Winkler Bible School - Morning Star Yearbook (Winkler, Manitoba Canada)

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This involved changes of faculty members. Teachers who joined the staff of the Winkler Bibl e School since that time are: G. B. Dyck, G. H. Enns, R. C. Seibel, B. B. Boldt, John Boldt, J. H. Goossen, G. D. Huebert, D. K. Duerksen, W. G. Baerg, J. H. Quiring, J. Hildebrand, H. Lenzmann, Rudy Baerg, Len Doerksen, Allen Andres, and John Froese. (Several teachers rejoined the staff.) The new board took steps in providing housing facilities. From the very beginning Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Hooge had provided board and room for many students and had shown keen interest in the promotion of the Bible School. In the year 1944-45 the Old Folks Home, which was owned and operated by the Hooges, was purchased and changed into a men’s dormitory. About a year later a private home was bought to accommodate the ladies. When this one was sold, another home was purchased for the same purpose. In recent years efforts have been made to co-ordinate and unify the educational program of all Mennonite Brethren schools in Canada. This ide al was realized, at least in part, on a provincial level in Manitoba. An Edu¬ cational Committee was elected with two already-existing subcommittees, one of which was responsible for the Winkler Bible School and the other for the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg. For practical reasons of co-operation and co-ordination it was decided that the Winkler Bible School operate on a three-year basis, instead of following a four-year course program as it had done for many years. Plans were also initiated for a new campus of the Winkler Bible School. These plans were accepted by the Manitoba Conference in 1963. The ground breaking ceremony took place on March 16, 1964, and on October 4, 1964 the new Administration Building and the Women’s Residence were dedicated. In assessing the value of The Winkler Bible School to the Mennonite Brethren Conference and other churches, one needs but to look at the pastors, the missionaries, the Sunday school workers and music directors, the scores cf teachers in Bible schools and other schools, and hundreds of Christian men and women in various professions who support the cause of Christ. A considerable percentage of these workers come from Pniel’s graduates and former students. Looking back at the 40 years of Pniel’s history — its trials, but also its triumphs and the immeasurable con tribution to the Christian education of our youth, we are led to give humble thanks to our heavenly Father for guidance, and to pray for its continuous growth in service to God and man. The total number of teachers who have taught in the Winkler Bible School during this period of 40 years is 27. The following teachers have been on the staff 6 years or more: A. H. Unruh (19), J. G. Wiens (23), G. J. Reimer (15), A. A. Kroeker (15), G. D. Pries (19), A. H. Redekop (9), H. H. Redekop (16), John Boldt (9), J. H. Goossen (13), B. B. Boldt (7), G. D. Huebert (6), and H. Lenzmann (6). Five brethren have served as principals: A. H. Unruh (19), J. G. Wiens (4), H. H. Redekop (8), G. D. Huebert (3), and J. H. Goossen (6). With reference to all teachers of this School, may the words of prophecy “... they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn may be righteousness as the stars for ever and ever,” (Daniel 12:3), find their fulfillment for their faithful labor of love. The sacrificial efforts of a dedicated staff, the board members, and the many friends that gave and prayed for the Winkler Bible School would have been in vain had not the Lord built the house. As a brotherhood we can therefore say with an attitude of heart-felt gratitude, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad,” (Psalm 126:3). G. D. HUEBERT.

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J Cistoricci[ Shetch oj the WJinh[er f ihhe School 1925-1965 The first known Bible school mentioned in the Holy Scriptures was established by Samuel around the year 1150 B.C. (I Samuel 19:20). The purpose of that school was to train prophets. The best Bible school was founded by the omniscient teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His school, approximately 1,935 years ago, apostles were trained for the great task of evangelizing the world (Matthew 28:19). Various individuals, denominations, or church bodies have followed the example of Christ and Samuel and have founded schools in order to meet an existing need of equipping spiritual workers for the immense task of making the Gospel known to an unbelieving world, and of establishing the faith of those who have appro¬ priated salvation. In 1918 the brethren in Russia opened the Krimer Bibleschule under the leadership of Bro. J. G. Wiens, and the brethren A. H. Unruh and G. J. Reimer as fellow-instructors. In Canada the formal Bible school movement in the MB Constituency was begun in Herbert, Sask., in 1913, under Bro. J. F. Harms. The founders of these schools clearly realized that no church body can long continue if the fundamental doctrines of the Bible are not implanted in its youth. For the same purpose The Winkler Bible School, “PNIEL”, was organized in Winkler, Manitoba, in 1925, with Bro. A. H. Unruh as founder and first teacher. Closely associated with the school in its beginning were five other brethren, G. J. Reimer, who joined the staff after Christmas of the first year, J. G. Wiens, who commenced teaching in the fall of 1926, and J. B. Dyck, J. A. Kroeker, and A. A. Kroeker, who served as co-directors. These six men, who may be regarded as the founders of The Winkler Bible School, set the tone for the school and drafted its first constitution, dated January 24, 1928. In due course, the school was also officially incorporated. In the fall of 1925, instruction began with 6 students in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Warkentin. The number of students increased to 22, and after Christmas instructions were carried on in two classes. The first concrete action came in the summer of 1926 with the erection of Pniel’s first administration building. This was made possible by the generosity of interested people in a Bible school. The building site was purchased from Bishop Jacob Hoeppner. In the year 1926-1927 the enrollment was 32; instruction was given in 3 classes by 3 teachers. Special stress was laid on the training of young people for the ministry. In regard to the curricu¬ lum, it was decided to adopt the curriculum of the Krimer Bibelschule in South Russia. However, a need was felt for the training of Sunday school teachers in the English language. To meet this need, a call was extended to Bro. A. A. Kroeker, who joined the staff in 1929. The program was now expanded to a four-year course. This extended course of studies created an ever-increasing interest in the school and thus it became an urgent necessity to enlarge the physical dimensions of the school. This project was carried out in 1933, when a second storey was built, and in 1938, when the building was doubled in size, whereby a suitable auditorium and 2 additional classrooms were provided. The number of students had now risen to over a hundred. New impetus was given to the Pniel Bible School through the influence and teaching of the brethren A. A. Unruh, G. D. Pries, A. H. Redekop, H. H. Redekop, and Miss Nettie L. Kroeker. Students, who already had re¬ ceived instruction under Bro. Reimer, were given the opportunity to extend their training under the music directors Ben Horch and Dietrich Friesen. During the course of the years, music instruction was offered privately to interested students by local music teachers. These years were characterized by moderate but steady growth and continuous improvements in curriculum and in quality of instruction. In 1936 The Winkler Bible School sent out students in Summer Bible School work for the first time, under the supervision of Bro. Pries, who directed this work for 10 years. As an outgrowth of this work, and upon the suggestion of Bro. H. H. Redekop, further steps were taken to promote work among the children of southern Manitoba. This led to the building of the Winkler Bible Camp at Burwalde in 1949, of which Bro. G. B. Dyck became the first camp director, and was succeeded by Bro. John Boldt. (This work was passed on to the churches.) The year 1944 was significant in that it marked the transition of the Winkler Bible School from private to conference ownership. The official transaction was made by the Brethren A. H. Uniruh, J. G. Wiens, A. A. Kroeker, A. H. Redekop, G. D. Pries and H. H. Redekop, who transferred the school with whatever spiritual values and material possessions it had to the Mennonite Brethren Conference of Manitoba. The pattern of administration was changed in some respects. The Board of Directors, elected by the Confer¬ ence, consisting of 9 members, assumed the responsibilities which formerly had been borne by its original owners. Brethren who have served as chairmen of this board are: H. S. Voth, H. P. Harder, F. H. Friesen. Simultaneously a change was made in the curriculum. For a number of years the Winkler Bible School had offered a fifth class. Upon resolution of the conference the fifth class of 1943-44 was offered on college level. This arrangement terminated when the conference voted to concentrate the college work in Winnipeg, as Mennonite Brethren Bible College. 15

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WINKLER BIBLE SCHOOL REUNION JULY 1964 ALUMNI OF THE WINKLER BIBLE SCHOOL How it began The first Alumni meeting was held on February 21, 1935 in the Bible School, with morning and afternoon ses¬ sions. The school had practised a special song for the occasion. A constitution had been drawn up and was accepted at this meeting. The first executive committee consisted of: J. E. Kroeker—President George Sukkau—Vice-President How it continued For many years the Alumni was silent. However, it was revived and reorganized with Herman Voth as president and Miss Irene Hiebert as secretary. A new constitution was drafted. February 20, 1964 — Alumni Meeting with Erwin Penner as president. July 5, 1964 — Student Reunion on Conference Sunday. October 4, 1964 — Alumni Meeting at dedication. Present State In the fall of 1964 the Alumni had their elections as follows: J. B. Wiebe — President Alfred Penner — Vice-President Walter Loewen — Member John Nikkei — Graduate 1963-64 Hazel Enns — Secretary Murray Enns — Treasurer 17