Administrative History

The South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church in Abbotsford, British Columbia was originally known as the Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church. It had its beginning in 1931 when the first Mennonite settlers came to Abbotsford. These people began meeting for Bible study and prayer in their homes, as well as conduct Sunday School for the children. The official beginning of the Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church took place on May 1, 1932, when local families agreed to found a church. The church consisted of 31 members and they chose Abram Rempel to be their leading minister. Others elected into leadership were Cornelius Enns, Isaak Sawatsky, John Rempel, and David Peters.

On October 27, 1935, the group decided that the church was too far for some people to travel to so another church was founded known as the North Abbotsford MB Church (later known as the Clearbrook MB Church), and the existing church became known as the South Abbotsford MB Church. The year 1935 was also when it joined the Mennonite Brethren family of conferences.

In 1936, the South Abbotsford group erected a church building. Its membership was about 137. Land was also purchased next to the building to be used as a cemetery. The building was dedicated on March 1, 1936.

The South Abbotsford Church was a key player in the founding of the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute (now Columbia Bible College), which was begun in 1943 in the facilities of South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church. Also, in 1944, the Mennonite Educational Institute was first housed in this church.

While the church grew, it also lost members to many other new congregations in the area including Matsqui Mennonite Brethren (1944), East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren (1947), Otter Road Mennonite Brethren (1947), Central Heights Mennonite Brethren (1949), Bakerview Mennonite Brethren (1966), and King Road Mennonite Brethren (1966).

In 1960, an English sermon was added to the Sunday service, and then, in 1966, the church made the transition to having all services in English. Membership in 1931 stood at 32, in 1965, 357, in 1985, 386, and in 2000, 611.

Leaders of the congregation include the following: Abram Rempel (1935–1945), Frank Janzen (1945), Henry H. Nikkel (1944–1949), William I Neufeld (1959–1966), David Nikel (1966–1972), Don Balzer (1972–1980), Henry Born (1980–1981), David Epp (1981–1987), Clifford Janzen (1987–1995), Steve Berg (1997–2003), Ed Balzer (2004–2005), Dan Nicholson (2006–2014), Matthew Ewert (2014– ).

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