Description

Winnipeg, MB. 1991–2003.

Estér DeFehr had a vision.  She wanted to create a place where women in the Mennonite Brethren community could share their experiences, support each other and grow in their faith.  In 1991, Estér introduced the concept of a magazine to Covenant Fellowship, a women’s bible study group at McIvor Mennonite Brethren Church.  The women accepted the challenge and chose the name “Sophia” for their publication.  The first issue came out in September 1991.

After one year Covenant Fellowship decided that, as a group, they did not want to continue publication of Sophia.  Estér DeFehr and Eleanor Martens compiled a list of 17 women they felt would be interested in continuing Sophia, and invited them all to a meeting in April 1992.  All 17 women became a part of Sophia, and together they worked hard at producing a quality magazine every 3–4 months for the next 11 years.

Sophia grew; a board was formed to support the editorial staff, a constitution with by-laws was developed and a corporation was formed.  Its readership grew and people from all over Canada and the United States subscribed to Sophia.  There are many letters of encouragement and thanks from the readers of Sophia.

It was not always an easy road for Sophia.  Twice an application for charitable status was applied for and twice it was denied, thus inhibiting donors.  There was considerable controversy over the name that had been chosen.  Many people associated “Sophia” with the Greek goddess and took offense.  In fact, the name had been chosen from George Shillington’s Gospel of John class at Mennonite Brethren Bible College, based on the association of wisdom with the name Sophia.  Lastly, and perhaps most detrimental, was the lack of support from the greater Mennonite Brethren Conference.

In the early 2000s, subscription requests began to wane, financial resources diminished and the board began to look at other alternatives.  A few papers indicate that an amalgamation was proposed with the U.S. based publication Women’s Concerns Report.  The amalgamation never took place.  The last issue, Vol. 13, No.3, was published in the fall of 2003. Forty-two issues were published.

Editors over the years were:  Estér DeFehr (1991–1992), Sarah Klassen (1992–1996), and Lori Matties (1996–2003).