Elim Bible School, 1945.

The first of many Bible schools that Mennonites birthed in British Columbia was established in Yarrow, the first permanent Mennonite settlement in the province. The initiator of Elim Bible School (meaning springs of living water), as the institution in Yarrow became known in 1936-1937, was Gerhard J. Dersken (1879-1960) whose zeal for Bible training had been kindled at the Winkler Bible School. A Bible school education, Derksen felt, would counteract the spirit of materialism already taking root among young people. By October 1930, a year after its founding, the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren (MB) Church established a Bible School Society consisting of 22 members, and shortly thereafter engaged Peter D. Loewen as the first instructor.

Elim Bible School Class of 1945

In November 1930 Elim began a twelve-week program of evening instruction with 30 students in attendance. Courses taught included Theology, Mennonite History, Sunday School Methodology and German. Owing to the large enrollment, John A. Harder, pastor of the Yarrow MB Church, was soon added to the teaching staff. A day-school program introduced in 1930, continued until 1933 when financial pressures brought on by the depression forced a two-year closure of the school even though staff salaries had amounted to little more than $20.00 per month.

By 1935 the church was again able to support its Bible training program. A new school was erected and Abram Nachtigal (1876-1950) appointed principal. Now the course of studies was expanded to a five-year program, including certification of students with the Evangelical Teacher Training Association. With the subsequent appointment of Cornelius C. Peters (1889-1973) as principal, Elim experienced its record enrollment in the 1941-1942 school year with 152 students and six full time instructors, among whom were Gerhard H. Sukkau, Herman Lenzmann, and Henry P. Neufeldt. At the same time the curriculum was expanded to include Homiletics, Christian Ethics and Psychology.

The destruction of the building by fire in 1945 was a severe test for the school. Undaunted, the church immediately undertook to replace its loss with a new and much enlarged structure. Nevertheless, the economic reverses visited upon the community as a result of the collapsing raspberry industry in the post-war years, did not bode well for the future of the Bible school. By 1948 the enrollment dropped to 29 students. Although Elim continued to struggle for several more years, it was forced to cease operations in 1956. In its history the school graduated 115 students and supplied a harvest of workers for local church and outreach ministries.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Elim Bible School Instructors

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