The Mennonite Brethren Church had its beginning as a movement of spiritual renewal in the Molotschna Mennonite settlement in Russia on January 6, 1860. From there, it spread to other Mennonite colonies in what is today called the Ukraine.

Among the Mennonites that migrated from Russia to Canada between 1922 and 1930 were many Mennonite Brethren, who either joined already established Mennonite Brethren (MB) congregations or formed new ones.

A number of Mennonite Brethren families made Steinbach their new home, where they initially worshipped with the Brudertaler (Evangelical Mennonite Brethren) congregation. In spite of their similarities, the MBs eventually terminated their association with the EMBs and formed their own church. On January 3, 1927, “38 brethren and 7 sisters” met, electing Gerhard Unruh as their leader and H.K. Siemens as their assistant leader. At first the small group met in the EMB church, but after a few years they purchased an old schoolhouse, which they remodelled.

In 1943, near the end of of the second World War, the church began construction of a facility on the present site. The project was finally completed in 1947. Lack of Sunday school space called for the three-storey addition at the front of the church in 1957 (shown above), and in 1970 a side foyer, gym, and education wing were added.

The membership decided in June 1986 to begin the construction of the present sanctuary, which it built at a cost of $720,000. The completed facility was dedicated in the following spring. Five years later (1992), the mortgage was paid off.

In 2004, the construction of a new Christian Ed. wing, multi-functional gym, and an office area was completed. The new facilities were built where the old sanctuary and Christian education wing once stood.

Lay preachers led the congregation until 1967. John D. Reimer (1967–1974) was the church’s first full-time pastor. He was followed by Jake Falk (1974–1984), Bill Lehman (1985–1990) and John Block (1990–1995). Keith Poysti served as interim pastor from October 1995 to July 1996. Norm Neufeld, who joined the church in 1998, died in February 2000. Walter Reimer was half-time interim pastor during part of Pastor Norm’s illness. Scott Koop, the church’s first salaried youth pastor, served 1997–2001.

Pastor Abe Klassen began his ministry as senior pastor on September 1, 2000 and faithfully served until July 2008. He was joined on July 1, 2002 by Gary St. Amand, who served as youth pastor until September 30, 2003. On January 19, 2004, Mike Kehler joined the pastoral team as Pastor of Youth and Family life.

Other ministers to the congregation were H.A. Regehr, Cornelius Rempel and Daryl Busby. Les Riediger, Dan Stobbe, Dan Warkentin, Dan Thiessen, and Dan Berger have been full-time or part-time associate pastors.

Church membership today stands at about 360. 

Sources

Canadian Mennonite Encyclopedia <http://www.mhsc.ca/encyclopedia/search.html>

Harder, Leland. Steinbach and Its Churches. Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1970. Pp. 49–51.

Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 41.

Mennonites in Canada Collection, “70-Steinbach,” Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Süss, Lenora. “A Short History of the Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, from 1927 to March, 1985.” Unpublished typescript, 1985, 9 pp. Mennonite Historical Society of Canada coll., Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church records at the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.