Schwartzentruber, Grace Magdalene (1930-2005) - Revision history

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Grace Magdalene Bender Schwartzentruber: missionary to Brazil, was born 5 September 1930 in [[New Hamburg (Ontario, Canada)|New Hamburg]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] to Melvin Bender (21 January 1907-17 November 1967) and Mabel (Roth) Bender (20 February 1909-27 May 1989). She was the eldest of nine children. Grace and her husband Kenneth Schwartzentruber (1928- ) were part of the second wave of missionaries from the [[Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church)|Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference]] in Canada. She died 9 March 2005 in Kitchener.

Grace grew up in the [[Steinmann Mennonite Church (Baden, Ontario, Canada)|Steinmann Mennonite Church]], and in her teenage years heard the testimonies of Canadian missionaries [[Swartzentruber, Amos (1893-1966)|Amos]] and [[Swartzentruber, Edna (1901-1976)|Edna Swartzentruber]] and [[Litwiller, Nelson (1898-1986)|Nelson]] and [[Litwiller, Ada Ramseyer (1900-1999)|Ada Litwiller]], about their work in South America. Grace and Kenneth Schwartzentruber were married on 2 June 1951, the first couple to be wed in the [[Nairn Mennonite Church (Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada)|Nairn Mennonite Church]], near Ailsa Craig, Ontario. Grace and Ken had four children.

Sensing God's call to mission work in Latin America, Grace and Ken studied at Eastern Mennonite College (now [[Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Eastern Mennonite University]]) in [[Harrisonburg (Virginia, USA)|Harrisonburg]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], and later moved to [[Goshen (Indiana, USA)|Goshen]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], where Ken completed seminary studies at [[Goshen Biblical Seminary (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Goshen Biblical Seminary]]. They served as missionaries in [[Brazil|Brazil]] under [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions]] from 1961 to 1993, when they retired in Ontario.

In Brazil, Grace was involved in Portuguese-speaking and English-speaking congregations as administrator, teacher, organist, worship leader, counselor and friend. She helped with the efforts of Christian bookselling and Mennonite publishing in Portuguese and with bookkeeping for the [[Aliança Evangélica Menonita, Brazil|Aliança Evangélica Menonita]], Brazil (Evangelical Mennonite Alliance); formerly Associação Evangélica Menonita, Brazil (Evangelical Mennonite Association). She was well-known for her generous hospitality and enjoyed leading tours, which included visits to natural wonders, historical sites, local churches, street markets, and even funeral homes.

In their retirement years, Grace and Ken were active in Steinmann Mennonite Church, in Baden, Ontario, where she served as elder and edited the church newsletter. For a period, she and Ken served jointly as interim ministers for the congregation.

In addition to nurturing her own children and grandchildren, Grace served as a mentor to many other people across the age-span, encouraging them to develop and use their gifts for the good of others. Her influence was evidenced by the estimated 500 people who attended her funeral and the hundreds of condolence messages which arrived from friends in South America, the United States, and Canada.

= Bibliography =
Mennonite Church Canada. "Grace Schwartzentruber: a Life." 22 March 2005. Web. 30 January 2013. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/news/releases/2005/04/Release2.htm http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/news/releases/2005/04/Release2.htm].

"Mission worker Grace Schwartzentruber dies." <em>The Mennonite</em> 8, no. 8 (19 April 2005).

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 Grace Magdalene Bender Schwartzentruber: missionary to Brazil, was born 5 September 1930 in [[New Hamburg (Ontario, Canada)|New Hamburg]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] to Melvin Bender (21 January 1907-17 November 1967) and Mabel (Roth) Bender (20 February 1909-27 May 1989). She was the eldest of nine children. Grace and her husband Kenneth Schwartzentruber (1928- ) were part of the second wave of missionaries from the [[Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church)|Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference]] in Canada. She died 9 March 2005 in Kitchener.
-Grace grew up in the [[Steinmann Mennonite Church (Baden, Ontario, Canada)|Steinmann Mennonite Church]], and in her teenage years heard the testimonies of Canadian missionaries [[Swartzentruber, Amos (1893-1966)|Amos]] and [[Swartzentruber, Edna (1901-1976)|Edna Swartzentruber]] and [[Litwiller, Nelson (1898-1986)|Nelson]] and [[Litwiller, Ada Ramseyer (1900-1999)|Ada Litwiller]], about their work in South America. Grace and Kenneth Schwartzentruber were married on 2 June 1951, the first couple to be wed in the [[Nairn Mennonite Church (Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada)|Nairn Mennonite Church]], near Ailsa Craig, Ontario. Grace and Ken had four children.
+Grace grew up in the [[Steinmann Mennonite Church (Baden, Ontario, Canada)|Steinmann Mennonite Church]], and in her teenage years heard the testimonies of Canadian missionaries [[Swartzentruber, Amos (1893-1966)|Amos]] and [[Swartzentruber, Edna (1901-1976)|Edna Swartzentruber]] and [[Litwiller, Nelson (1898-1986)|Nelson]] and [[Litwiller, Ada Ramseyer (1900-1999)|Ada Litwiller]], about their work in South America. Grace and Kenneth Schwartzentruber were married on 2 June 1951, the first couple to be wed in the [[Church at Nairn, The (Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada)|Nairn Mennonite Church]], near Ailsa Craig, Ontario. Grace and Ken had four children.
 Sensing God's call to mission work in Latin America, Grace and Ken studied at Eastern Mennonite College (now [[Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA)|Eastern Mennonite University]]) in [[Harrisonburg (Virginia, USA)|Harrisonburg]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], and later moved to [[Goshen (Indiana, USA)|Goshen]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], where Ken completed seminary studies at [[Goshen Biblical Seminary (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Goshen Biblical Seminary]]. They served as missionaries in [[Brazil|Brazil]] under [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions]] from 1961 to 1993, when they retired in Ontario.

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 Mennonite Church Canada. "Grace Schwartzentruber: a Life." 22 March 2005. Web. 30 January 2013. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/news/releases/2005/04/Release2.htm http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/news/releases/2005/04/Release2.htm].
-"Mission worker Grace Schwartzentruber dies." <em>The Mennonite</em> 8, no. 8 (19 April 2005).
+"Mission worker Grace Schwartzentruber dies." ''The Mennonite'' 8, no. 8 (19 April 2005).
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