Records of Mennonite Brethren mission work in India, 1910-ongoing
Online content
Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Multiply
- Abstract:
- Extent:
- 18 linear ft.
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
Records of Mennonite Brethren mission work in India. Fresno Pacific University Mennonite Library and Archives
Background
- Scope and content:
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Includes records of Mennonite Brethren Mission work in India, 1910-[ongoing]. This record group is organized into five series: I. Committee and board records, 1914-1978. II. Individual files, 1910-1987. III. Educational institutions, 1930-1981. IV. Medical programs, 1936-1977. V. Other material, 1910-1984.
- Biographical / historical:
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The first Mennonite Brethren missionaries to India, Abraham and Mary Friesen, came from Russia in 1889. They established a work at Nalgonda among the Telugu people under the American Baptist Missionary Union. In 1891 they organized the Mennonite Brethren Church of India. By the end of the nineteenth century seven couples and three single women from the Russian Mennonite Brethren Church were serving in India. In 1899 the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America sent its first missionaries to join those from Russia. The missionaries from Russia eventually separated themselves from the Baptist organization under whom they had originally served and joined the North American group. Over the years the Mennonite Brethren Church in India experienced significant growth: by 1970 there were almost 19,000 members in the Indian church. During the years 1889-1973 over 100 Mennonite Brethren missionaries from Russia, the United States and Canada served in India. From the 1940s until the 1970s the Mennonite Brethren missionaries' role in the India gradually diminished until by 1973 all North American missionaries had withdrawn from the country. While a small number of missionaries have served in limited consultative roles since that time, there has been no formal ongoing missionary presence in India since 1973.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Missions -- India
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Open for research
- Preferred citation:
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Records of Mennonite Brethren mission work in India. Fresno Pacific University Mennonite Library and Archives
- Location of this collection:
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1717 S. Chestnut AvenueFresno, CA 93702, US
- Contact:
- (559) 453-3437