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[[File:Baier, George.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|''George Baier (1936-2021)'']]
Gerhard "George" Baier: minister and missionary; born 11 September 1936 in Schoenau, [[Zagradovka Mennonite Settlement (Kherson Oblast, Ukraine)|Zagradovka Mennonite Settlement]], Soviet Union, to Bernhard Baier (9 August 1900, South Russia – May 1945, Soviet Union) and Wilhelmina (Nikkel) Warkentin Baier (31 March 1895, [[Pakantan (Mandailing, Sumatra, Indonesia)|Pakantan]], Indonesia – 22 April 1984, [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]], British Columbia, Canada); the youngest of three children. On 14 May 1959, George married Maria (Mary) Esau, daughter of Jacob J. Esau (1906-1985) and Anna (Froese) Esau (1908-1989) in the [[East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren Church]] in British Columbia. George and Mary had one daughter, Darlene. George died on 21 November 2021 in Abbotsford, British Columbia. His funeral took place in the [[Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook MB Church]] on 26 November 2021. He is buried in the [[Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery Society (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery]] in Abbotsford.

During [[World War (1939-1945) - Soviet Union|World War II]], George and his mother, Wilhelmina, and older brother Ben, fled from [[Ukraine]] with the retreating German army and were settled in Saxony before making their way to western [[Germany]] at the end of the War. In 1948, George and his family immigrated to [[Arnold (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Arnold]], British Columbia.

George was baptized on 5 August 1950 in [[Arnold Community Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Arnold Mennonite Brethren Church]]. He earned baccalaureate degrees from both the [[Mennonite Brethren Bible College (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Mennonite Brethren Bible College]] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and [[Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Tabor College]] in Hillsboro, Kansas. Later in life he earned his MA in Christian Education at the Winnipeg Theological Seminary. He was ordained to Christian ministry in both the [[Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches|Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference]] and the Canadian Baptist Conference of Western Canada.

Following their marriage, George and Mary served in a variety of settings. His church ministry appointments included the [[Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Vancouver MB Church]] in Vancouver, BC (Youth Leader); [[Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church (Coaldale, Alberta, Canada)|Coaldale MB Church]] in Coaldale, Alberta (Music Minister); [[Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Ebenfeld MB Church]] in Hillsboro, Kansas (Choir Director); [[Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook MB Church]] in Abbotsford, BC (Youth Pastor, Music Pastor, and later Pastor of the German Congregation); [[Winnipeg Central Mennonite Brethren Church (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg Central MB Church]] in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lead Pastor); Peachland Baptist Church in Peachland, BC (Lead Pastor); [[Culloden Mennonite Brethren Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)|Culloden MB Church]] in Vancouver (Lead Pastor); [[King Road Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|King Road MB Church]] in Abbotsford, BC (Associate Pastor, German congregation); and [[Central Community Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|Central Community Church]] in Chilliwack, BC (Seniors Pastor).

George and Mary also served with [[Mennonite Brethren Missions/Services International (Mennonite Brethren Church)|Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services]] as church planters in [[Austria]], and as dorm parents at a school for missionaries in [[Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Kinshasa]], in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo. Later George was appointed music instructor in the Brake Bibelschule, Germany from 1975-1982. In 2007 he cofounded the Heritage Quartet. Until his death in 2021, this quartet was in frequent demand to sing in church and at community events in the [[Fraser Valley (British Columbia, Canada)|Fraser Valley]].

Having been born in the [[Soviet Union]], George retained a life-long interest in ministry in Russia. From 2010 to 2021 he served on the board of Logos Canada Society, serving as chair when he died.

George was a dedicated church leader. For several years he was the moderator of the [[Bakerview Mennonite Brethren Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Bakerview MB Church]] in Abbotsford, where he also conducted the seniors choir. He lived a full life. On the Sunday George died, he preached the morning sermon in the German service of the Clearbrook MB Church, then joined friends for lunch, and as he usually did, shared an evening devotional with Mary, his wife. Moments later, he passed away at age 85.

= Bibliography =
"George Gerhard Baier." Obituary. ''Abbotsford News'' (21 November 2021).

Naylor, Darlene (Baier). Biographical information.

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[[Category:Persons]]
[[Category:Ministers]]
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba Ministers]]
[[Category:Southern District of Mennonite Brethren Churches Ministers]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Missionaries in Democratic Republic of Congo]]
[[Category:Missionaries in Austria]]

Baier, George (1936-2021) - Revision history

RichardThiessen: Created article.