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Elmer G. Klassen
Elmer G. Klassen (December 23, 1926 – April 15, 2008) was a Canadian preacher and pastor whose ministry within the Mennonite Brethren Church emphasized holiness, biblical authority, and practical Christian living across nearly five decades. Born in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, to Gerhard and Helena Klassen, he grew up in a large farming family of 11 children steeped in Mennonite faith and German-speaking traditions. After moving to British Columbia in his youth, he trained at Columbia Bible Institute and married Ruth Heinrichs in 1950, blending his rural roots with a call to ministry. Klassen’s preaching career began with pastorates in British Columbia and the U.S., including a significant tenure at Willingdon Church in Burnaby from 1958 to 1970, followed by roles at Central Heights Church and Northview Community Church in Abbotsford until retiring in 1995. Known for sermons that tackled contemporary issues—like entertainment and stewardship—with scriptural rigor, he also served as a missionary in Japan from 1952 to 1957, mastering Japanese to reach local communities. His later years included interim preaching and moderating for the B.C. Mennonite Brethren Conference. Married to Ruth, with whom he had four children—Wendell, Lois, Joanne, and Marilyn—he died at age 81 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, leaving a legacy of steadfast faith and cross-cultural gospel witness.
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Preacher Elmer G. Klassen challenges the congregation by questioning the effectiveness of preaching the Gospel when there seems to be little difference in behavior between Christians and non-Christians. He emphasizes that the power of the Gospel should transform lives and that if this change is not evident, there is a flaw in the preaching. Klassen highlights the Book of Romans, which promises a transformed life on earth for those who truly believe in its message, yet he finds it rare to encounter individuals who fully embrace and live out the teachings from chapter one to chapter 16. He questions whether the traditional approach to reading the Bible has diminished its power to bring about real change in believers' lives.
Who Believes the Book of Romans and Will
Why ask people to trust Christ when it does not make much difference if they do? When there are as many divorces within the church as outside the church, the habits of Christians essentially is the same as non-Christians, the pleasures of sin just as much enjoyed in the church as outside the church, why all this effort of making people Christians? The Bible tells us that the Gospel is the power that will stop people from sinning, but if this is not happening in the churches there is something basically wrong with our preaching. The Book of Romans does not urge us to prepare for a future heaven but promises a changed life here on earth to the one who will believe the book. I seldom find someone who does. To find someone who will confess chapter one as true is hard to find. And to find someone who will continue to believe the Gospel according to Romans on to chapter 16 becomes even more difficult. The Gospel according to Romans promises a completely changed life to whoever will believe it. But who believes this and confesses the book of Romans to be true in his own life? Could it be that we are so in the habit of reading the Book in an old style and in such a traditional way that the Book has lost its power to change lives? Are there readers who will write and confess that the book of Romans has been proven true from chapter one to chapter 16 in their lives or, if not, why not? The Book of Romans will answer every question pertaining to the Christian’s life. If you have a question, let me answer from this book. I am not ashamed of the gospel according to Romans because it is the power of God that changes the life of everyone who will believe, for the righteous live their lives by faith.
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Elmer G. Klassen (December 23, 1926 – April 15, 2008) was a Canadian preacher and pastor whose ministry within the Mennonite Brethren Church emphasized holiness, biblical authority, and practical Christian living across nearly five decades. Born in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, to Gerhard and Helena Klassen, he grew up in a large farming family of 11 children steeped in Mennonite faith and German-speaking traditions. After moving to British Columbia in his youth, he trained at Columbia Bible Institute and married Ruth Heinrichs in 1950, blending his rural roots with a call to ministry. Klassen’s preaching career began with pastorates in British Columbia and the U.S., including a significant tenure at Willingdon Church in Burnaby from 1958 to 1970, followed by roles at Central Heights Church and Northview Community Church in Abbotsford until retiring in 1995. Known for sermons that tackled contemporary issues—like entertainment and stewardship—with scriptural rigor, he also served as a missionary in Japan from 1952 to 1957, mastering Japanese to reach local communities. His later years included interim preaching and moderating for the B.C. Mennonite Brethren Conference. Married to Ruth, with whom he had four children—Wendell, Lois, Joanne, and Marilyn—he died at age 81 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, leaving a legacy of steadfast faith and cross-cultural gospel witness.