Spat-Schöntal Mennonite Brethren Church (Crimea, Ukraine)
Spat-Schöntal Mennonite Brethren (MB) Church of Crimea, Russia, was organized as a result of the Mennonite Brethren influences from the Molotschna Mennonite settlement. A group began to meet in private homes where, among other things, Spurgeon's sermons were read and religious experiences were exchanged. Some Mennonite Brethren moved to the Crimea. The first baptism by immersion was conducted there by Elder David Schellenberg on 28 April 1885. Thus a branch of the Rückenau MB Church was established at Spat, Crimea. In 1886 Hermann Konrad was ordained minister by David and Abraham Schellenberg. On 11 October 1887, a meetinghouse was dedicated at Spat. In 1891 Kornelius Boschmann, Bernhard Friesen, and Daniel Friesen were ordained by David Schellenberg and Daniel Fast. In 1894 Peter Görzen, Jakob Hiebert, Jr., and Heinrich Janzen were appointed ministers.
In 1895 Abraham J. Kröker and in 1897 Jakob Kröker came to Spat. The latter was ordained minister by David Schellenberg on 25 May 1898. Abraham and Jakob Kröker began here with the publication of Christlicher Familienkalender (1897), Christlicher Abreisskalender (1903), and Friedensstimme (1903), which efforts later resulted in the founding of "Raduga." Heinrich Unruh and Cornelius Unruh were ordained as missionaries to India at the turn of the century. On 23 May 1899, David Dürksen was ordained elder of the Spat MB Church, which thus became independent. In 1902 the congregation consisted of 140 families, 330 members, and 810 souls. In 1905 another meetinghouse with a seating capacity of six hundred was established in Schöntal where David Dürksen resided. The Mennonite Brethren had an active part in the establishment of the Zentralschulen in Karassan (1905) and Spat (1906). Some young people did graduate work and made a vital contribution to the spiritual and cultural life of the Mennonites of Russia. Another meetinghouse was established at Annovka. Meetings also took place in Bashlicha and in Tokulchak. David Dürksen died in 1910. It is likely that Hermann Konrad of Spat and Peter Görzen of Schöntal continued as leaders. They officiated at an ordination in 1926.
Bibliography
Dirks, Heinrich. Statistik der Mennonitengemeinden in Russland Ende 1905 (Anhang zum Mennonitischen Jahrbuche 1904/05). Gnadenfeld: Dirks, 1906.
Friesen, Peter M. Die Alt-Evangelische Mennonitische Brüderschaft in Russland (1789-1910) im Rahmen der mennonitischen Gesamtgeschichte. Halbstadt: Verlagsgesellschaft "Raduga", 1911: 465-470.
Goerz, H. Die mennonitischen Siedhingen der Krim. Winnipeg, 1957.
Unruh, A. H. Die Geschichte der Mennoniten-Brüdergemeinde. Winnipeg, 1954: 190-195.
Unser Blatt II (1926): 110, 327 ff.
| Author(s) | Cornelius Krahn |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Krahn, Cornelius. "Spat-Schöntal Mennonite Brethren Church (Crimea, Ukraine)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Spat-Sch%C3%B6ntal_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(Crimea,_Ukraine)&oldid=173909.
APA style
Krahn, Cornelius. (1959). Spat-Schöntal Mennonite Brethren Church (Crimea, Ukraine). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Spat-Sch%C3%B6ntal_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(Crimea,_Ukraine)&oldid=173909.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 592. All rights reserved.
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