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Winkler, Man.
What do these stones mean?

1964 time capsule was embedded behind this date stone.

The Israelites of old were told to ask the meaning of the stones in the monument after the crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 4:6-7). Former students of Winkler Bible Institute and residents in the area asked a similar question when the date stone of the school was revealed September 27. Behind the date stone was a time capsule, placed in the administration building in 1964.

About 100 people observed the opening of the capsule by Canadian MB Conference archivist Abe Dueck and former Winkler mayor John Krahn. In it, among other things, were newspaper clippings from 1964; a copy of “Amtwort”, written by founder A.H. Unruh; a yearbook from 1939-40; the school catalogue for 1965 and a history of the school 1925-1964. Neil Janzen, Manitoba MB Conference moderator, encouraged the constituency to remember the work of God in this place, and suggested that it could continue to be a place where people would learn of God.

Winkler Bible Institute was begun in 1925 under the direction of A.H. Unruh, who came from Russia to begin the school.

Frank H. Friesen, a member of the second class, reminisces.

Frank H. Friesen, 98, a member of the second class and later a board member reminisced about the early times: Tuition was $30.00, with half going to the instructors and half to pay for a building. By 1944 a teacher received a salary of about $135 for six months’ teaching. Over the years some 40 teachers were active in the school.

In 1944 the school came under the jurisdiction of the Manitoba MB Conference. The administration building, from which the date stone was recovered, was built in 1964. The school closed in May 1997 when it became evident that there were no longer enough students to sustain the school. Friesen stated that this was a time for nostalgia, a time when “one corner breaks off and one corner is built new”.

Many of those present had memories of time spent at the Institute, and of the impact it had had on their lives and on the lives of people across Canada. Over the years, thousands of young people studied at WBI, and many became workers and leaders in churches and missionaries in many parts of the world.

Lloyd Letkeman, manager of the new development on the site, stated that there were “still lots of people who do not want the place torn down, but progress cannot be avoided.” He assured those gathered that the new building, a housing complex for seniors “would honour what this place means to you”.

 – sbb

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Last modified December 3, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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