View source for Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

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<h3>1955 Article</h3> The first Mennonite Brethren churches in [[Alberta (Canada)|Alberta]] were established in 1926, when immigrant Mennonites from [[Russia|Russia]] settled there. A few years later these churches united into a provincial organization known as the Alberta Provincial Conference of the [[Mennonite Brethren Church|Mennonite Brethren Church]]. The purpose was to strengthen the churches and to promote various home mission projects. This conference elected a home mission committee composed of chairman, assistant chairman, and secretary-treasurer, which directed the various phases of home mission work in the province. The following Mennonite Brethren churches in Alberta constituted this conference in 1949: [[Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale]], [[Westview Community Church (Grassy Lake, Alberta, Canada)|Grassy Lake]], [[Foothills Community Church (Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada)|Pincher Creek]], [[Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church (Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada)|Vauxhall]], [[Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church (Namaka, Alberta, Canada)|Namaka]], [[Gem Mennonite Brethren Church (Gem, Alberta, Canada)|Gem]], [[Linden Mennonite Brethren Church (Linden, Alberta, Canada)|Linden]], [[Rosemary Mennonite Brethren Church (Rosemary, Alberta, Canada)|Rosemary]], [[Tofield Gospel Church (Tofield, Alberta, Canada)|Lindbrook]], and [[La Glace Bible Fellowship (La Glace, Alberta, Canada)|La Glace]]. The total church membership of the conference was 955.

In all churches annual Bible conferences were conducted under the auspices of the mission committee, in cooperation with other Mennonite churches and in the spirit of mutual love and respect. Two Bible schools, one at [[Coaldale Bible School (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale]] and one at Gem, served the constituency in 1950. A [[Alberta Mennonite High School (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Mennonite high school]] at Coaldale was supported by the conference and served to provide Christian education to the young people. Sunday-school teachers' courses, young people's rallies, ministers' courses, and courses for church choir leaders were held annually if possible.

The following ministers served in itinerating work and in conducting meetings for a number of years up to 1950: [[Janz, Benjamin B. (1877-1964)|B. B. Janz]], [[Siemens, Jacob John (1896-1963)|J. J. Siemens]], Abram A. Toews, D. Pankratz, P. P. Doerksen, A. G. Martens, [[Toews, Johann A. (1876-1953)|J. A. Toews, Sr.]], [[Toews, John A. (1912-1979)|J. A. Toews, Jr.]], H. Kornelson, B. W. Sawatzky, [[Willms, Abram P. (1882-1959)|A. P. Willms]], and [[Toews, Aron A. (1884-1969)|A. A. Toews]], Peter Goerz, Franz Friesen, Jac. P. Dyck; Peter Warkentin, H. R. Siemens, H. D. Siemens, [[Rempel, Nicolai Abram (1888-1956)|Nic. A. Rempel]], H. G. Klassen, Dav. Kroeker, Jac. Klassen, [[Hamm, Martin (1899-1982)|Martin Hamm]], H. H. Rempel, and David Dyck. -- <em>A. A. Toews</em>

<h3>1990 Update</h3> The first Mennonite Brethren church in [[Alberta (Canada)|Alberta]] was established by immigrants from [[Russia|Russia]] in 1926 in [[Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale]], a southern farming community. Three years later several churches united to form a provincial conference to assist local churches in proclaiming the kingdom of God, unifying faith, stimulating vision, and enabling common ministries in areas of [[Education, Mennonite|education]] and mission.

To provide young people access to educational opportunities, both local Bible schools and an [[Alberta Mennonite High School (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Alberta Mennonite High School]] were established. As communities expanded and urbanization increased, the high school was closed in 1964, and in 1968 the Bible school thrust was merged with that of the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren churches, as both conferences assumed sponsorship of [[Bethany College (Hepburn, Saskatchewan, Canada)|Bethany Bible Institute]].

In 1996 the conference consisted of 22 churches with a total membership of more than 2,720 scattered across the province. With more than 50 per cent of the members located in urban centers, the churches also minister to the communities in which they are found through Camp Evergreen and a Mailbox Bible Club. Ministries to Native peoples have been pursued at Hobbema. In Calgary and Edmonton the churches have also ministered to East Asian people. Together the churches experience rich blessings in worship and service. -- <em>Abram G. Konrad</em>

<h3>2011 Update</h3> In 2011 the following 21 congregations were members of the Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches:

<div align="center"> <table class="vertical listing">  <tr> <th> City</th> <th> Congregation</th> <th>Members

</th> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[Dalhousie Community Church (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|Dalhousie Community Church]]</td> <td align="right">213

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[Ethiopian Evangelical Church (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|Ethiopian Evangelical Church]]</td> <td align="right">70

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[Highland Mennonite Brethren Church (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|Highland Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">198

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> House for All Nations</td> <td align="right">38

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[Mountainview Grace Church (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|Mountainview Grace Chinese Church]]</td> <td align="right">63

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[New Hope Community Church (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|New Hope Community Church]]</td> <td align="right">67

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Calgary</td> <td> [[SunWest Christian Fellowship (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)|SunWest Christian Fellowship]]</td> <td align="right">240

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Coaldale</td> <td> [[Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">301

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Edmonton</td> <td> Bethel Eritrean Evangelical Church</td> <td align="right">

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Edmonton</td> <td> [[Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)|Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">230

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Edmonton</td> <td> [[River West Christian Fellowship (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)|River West Christian Church]]</td> <td align="right">92

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Edmonton</td> <td> Summerside Community Church</td> <td align="right">97

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Edmonton</td> <td> [[Sunrise Community Church (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)|Sunrise Community Church]]</td> <td align="right">39

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Gem</td> <td> [[Gem Mennonite Brethren Church (Gem, Alberta, Canada)|Gem Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">83

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> La Glace</td> <td> [[La Glace Bible Fellowship (La Glace, Alberta, Canada)|La Glace Bible Fellowship]]</td> <td align="right">65

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Lethbridge</td> <td> [[College Drive Community Church (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)|College Drive Community Church]]</td> <td align="right">68

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Lethbridge</td> <td> [[Lakeview Bible Church (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)|Lakeveiw Bible Church]]</td> <td align="right">52

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Linden</td> <td> [[Linden Mennonite Brethren Church (Linden, Alberta, Canada)|Linden Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">180

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Medicine Hat</td> <td> [[Crestwood Mennonite Brethren Church (Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada)|Crestwood Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">89

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Pincher Creek</td> <td> [[Foothills Community Church (Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada)|Foothills Community Church]]</td> <td align="right">18

</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Vauxhall</td> <td> [[Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church (Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada)|Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church]]</td> <td align="right">152

</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Total</strong></td> <td><strong> </strong></td> <td align="right"><strong>2,355</strong></td> </tr>  </table> </div>
= Bibliography =
<em>2011/2012 Planner Directory</em>. Winnipeg, MB and Goessel, KS: Kindred Productions, 2011.
= Additional Information =
<strong>Address</strong>: 160 - 340 Midpark Way SE, Calgary, AB T2X 1P1

<strong>Phone</strong>: 403-256-3211

<strong>Website</strong>: [http://www.abmb.ca/ Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, pp. 33-34; vol. 5, pp. 12, 14|date=March 2012|a1_last=Toews|a1_first=Aron A.|a2_last=Konrad|a2_first=Abram G.}}