Administrative History

Pastor Henry D. Loewen served in 1993 as a non-salaried congregational leader of the congregation. In 1965, there were 16 members; in 1985, 28; in 1993, 14.

The congregation has been affiliated with the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1964–1997). The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1950s.

The congregation began services and formally organized in 1927. The first building was occupied in the 1940s, with a subsequent building program in 1962. Frank Wiens is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union.

The congregation was part of Herbert district conference. It was formerly known as the Elbow Mennonite Brethren Church and possibly in the very early years as Loreburn Mennonite Brethren because the minister, Frank Wiens, lived near Loreburn.

The congregation was Mennonite Brethren until the 1940s when Frank Wiens left the community. It was inter-denominational until the early 1960s when it sought help from the Saskatchewan Mennonite Brethren conference.

Pastors who served  beginning in 1962 included Jake Schmidt, David Esau, Henry Dyck and John Heinrichs.  When Henry D. Loewen's health failed, the congregation decided to close. It held its final service on 3 August 1997.

~see GAMEO entry, https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Elbow_Christian_Fellowship_(Elbow,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)