Happy birthday to us

We’re 148 years old!

On January 6, 2008 the Mennonite Brethren Church celebrates its birthday. On that day in 1860, 18 men gathered and formed a new church from within the larger Mennonite Church in present day Ukraine.

The Mennonite Brethren Church began during a time of crisis. The structure of the Mennonite colonies in Russia was in disarray. A wealthy class had emerged that owned most of the land, leaving a large group of disenfranchised landless people. Young people agitated for change and opportunity. Governing officials and church leadership supported the wealthy, too afraid to make significant changes to the system.

Also, religious life was institutionalized and lacked zeal. People were born into Mennonite families and simply expected to become part of the church and community. The Anabaptist concept of church as a voluntary fellowship of believers had slipped into a routine form.

At the same time, many younger folk were being drawn to a new spiritual vitality emerging within the Gnadenfeld congregation. This was reinforced by the revivalist, pietistic movement coming from a neighbouring German Lutheran congregation, led by Eduard Wuest, a young, dynamic minister. Wuest emphasized the repentance of sins and free acceptance of God’s grace.

Those who felt hemmed in by the economic, political, and church structures of the Mennonite settlements desperately tried to bring this vitality to their congregations. But, in general, the older leadership refused to have anything to do with this new movement.

Following considerable discussion, prayer, and discernment, a group of frustrated people came together in the home of Isaak Koop, where they formed a new church.

Fresh ideas

Typical of the people who made up this new church was Johann Claassen, an early lay leader. He was a factory owner who assisted Mennonite Brethren by lobbying on their behalf for official government status in Petersburg. Claassen took on this task in spite of opposition from the larger church. He also helped members of the new church, and other landless, find and move to settlements such as the Kuban and Crimea. Here the old church hierarchy could interfere less with their church and community life.

As with any renewal movement, the early years were fraught with dissension and extreme views. One such example was a group of believers who exhibited their newfound freedom by engaging in various forms of ecstatic emotion during worship services – including dancing.

As the group tried new things, they were also drawn to the German Baptists who espoused practices such as Sunday school and gospel music. Via the Baptists, more functional church polity and structures emerged. Soon the fledgling movement gained strength and began to grow.

A passion for mission developed early on, but the group was too small to run a program on their own. For a few years they worked in cooperation with other mission agencies, such as those of the Baptists. As soon as possible, however, the MBs formed their own mission committee and began efforts in India and Africa.

Approximately 15 years after the birth of the church, Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren from Ukraine began immigrating to the United States.

The missionary zeal continued, and in 1884, U.S. Mennonite Brethren travelled to Manitoba to explore mission activities among the Mennonites there. In 1888, the first Canadian Mennonite Brethren church began in Burwalde, near Winkler.

This is the early part of the story. Together, we build on the story as we worship and minister within our communities in a wide variety of congregations. From a German-speaking congregation in Ukraine, we’ve grown. We now worship in 27 different languages across North America, and have congregations in 18 other countries. God has been good. In total, we’re more than 290,000 believers who adhere to a single confession of faith.

It all started a century and a half ago in a tiny house with 18 families. We praise God he’s brought our movement this far. And we look forward to an incredible 150-year celebration in 2010!

—Ken Reddig, Centre for MB Studies