Diamond Street Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began as a mission work among African-Americans on 1 July 1935, at 191 West Dauphin Street. It was known at first as the Mennonite Mission for the Colored. Sponsored by the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (MC), the work was transferred to Diamond Street in 1942. In 1954 Luke G. Stoltzfus was pastor and Emma Rudy and Alma Ruth were the mission workers. A large number of African-American children were being reached through Bible teaching activities held in homes, open lots, and in the mission. The total baptized membership, including workers, was 19 in 1954. The pastor in 2007 was Otis M. Banks and the membership at that time was 65.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address:

1632 W Diamond Street
Philadelphia  PA   19121-2313

Phone:

215-769-2682

Conference Affiliations:

African-American Mennonite Association

Lancaster Mennonite Conference

Mennonite Church USA

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 51. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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