Administrative History

The Laird (Ebenfeld) Mennonite Brethren Church, located in northern Saskatchewan one mile south and three and one-half miles east of Laird, was a member of the Canadian Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches, Rosthern District. Elder David Dyck began visiting some of the first Mennonite immigrants to Saskatchewan between 1896 and 1897. Through his efforts and instruction the first Saskatchewan MB Church was organized at Laird in 1899.

Until churches were established in other areas, members came (not every Sunday) by horse and wagon from as far away as the Hague and Brotherfield districts. Worship services were held in the forenoon and Sunday School in the afternoon. Isaak Neufeld, a deacon from Russia, and C.K. Gloeckler were the first leaders. A church building was erected in 1899 at a cost of $583.00 and dedicated in December of that year. In 1900, Jacob B. Wiens, a minister from Kansas, became the leader of the church.

In the winter of 1911 to 1912, a short course Bible school lasting six weeks was conducted in March and April by John F. Harms and C.N. Hiebert. At that time, the Christian Endeavor was also initiated with John B. Fischer as the first chairman. The church building was moved into town in 1911. The English language came into use in one Sunday school class in 1931, and after that the German language gradually changed to English. Worship services in 1949 were in both the German and English languages.

Church leaders and ministers of the Laird MB Church were Jacob B. Wiens, J.K. Janzen, E.H. Nikkel, J.B. Fischer (1926–1949), H.H. Nikkel, Jacob K. Janzen, David B. Wiens (1949–1950), Jacob Speiser (1950–1951), Nick Janz (1952–1953 and 1956–1958)), Henry Speiser (1954–1955), Walter Wiebe, Ben L. Heppner, Cornie Braun, Reuben Willems, David Martens (1959–1963) and Rudy Heidebrecht (1963–1970). On November 5, 1970, the Laird MB Church officially closed, because the active membership had become too small to function effectively as a church. Laird members joined the Waldheim MB Church.