A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

hren began to reside here long before the general "urbanization process" took place after World War II. Already in 1907 a number of families were meeting in private homes for prayer and fellowship. Feeling their need for a spiritual ministry, the group extended a "Macedonian Call" to the M. B. church in Winkler. N The brethren who responded to the call and began to visit the group regularly were Peter H. Neufeld and Johann Warkentin, the leader of the church. Warkentin manifested a deep concern for the welfare of the small flock: he purchased an empty lot on the corner of Burrows and Andrews streets, bought a small chapel, and moved it onto the lot. The "little chapel on the corner" attracted many visitors from the surrounding area. The numerous opportunities for evangelism among the German- speaking people of the city called for the appointment of full-time city missionaries. God's chosen instruments for this task were Mr. and Mrs. MENNONITE BRETHREN COME TO CANADA 157 Wm. J. Bestvater of Mountain Lake, Minnesota. At the fourth Northern District (Canadian) Conference held in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan in 1913, the Bestvaters were appointed for this work. During the eight years (1913-1921) of his ministry in Winnipeg, Bestvater performed a wide range of services. Many transient families received material and spiritual help. Visitation work in the community as well as in hospitals required time and effort. During the war years (1914-1918) Bestvater served as spiritual counselor to many young Mennonite men and assisted them in obtaining exemption from military service. The expanding ministry demanded additional workers and Miss Anna Thiessen, who had just graduated from the Herbert Bible School, joined the staff in the fall of 1915. For almost forty years Miss Thiessen served faithfully in the city mission work of Winnipeg. As matron of the "Mary-Martha Home" for twenty-two years (1925-1947), she became a mother to many girls working away from home. 15 Bestvater, who had received theological training at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, was very much appreciated for his preaching und systematic Bible teaching. When a new and larger chapel was erected on the .same site in 1917, more people could be accommodated in (.he regular Sunday worship services and in the many meetings during the week. In 1921 the Bestvaters accepted the responsibility of leadership in the Herbert Bible School. The Erdman Nikkels, of Laird, Saskatchewan, stepped into the gap and served the church and mission for several years. With the appointment of the C.N. Hieberts in 1925 a new epoch began for the expansion of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg. This phase will be discussed in connection with the coming of the Mennonite Brethren from Russia. The total membership in the M.B. Church in Manitoba stood at three hundred and eighty in 1924. 16 II. Early Congregations in Saskatchewan The name Saskatchewan is an I