2. Mennonite Brethren Communications
Mennonite Brethren Communications sub fonds. – 1947–1993.
7 m of textual records and other material.
Administrative history
Mennonite Brethren Communications had its beginning in the fall of 1946 when two senior students of Mennonite Brethren Bible College began a radio broadcast named the “Gospel Light Hour” which first aired on February 23, 1947 on Winnipeg station CKRC. Early directors of the Gospel Light Hour were Henry Brucks 1946–1947, Peter Toews 1947–1948, Henry Born (1948–1949) and John M. Schmidt 1951–1963. In 1954 this radio broadcast came under the auspices of the Manitoba MB Conference. In 1956 it began the German broadcast entitled, “Licht ds Evangeliums”, and a year later in 1957 the first Russian broadcast began, as well as the “Children’s Gospel Light Hour”. A studio located on Henderson Highway built and dedicated in 1960. It continued to be used until a new studio was built in 1985 located on Riverton Avenue just east of Mennonite Brethren Bible College. In 1976 the name was changed from “Gospel Light Hour” to “Mennonite Brethren Communications” (MBC). Financial support for the various ministries came from private donations and grants from the Manitoba MB Conference, the Canadian MB Conference and from the Foreign Mission Board at various times of its history. The program expanded into Low German, Teen and Television broadcasts. A cassette ministry was added so people could get the message who would be unable to listen to the actual aired MBC program.
The mission of MBC as expressed in a 1978 document was as follows: “to use communication media to call persons to commitment and life in Jesus Christ, and to influence, in accordance with Christian principles, the values and morals of individuals in society”. (Manitoba MB Conference yearbook. 1978, p. 13.)
Scope and content
This fonds consists of the following series: minutes, reports, general correspondence, financial records, administrative files, publications, correspondence with related organizations, correspondence with Radio Stations, files related to the German, English, Russian, Low German and Television programs, correspondence from listeners and audio and video recordings.
- Other material consists of ca. 155 audio discs (41cm or smaller), 5 audio cassettes, 15 video reels, 16 videocassettes
- Location: Textual records are classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches – BC260, the video reels – MNT1, MNT2, Audio discs – NAD1 to NAD66 and NPH-01, Audio cassettes – NA-18. Unprocessed textual records consist of 8 boxes (4 m ) of correspondence from Russian listener from 1988–1993 (Acc. No. 1994–12).
- Finding aid: Available. Series identified and files listed. No series description.
- Bibliography: See newsletters, Reflections 1975–1979, Mennonite Brethren Communications Backgrounder 1980–1982, and Mennonite Brethren Expressions published since 1983 in English and German. See also, William Neufeld, From Faith to Faith : the History of the Manitoba Mennonite Brethren Church, Chapter 13, “Radio and Mennonite Brethren Communications”.
