A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ungsfeld church established a Bible school in 1926 and called J. E. Hildebrandt, a graduate of Tabor College, to serve as instructor. The regular course covered three years, with offerings in Bible and German. The school sought to prepare teachers for the Sunday school, to disseminate Bible knowledge among the young people and to prepare workers for the church. After the outbreak of World War II, community opposition arose because of the school's use of the German language and its stand against participation in war." By 1943 the student body had diminished considerably, and the school was closed. Among others, P. V. Baker, missionary to India, and J. K. Siemens, well-known Bible teacher, have served as instructors of the school. Hooker (Okla.) Bible School (1920-1931) Intermittently from 1920 to 1931 the Hooker M. B. Church operated a small Bible school. Eighteen students enrolled for the first year with P. E. Nikkei as the teacher. Only eleven students attended the third year with A. G. Wall as instructor and the school was discontinued the following year. Several attempts were made to revive the school. When P. V. Balzer returned from India in 1931, he was engaged for two terms. However, with his leaving the work soon died out. 10 Immannel Academy Immanuel Academy began in 1912 when the Reedley (California) M. B. Church felt the need of conducting daily Bible school classes for high school-age young people. By 1925 interest in the program had grown to the extent that the church erected a small school building, and named it Reedley Bible School. David V. Wiebe of Tabor College and his 258 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH wife were the teachers. As first director of the school, Wiebe played an important role in its early development. By 1932 the school, which had never had a large enrollment, was closed down. However, it was continued by the Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church until 1937 in the building now known as the Reedley hospital." In 1937-41 the Bible school met in the dining room of the Dinuba M.B. Church. In 1938 the Reedley M.B. Church reopened its Bible school in its own facilities and operated a parallel program to that in Dinuba. By 1941 the church-schism was healed sufficiently for the two schools to combine under the new name: Immanuel Bible School. J. P. Rogalsky (who died in 1960) had joined the staff of the Reedley school in 1926 and taught in it with great dedication for many years. He also served as principal during difficult times when the school was struggling for survival. 12 In 1944 the four-year academy program was started and the name changed to Immanuel Academy. J. N. C. Hiebert, a missionary on furlough from India, served as first principal of the reorganized school. In 1946 another milestone was reached when the school relocated to its present campus overlooking the Kings River on the southwest corner of Reedley. The average attendance since 1950 has b