A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

r-church" to other emerging churches in the area. In 1907 the Hessie M.B. Church was established for the convenience of members on the western fringe of the settlement. Later, in the period following World War II, congregations were also organized in the larger towns of Weatherford and Clinton, and the Bessie Church was relocated to Cordpll." The Com congregation has the distinction of establishing the first denominational Bible school in 1902. In 1920 the curriculum was expanded and by 1934 it had become a fully accredited high school. Many early church leaders received their inspiration and training for service in the Kingdom of God in the "Corn Bible Academy." During the same time that settlers were moving into the western parts of Oklahoma Territory, Mennonite Brethren were in the process of establishing a mission among the Comanche Indians in the southwest- ern part of the present state. The pioneers of this first missionary effort among the Comanche Indians were Henry Kohfeld and A. J. MENNONITE BRETHRKN COME TO THE UNITED STATES 145 Becker, who established the Post Oak Mission not far from where lndiahoma now stands. The land known as "Cherokee Outlet" was opened to settlement by the greatest of all "Huns" on September 16, 1893. It has been estimated that more than one hundred thousand people joined in the race to claim the rich prairies of northwestern Oklahoma Territory. Mennonites were in the front ranks of the homesteaders who surged into this area. According to Marvin Kroeker, 'they had a definite part in the founding and early development of the communities in Meno, Deer Creek, Orienta, Fairview, Lahoma, Jet, Lucien, Manchester, Kremlin, Medford, North Enid and Enid." J By the end of the territorial period (1907) the following Mennonite Brethren churches had been established in the so-called "Cherokee Strip": Fairview (1894), meeting in two churches after 1895 (Nord-Hoff- nungsfeld and Sued-Hoffnungsfeld); North Enid (1897);" and Medford (1899). The first pastor of the Medford M. B. Church, J. F. Harms, in addition to preaching and farming was editor and printer of the Zionsbote, the official periodical of the M. B. Conference. It was printed on Harms' farm at first, but later the press was moved to Medford. A church at Lahoma, also established during this period as an affiliate of i he Si ir-< |- 1 InffniirHvsM'l conirn'trnl inn had become extinct by 1923. The last part of the Oklahoma District to be opened up for settlement in the first decade of the twentieth century was the so-called "panhandle." Mennonite Brethren established congregations at Balko (1906), south of Turpin, and Hooker (1905), in present Texas County. In eastern Oklahoma two Mennonite Brethren Churches were established shortly before the first World War. The congregation at Inola organb.ed in 191 1, is now extinct. The congregation at Collinsuille was established in 1913 and prospered for some time, reac