Steinbach Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Church at Steinbach, Manitoba was organized in 1881 when a large part of the Kleine Gemeinde in this area, with the elder and half of the preachers, joined the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Worship serv­ices were conducted in homes and then in a school building until 1911, when a church building was erected that had a seating capacity of 400. Wil­helm Giesbrecht was in charge of the services from the beginning until his death in 1917. Neighboring ministers then served the congregation until 1921, at which time Gerhard F. Giesbrecht and Jacob F. Barkman were ordained to the ministry. The serv­ices, conducted in both German and English, in­clude regular Sunday morning and evening serv­ices, Sunday school, midweek Bible study, Christian Endeavor, hospital services, and singing practices. The sewing circle takes an active part in missionary efforts. The membership in 1957 was 160, with A. P. Barkman as minister in charge, assisted by Ger­hard F. Giesbrecht and Ronald Wiebe.

In 1955 there were 160 members; in 1985, 130; in 2000, 142. Services are held both in English and German.

The congregation also operates Country View School.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 280 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach, MB  R0A 2A0.

Phone: 204-326-3681.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 625. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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