Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1904-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
10 cm of textual records
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Name of creator
Archival history
Karaganda Mennonite Brethren Church (Kazakhstan)
This church is located in the city of Karaganda which had a population of 437,000 in 1993. The city is found in the Republic of Kazakhstan which had gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. It was a coal mining and industrial centre and was characterized by pollution and a drab environment.
From the beginning, Mennonites, especially ministers, were exiled to Karaganda as criminals. In 1941, the entire Alexandertal (Alt-Samara) settlement was exiled to this area. A small congregation was founded in the city immediately following World War II. This also served the spiritual needs of many homeless Mennonites. After 1956, when Germans were allowed to move more freely, a steady stream of Mennonites who had been scattered throughout the land came to Karaganda. The first Mennonite Brethren congregation was founded here in December 1956 and grew to a membership of 900 by 1958. A Mennonite church (Kirchliche Mennonite) was also established with both congregations working cordially with each other. In 1967 both congregations were registered with the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Cults. The Mennonite Brethren congregation was permitted to build its own house of worship, which the Mennonite Church also used although after 1986 the latter had its own meetinghouse. Preaching and singing was done exclusively in German in both congregations, but exceptions were made at weddings and funerals since Russian-speaking visitors also participated. The probability of increasing use of the Russian language was clear.
Membership in the Mennonite Brethren congregation exceeded 1,000 in 1986. A second Mennonite Brethren congregation, unregistered, met in private homes throughout the city. According to Victor Fast, leading minister in 1993 the MB Church had served five satellite congregations, had many young peoples’ groups and had twenty-five different Sunday Schools in various neighborhoods during the 1970’s and 1980’s. However in 1993 there were only 123 members left because so many had moved to Germany.
Sources: Adapted from an article in GAMEO, also an article by John B. Toews in the 1997 issue of Direction magazine.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series consists of the following files;
1) History of Karaganda Taped Report by Victor Fast, 1993, translated by John B Toews. - (1 file) Box 250
2) Records of Karaganda MB Church, 1968-1976. - (1 file) Box 250
3) Gemeindewesen, Instruction Manual for Baptismal Candidates - 1975. - (1 file) Box 250
4) Gemeinde, Handwritten Periodical of Karaganda MB Church 1977 - (1 file) Box 250
5) Sermons preached by Heinrich J. Woelk, 1968-1977. - (1 file) Box 250
6) "The Karaganda MB Church, a Requiem", research notes by John B Toews. - (1 file) Box 250
7) Handwritten research notes by John B Toews. - (1 file) Box 250
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Language and script notes
German and English
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Alternative identifier(s)
InMagic Description ID
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Fast, Viktor, 1951- (Subject)
- Karaganda Mennonite Brethren Church (Karaganda, Kazahkstan, USSR) (Subject)
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Record created 8/15/2011
Record modified July 13, 2015
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Archivist's note
Record entered by LU