sunday morning services, and into Bible studies where appropriate.
Our early gatherings were on Wednesday evenings while most of us attended other churches on Sundays. John and Brenda used the time to visit a number of churches, trying to see if we could adapt anything from their ministries to increase the effectiveness of our own. Eventually, thanks to their incredible generosity, we moved to St. George's Anglican Church in Turner Valley for Sunday afternoon services. After a blessed time there, where the Lord added to our number, we moved to Valley Neighbours Club which allowed us to better accommodate for our needs: we continue to meet there now, at 10:30 on Sunday mornings.
Two of our goals have been to preach and teach faithfully, unwaveringly, and uncompromisingly straight from Scripture, so that a great and deep sense of unity in the faith may be realised, and to be a place of refuge for people who have felt alienated from the organised church.
Two quotes from people who attended have particularly blessed our founding Pastor, John Attwood. And we think that these quotes help to exemplify the character of the church.
The first was from a person with a fragile relationship with society who said, 'I feel safe here.'
The second was from a man whom John deeply respected, who had a different theological perspective than John, who used to phone John if he felt that he had been unclear or 'off base', and, in a pleasant way, to try to straighten out his sermons (at least once successfully). John preached a sermon one morning that he was sure would offend him, and thus expected a phone call. Sure enough, the call came while he was on his way home, but to his surprise the gentleman said, 'that was a real good sermon.' What blessed John was what he said next. 'It was a simple sermon, but a good one.' Simplicity is what we strive for.
In the summer of 2024, God blessed us with the opportunity to hire an intern pastor, Reuben Beamond, which has greatly benefitted the fellowship. Preaching has been refreshed, ministry has been expanded, and even our website has been updated to become more relevant than in the past.
After a unanimous congregational vote in March 2025, a motion was passed to continue on nondenominationally for the time being / until the Lord directs us, to better suit the ministry and makeup of the congregation. This transition was completed in May 2025. Furthermore, on May 5 2025, after calling him in the summer of '24 to serve as the intern pastor, Mr. Beamond, began serving as the pastor of the fellowship.
The Lord has been gracious in allowing the establishment and growth of Foothills Bible Fellowship, and so we strive every day to magnify His name and bring glory to Him! May God continue to use FBF to spread the Good News of Jesus’ offering up His own life on a cross to pay the penalty for the sin of all who would believe in Him.
The story of Foothills Bible Fellowship (FBF) began with an email from Pastor Kelly Henning, then newly elected president of the AFLC Canada, asking John and Brenda Attwood if they would be willing to consider beginning a house church in Black Diamond. After a summer of soul searching and prayer - and even a few 'fleeces' (cf. Judges 6:36 – 38) - then seeing God confirm this call in a very miraculous way, we began on Labour Day Sunday in 2017.
There were four adults present and two children, and God has blessed us with a healthy contingent of children ever since! Since the fellowship's start, we have always tried to integrate the children into our Sunday morning services, and into Bible studies where appropriate.
Our early gatherings were on Wednesday evenings while most of us attended other churches on Sundays. John and Brenda used the time to visit a number of churches, trying to see if we could adapt anything from their ministries to increase the effectiveness of our own. Eventually, thanks to their incredible generosity, we moved to St. George's Anglican Church in Turner Valley for Sunday afternoon services. After a blessed time there, where the Lord added to our number, we moved to Valley Neighbours Club which allowed us to better accommodate for our needs: we continue to meet there now, at 10:30 on Sunday mornings.
Two of our goals have been to preach and teach faithfully, unwaveringly, and uncompromisingly straight from Scripture, so that a great and deep sense of unity in the faith may be realised, and to be a place of refuge for people who have felt alienated from the organised church.
Two quotes from people who attended have particularly blessed our founding Pastor, John Attwood. And we think that these quotes help to exemplify the character of the church.
The first was from a person with a fragile relationship with society who said, 'I feel safe here.'
The second was from a man whom John deeply respected, who had a different theological perspective than John, who used to phone John if he felt that he had been unclear or 'off base', and, in a pleasant way, to try to straighten out his sermons (at least once successfully). John preached a sermon one morning that he was sure would offend him, and thus expected a phone call. Sure enough, the call came while he was on his way home, but to his surprise the gentleman said, 'that was a real good sermon.' What blessed John was what he said next. 'It was a simple sermon, but a good one.' Simplicity is what we strive for.
In the summer of 2024, God blessed us with the opportunity to hire an intern pastor, Reuben Beamond, which has greatly benefitted the fellowship. Preaching has been refreshed, ministry has been expanded, and even our website has been updated to become more relevant than in the past.
After a unanimous congregational vote in March 2025, a motion was passed to continue on nondenominationally for the time being / until the Lord directs us, to better suit the ministry and makeup of the congregation. This transition was completed in May 2025. Furthermore, on May 5 2025, after calling him in the summer of '24 to serve as the intern pastor, Mr. Beamond, began serving as the pastor of the fellowship.
The Lord has been gracious in allowing the establishment and growth of Foothills Bible Fellowship, and so we strive every day to magnify His name and bring glory to Him! May God continue to use FBF to spread the Good News of Jesus’ offering up His own life on a cross to pay the penalty for the sin of all who would believe in Him.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
It means that we are working in our local area, Diamond Valley, to help make Jesus known to you. Where man might fail, Jesus will not.
For 2,000 years men and women from all walks of life have found reason to hope, to have peace, and to be full of joy. Why? Because the promises of God are very real.
Truly, Jesus is no less relevant today than He has ever been, and we would love to sit down with you and discuss what He has done for us and how He can be relevant in your life: how you can know that God is in control in spite of all that seems so crazy in our world today.
We are not saying He will make you rich and famous, remove all the annoyances from your life, or give you a life of ease, but He will provide even more than all of those things, and help you navigate through your difficulties.
If this interests you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
It means that we are working in our local area, Diamond Valley, to help make Jesus known to you. Where man might fail, Jesus will not.
For 2,000 years men and women from all walks of life have found reason to hope, to have peace, and to be full of joy. Why? Because the promises of God are very real.
Truly, Jesus is no less relevant today than He has ever been, and we would love to sit down with you and discuss what He has done for us and how He can be relevant in your life: how you can know that God is in control in spite of all that seems so crazy in our world today.
We are not saying He will make you rich and famous, remove all the annoyances from your life, or give you a life of ease, but He will provide even more than all of those things, and help you navigate through your difficulties.
If this interests you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
