A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ir sons to become "cowboys." 40 Elder Dyck left Colorado in 1895 to serve the newly established M.B. church at Winkler, Manitoba. Fluctuating economic conditions and lack of strong leadership produced discouragement among the Mennonite Brethren. Consequently ten families, under the leadership of H. Bergthold, trekked to Westfield, Texas, in fourteen covered wagons. But Texas also did not prove to be the "promised land." In less than two years all families had moved to Corn, Oklahoma, where they found bread and hospitality." The M. B. Church at Kirk, Colorado, however, survived economic depressions and religious upheavals. It is known today as the Joes Mennonite Brethren Church, since it is located near the town of Joes. An M.B. church at Loveland. organized in 1906, became extinct by 1924, as are the groups that once existed at Johnstown, Keenesburg and Brighton. In the city of Denver, however, a church was established in the post-war period which has experienced a steady growth and today (1971) has a membership of two hundred and thirty-eight. it. Toward the Mexican Border Oklahoma From the central midwestern states of Kansas and Nebraska Mennonites did not only move north and west, but also south as soon as 144 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH the Oklahoma (Indian) territories were opened up for settlement. The involvement of Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren in the so-called "Oklahoma Runs" constitutes a fascinating chapter in colonization history. The first of these rushes occurred on April 22, 1889 into the region known as the "Oklahoma District." 42 The first Mennonite Brethren congregation in Oklahoma was established near present-day Watonga in 1893 and came to be known as the Cooper M.B. Church (so named after the Cooper post office). Early-day religious activities, including a convention of all the Mennonite Brethren churches in Oklahoma Territory, were held in the large barn on the Cornelius Grunau farm. Church membership declined after 1896, when many left the area because of crop failures. In 1902 the settlement was disbanded. The Okeene M.B. Church, founded in 1902 with sixty charter members, has not only managed to survive the hardships of pioneer life, but has experienced a slow but steady growth through the years. The lands in the western part of the Cheyenne Arapahoe Territory were generally considered not very suitable for farming. But the optimistic appraisal of J. J. Kliewer founder of the Shelly Mission near the present community of Cora, initiated an extensive Mennonite movement into what are now Washita and Custer counties. The Corn Mennonite Brethren Church, which was destined to become one of the largest and most influential congregations in the Southern District Conference, was founded in Washita County in 1893." The town virtually grew up around the Mennonite Brethren Church built in 1894. In many ways the Corn congregation functioned as a "mothe