Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
I Sam. 7:12b
The Story of the Mennonite Brethren Church North of Enid, Oklahoma (1897-1957)
Written by Jacob A. Voth, Sr. -- 1957
Part I
[ Pioneering Era ] [ The Holy
Spirit Draws Together ] [ Organizing a Church ]
It pleased God, our Heavenly Father, in the years after 1874, to bring groups of His people to mid-America from Russia to establish homes in a free country. Those were the members of Mennonite congregations in that, foreign to us now, country from which have grown many Mennonite Brethren churches in America. Some of the original group that founded the Mennonite Brethren church near North Enid, were among these, and others, that settled in the state of Nebraska in 1874 and the following years, to follow cultural pursuits and establish homes, probably not so much to obtain wealth or riches, but to be in a place where they might live and worship in a manner pleasing to God. Most of them held their own and pioneered, though trials and troubles beset them.
One day in the latter part of the summer of 1893, the United States government opened an area of country in the north central part of the Oklahoma Territory, known as the Cherokee Strip, for settlement. Many people from other parts of the nation came to avail themselves of the possibility of securing for themselves and their posterity a new, free home by staking claims and filing proof of potential ownership of homesteads. This section of Oklahoma Territory, being a rich, favorable area for pursuit in agricultural possibilities, also attracted the attention of many Mennonites in older, more established settlements as in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This desire for a new home and further aims or pursuits for agreeable living, brought a number of families from the community of York and Hamilton County, near Henderson, Nebraska, to make a new start here in Oklahoma. Very few actually made the run on that memorable day, September 16, 1893, but many began to take note of the opportunities available where the original claimants and some "Sooners," after many novel experiences, were willing to sell or barter the rights of their homesteads for small sums to get out again after becoming discouraged from trying times resulting from short crops and failures.
A number of families from the Henderson, Nebraska, community broke away from relatives and friends, coming to Oklahoma Territory to establish homes not too far away from Enid and North Enid, already growing trade centers at that time. During the latter half of 1894, and maybe a few even before then, such families as those of Bernhard M. Regier, Heinrich H. Poetker, Isaac Regier, Klaas Penner, Heinrich Nickel, Jacob Benke, Absalom Martens, Gerhard Regier, Dr. Gerhard Gaede, and others, made the move and settled where they could find land available. Others made homes near Waukomis, some near Lahoma, and a few at Hunter, all in Garfield County. All had to go through trying times with limited means financially and with meager crops. They endured severe trials and adversities such as are associated with pioneer life. Modes of housing consisted of dugouts, sod houses, homes of mixed boards and frame construction.
The Holy Spirit Draws Together
These Mennonite Brethren settlers who had established themselves in a general northwesterly to northeasterly direction from Enid, soon felt the need of closer association for reasons of better spiritual fellowship and guidance. The first Sunday School was held in the Bernhard M. Regier home when they lived some distant southeast from most of their fellow-believers. Thus, it was noticeable that they were concerned about their own and their children's religious training, education and fellowship.
The first meeting from the standpoint of organizing, was held on September 19, 1895, in the home of Klaas Penner, where Brother Penner was elected as the leader of the group. They assembled together for worship in the various homes, for spiritual fellowship and Sunday School instruction. Gerhard Regier was elected the secretary to record the business meetings in a book. Numerous meetings were held from time to time for several years, thus, strengthening this nucleus of a church by fellowshipping and by accepting newcomers into their ranks and for the disciplining of all, one to another, and for themselves. Also in their minds arose a growing desire to create greater closeness by trying to organize as a church congregation. In September, 1896, the Rev. Johann J. Regier, from the Henderson, Nebraska, Church led a meeting during which many problems were discussed and rules and regulations set up and accepted. Sunday School was emphasized and the brethren P. P. Regier and Klaas Penner were elected to supervise the Sunday School work. General singing within the group was heralded as very important and each Sunday a whole hour was devoted to singing. The records of the above-mentioned meeting were entered in the secretary's book by Brother John S. Regier, also of Henderson, Nebraska, on January 26, 1897.
This group of Mennonite Brethren looked to their mother church at Henderson for much advice and spiritual help. Rev. Peter Regier was invited to come to Oklahoma to shepherd this flock and help them in their many problems. Their pleas were answered when about March 17, 1897, Rev. Peter Regier and family came to Oklahoma Territory to live, at first temporarily in a house in North Enid, while building a home of their own some distance east of North Enid. This event was a cause for joy and happiness so that a meeting was held on April 5, 1897, in the home of the newly arrived man of God where they listened to the testimonies of Brother and Sister Regier, accepting this call as the leading of the Lord and also turned over to Rev. Regier the complete direction and leadership of the group. Thus was the Mennonite Brethren church at North Enid, Oklahoma, organized with a membership of about 30 souls, using 2 Cor. 6:1-10 somewhat as a basis for their action.
In September of the same year, the first regular business meeting was held. More members had been added during the past five months and the first thoughts of securing a meeting house became audible. It was decided to erect a church building, 20 x 30 x 10 feet, and soon work was begun under the guidance of three brethren: Peter Regier, Isaac Regier and Gerhard Gaede, as a committee. The previously made plans were modified somewhat so that in general an even more commodious place of worship was the result. With a little outside help financially from the mother church at Henderson and the church at Sutton, Nebraska, and from friends, the building was completed at a cost of $282.68, and was dedicated March 26, 1898. Brother and Sister Abraham Friesen, missionaries to India, were back in America on furlough at this time, and Brother Friesen was the main speaker at this occasion. A beautiful three-acre tract of land had been donated by Brother and Sister Absalom Martens for the church and cemetery grounds. Some four or five years later the first building was enlarged by adding 18 feet to its length, the brethren Abraham Sperling and Gerhard Regier being the supervisors.
But now, back to the more important inner and spiritual life of this church. God did not seem to have ordained that this church should grow into a large congregation by membership. Its growth and existence was destined to create a heritage for future generations, to be honored and accepted as an example of the faith of our forefathers.
February 9, 1902, was a special day for this young Mennonite Brethren church, as on that day Rev. Peter Regier was ordained as elder and Brother Klaas Penner as deacon to serve in the respective capacities to which they had been elected. The officiating brethren were Johann J. Regier, Henderson; Johann Foth, Ebenfeld, Hillsboro; and Heinrich Adrian, Parker, South Dakota, all three being elders in their respective congregations. This period also marked the first twenty-five years of the Mennonite Brethren in America. This church in this year elected its first Board of Trustees--Deacon Klaas Penner, Elder Peter Regier, and Rev. Johann Boese, the latter having immigrated here with his family just recently from South Dakota. He was also a valuable assistant in ministering to the ever increasing number of souls. In the years 1900-1902, many families located in the vicinity, some coming from Nebraska and a goodly number who had pioneered in Colorado (Kirk) and then moved to southern Texas (near Houston), where the Westfield Mennonite Brethren congregation existed for a short time. Nearly all of them came to our community, among them some who became efficient leaders in different branches of the church work.
Elder Peter Regier's leadership lasted about five years, when he became ill. Rev. Boese temporarily took over until the end of the year. Rev. Boese, after a short voluntary interruption, was asked to resume leadership again until such time when Elder Regier would be well again. In April, 1904, a permanent Board of Trustees was elected and incorporation proceedings were inaugurated with Brother Heinrich Kroeker as chairman of the group for one year; Franz A. Martens, treasurer for two years; P. P. Regier, secretary for three years; Isaac Regier, member for two years; and Jacob Bergthold, member for three years. Also about this time eight brethren were elected from the membership as possible assistants in preaching the Word. Rev. Boese having terminated his work, Brother John D. Hiebert was called on to serve until New Year's, 1905. After nearly two years of illness and suffering, Elder Peter Regier passed away to be with the Lord on July 14, 1904. Brother Heinrich Kroeker and Brother Franz A. Martens had been elected as deacons to serve through the remainder of the year. On January 16, 1905, Elder Johann Foth presided at a meeting when, trusting in the Lord's leading, three brethren were selected out of the aforementioned eight and the choice fell on P. P. Regier, John D. Hiebert, and Gerhard Voth; of these, John D. Hiebert was elected the leader of the church and the brethren Regier and Voth as assistants in preaching the Word. The two brethren, Heinrich Kroeker and Franz A. Martens, were re-elected for the position of deacons.
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Webbed by Vic Froese, Church
Archivist/Historian
Enid Mennonite Brethren Church
Enid, Oklahoma
February 6, 1997.
This document: http://www.harvestcomm.net/ministry/enidmb/hitherto.htm