A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

h also joined the congregation in the town of Buhler. During the last two decades, however, even the small town congregations have experienced difficulties in maintaining their membership levels because of the steady movement of Mennonite Brethren to the larger metropolitan centers. Whereas the membership of the Buhler M.B. Church stood at five hundred and twelve in 1951, it had dropped to four hundred and fifteen by 1971. The Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church This congregation, which was destined to become one of the largest and most influential churches in the M.B. Conference, began in a revival movement among the newly arrived Mennonite settlers in the "French Creek" area north of Hillsboro around 1880. After several baptisms the group here was organized by Elder Schellenberg on April 25, 1881, as the "Johannestal Church of French Creek." 17 The congregation met in HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH rural homes until 1882, when a school building was purchased in Hillsboro. After beginning with thirty-four charter members, the church experienced steady growth so that the present (1971) membership of eight hundred and fifty-five makes it the second largest congregation in the M.B. Conference. Several factors have contributed to the growth and development of Lhis congregation through the years. Aside from able leadership, the establishment of conference institutions in the town of Hillsboro has been of major significance in this respect. Tabor College, the first instit ution of higher learning in the brotherhood, was established here in 1908. The chronicler of the local history of the church describes the influence of Tabor as follows: The natural result was an increased attendance as well as membership. . . . The very presence of students and faculty members exerted considerable influence in the thinking of the congregation, and their participation in the Sunday school . the young people's work, the choir and congregational singing as well as in the preaching became a powerful influence. " The congregation profited from the ministry of such outstanding leaders and teachers as H. W. Lohrenz. P. C. Hiebert, H. F. Toews and others, whom Peter K. Nickel, church leader for twenty-three years, was nble to draw into the work. In the words of the local historian, It seemed proper in the eyes of Brother Nickel to put the burden of the public preaching ministry very largely into the hands of these three ministering brethren. This practice gave him more time ... to devote to the direct shepherding of the believers and looking after the many church interests. 1 " The relocation of the conference publishing house from McPherson to Hillsboro between 1909 and 1913 also strengthened the work and witness of the local congregation. Such brethren as A. L. Schellenberg. P. H. Berg, and others engaged in the work of publication, made their contribution to the ministry in the church. The General Con