Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)
The Steinbach Mennonite Brethren congregation at Steinbach, MB began services in 1926, and formally organized in 1927. Until 1927 the group worshipped together with the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren. Gerhard H. Unruh is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union.
The group first met in the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren church, but then purchased and remodeled an old school. The lot was purchased in 1942 but the new church could not be built because of World War II. The new sanctuary was completed in 1947. In 1957 and 1970, the building was enlarged. In 1978, the adjacent lot was bought for possible expansion and parking. A new sanctuary was completed in 1987.
About two dozen people decided to form another separate independent congregation and in 1983 the Community Fellowship Church began.
In 1950 there were 218 members; in 1965, 269; in 1985, 285; in 1995, 288; in 2000, 314. The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (1943-), the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1927-) and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (until 2002). The language of worship is English and German; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
Pastoral leaders have included George Unruh (1927-1933), Abr. A. Regehr (1934-1942), Jacob H. Epp (1943-1952), H. A. Regehr (1953-1964), Peter Martens (1965-1966), John D. Reimer (1967-1974), Jake Falk (1975-1984), F. W. (Bill) Lehman (1985-1989), John Block (1991-1995), Keith Poysti (1996), Norm Neufeld (1998-2000), Abe Klassen (2000- )
The congregation's address is Box 1930, Steinbach, MB, R0A 2A0. (204) 326-3551. The church is located at 340 2nd St. (and Lumber Ave).
Bibliography
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 41.
Harder, Leland. Steinbach and Its Churches. Elkhart, IN: Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1970, 109 pp.
Mennonites in Canada Collection, "70-Steinbach," Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Suss, Lenora. "A Short History of the Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church 1927-1985." Unpublished typescript, 1985, 9 pp. Mennonite Historical Society of Canada coll., Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Church records at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Additional Information
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Wedel, J. and Marlene Epp. "Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 1986. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S7427ME.html>
APA style: Wedel, J. and Marlene Epp. (September 1986). "Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S7427ME.html>
