File 7 - John Warkentin sermons

Johann Warkentin, the son of Jakob Warkentin and Helena (nee Dyck) Warkentin was born in Nieder-Chortitza, South Russia in 1859. He immigrated to Winkler, Manitoba in 1879 and married Sara Loewen (1860-1930) in 1881. Warkentin taught school for eight years. He was the teacher at Hoffnungsfeld, Manitoba when Elder Heinrich H. Voth and David Dyck first came from the United States as itinerating ministers of the Mennonite Brethren Church. Warkentin was baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church in 1890. He soon became an active Sunday school worker and director of singing. The Winkler M.B. Church elected him to the ministry and ordained him in 1895. In 1906 he was entrusted with the pastoral leadership of the church, a work he fulfilled until 1930. In addition he also frequently ministered in surrounding churches. Warkentin was active in the M.B. Conference, serving for some time on the Board of Directors for Foreign Missions. His daughter Helen became a missionary to India. After the death of his first wife, he married Elizabeth Hooge Dyck. Johann Warentin died at his home in Winkler on May 18, 1948.