View source for Baerg, John G. (1908-1999)

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[[File:Baerg,_John_and_Martha.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Martha and John G. Baerg<br>
Source: Alf Redekopp private collection''.]]
John G. Baerg; pastor and Bible teacher; born 25 July 1908 as the 3rd youngest of eight surviving children to Gerhard Baerg (1871-1919) and Anna (Matthies) Baerg (1875-1954) on the Apanlee estate, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Mennonite Settlement]], South [[Russia]]. He immigrated to [[Canada]] with his mother and siblings in 1924, initially living in [[Hespeler (Ontario, Canada)|Hespeler]], Ontario, and eventually settling in Dominion City, [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]] in 1925. He married Martha Neufeld (1913-2003), daughter of Isaac I. Neufeld (1871-1948) and Anna (Koehn) Neufeld (1868-1949) in [[North Kildonan (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|North Kildonan]] (Manitoba) 21 June 1941. John and Martha Baerg had five children. John died on 26 April 1999 in Virgil, [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]].

John was baptized in 1931 and joined the [[Arnaud Mennonite Brethren Church (Arnaud, Manitoba, Canada)|Mennonite Brethren Church at Arnaud]], Manitoba.  He attended [[Winkler Bible Institute (Winkler, Manitoba, Canada)|Winkler Bible School]] for three years, graduating in 1935. From 1936-1944 he was a teacher and the principal of the newly opened [[Steinbach Bible College (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)|Steinbach Bible School]]. In the summer months, John and Martha worked on his mother's farm at Dominion City, and in the winter months they lived in Steinbach where he taught at the Bible School. Martha, who trained as a nurse in St. Boniface, Manitoba, worked as a nurse in the Steinbach Hospital for two years. John was ordained as a minister in Arnaud in 1937. 

In 1944 John and Martha Baerg with one child, moved to [[Hillsboro (Kansas, USA)|Hillsboro]], Kansas. While a student at [[Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Tabor College]] and "House Father" of the Hillsboro Mission Home, Baerg was called to be pastor of the [[Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church]], rural Hillsboro, Kansas, October 1945, where he served until 1950. He graduated from Tabor College in 1946 with a B.Th and a B.A. in Psychology.

Baerg pastored the [[Mountain Lake Mennonite Brethren Church (Mountain Lake, Minnesota, USA)|Mountain Lake Mennonite Brethren Church]] ([[Minnesota (USA)|Minnesota]]) 1950-1958, the [[Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church (Virgil, Ontario, Canada)|Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church]] (Ontario) 1958-1976 and the [[Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church]] ([[British Columbia (Canada)|British Columbia]]) 1976-1982. Martha was active in congregational life teaching Sunday School, playing piano, providing leadership in Pioneer Girls programs and being active with Ladies' meetings. In 1983 John and Martha retired to Virgil, Ontario where he continued to preach occasionally. They moved into Pleasant Manor Retirement Village (Virgil, Ontario) in 1988.

John was the first salaried pastor at Ebenfeld MB, and also at Virgil MB, initiating professional ministry in the church. In this sense he was a significant transitional leader, navigating the change from "lay" ministry to "paid" ministry, in at least two congregations.

John is remembered for his preaching, teaching, leading Bible Studies and being a spiritual mentor to many. In 1971 friends from the Virgil church and Orchard Park Bible Church made it possible for John and Martha to make a trip to England, [[Zaire]], Israel and Europe. Visiting his brother, missionary [[Baerg, William George "Willie" (1911-1984)|Willie Baerg]] in Zaire was a highlight. In 1975 they spent six weeks in South America ([[Brazil]] and [[Paraguay]]), where John preached 19 times in 21 days.

John was well-known at the larger gatherings of the [[Mennonite Brethren Church]] in North America. He was a promoter of the vision to establish an English language denominational periodical, which was the beginning of the ''[[Mennonite Brethren Herald (Periodical)|Mennonite Brethren Herald]]'' in 1962, a paper to which he also contributed several articles. He was on the editorial committee in 1966 for the production of a Membership Manual produced by Board of Christian Literature of the [[General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches]].

Above all, John had a strong sense of God's calling for his life, and he became an example of being a faithful follower to that call.

= Bibliography =
Baerg, John G. "Cultivation of the Minister's Spiritual Life." ''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (28 October 1966): 9.

Baerg, John G. "Mother's Influence in the Home." ''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (5 May 1967): 5.

Baerg, John and Martha. "A calling to ministry together." ''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (16 July 1999): 4-5.

Bergmann, Helen Reimer, ''Ebenezer: Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church, 1937-1987''. Virgil, Ontario: Virgil Mennonite Brethren Church, 1987: 25-26.

GRANDMA (The '''G'''enealogical '''R'''egistry '''an'''d '''D'''atabase of '''M'''ennonite '''A'''ncestry) Database, 7.05 ed. Fresno, CA: California Mennonite Historical Society, 2013: #89086.

"John Baerg." ''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' (16 July 1999): 25.

"John G. Baerg." ''Mennonitsche Rundschau'' (October 1999): 32.

"Martha Baerg." ''St. Catharines Standard'' (31 July 2003).

Neufeld, William. ''The Neufelds of Waldheim, 1744-1985''. Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1985: 80-81.
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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
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[[Category:Steinbach Bible College Faculty and Staff]]
[[Category:Southern District of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
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[[Category:British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]