At Burwalde (Baburka), eight miles (13 km) southeast of Chortitza, a branch of the Einlage Mennonite Brethren Church was organized in 1876 when Johann Hildebrandt, his wife, and mother were converted and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church over very stiff, protests and opposition on the part of their relatives and neighbors. Little spiritual life was present at that time in most of the Mennonite villages. So Hildebrandt arranged for spiritual Sunday meetings in his home (grosse Stube). It was some years later that several people of Rosengart (Novoslobodka), a few miles west of Burwalde, joined the Mennonite Brethren Church, and met with the small group at Burwalde. Among the later converts at Burwalde was Abr. Klassen, a very energetic personal worker and contender for the faith, though he had much opposition from his own family. Hildebrandt suddenly passed to his reward early in the 20th century. Because of this loss to the Burwalde group and the growing of the number of members in Rosengart and Kronstal, west of Rosengart, a church was built and the services of these groups held at Kronstal (Dolinsk).

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 479-480. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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