1958–1991.
14 cm of textual records.
Administrative history
After the 1949 Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (CMM) Annual Conference research began on the possibility of missions work through radio stations in Winnipeg. By 1955 no progress was evident, therefore a Mennonite Radio Mission’s committee was formed. Two programs were established; “Mennonite Devotional” aired in Winnipeg and “Frohe Botschaft” aired from Fargo, North Dakota. In 1956 the Southern Manitoba Broadcasting Company founded a Mennonite-owned and operated radio station, CFAM. It was chaired by A.J. Thiessen and located in Altona. The Mennonite Radio Mission was now able to broadcast its programs as well as sponsor many others. Frank H. Epp was appointed as director in 1957. In 1958 the offices were moved to Pembina Hwy in Winnipeg. J.K. Klassen became the director in 1959 and in 1965 Bernie Wiebe took over those responsibilities. The Mennonite Radio Mission was renamed Faith and Life Communications (FLC) in 1969, the same year they merged with the
Church School Hour. The following year, 1970, the Christian Home Hour amalgamated with FLC and Waldo Neufeld became the director. Ronn Klassen became the director in 1974 and in 1976 Victor Sawatzky was appointed as director. In 1990 Faith and Life Communications relocated to 600 Shaftesbury Blvd, on the campus of CMBC (now CMU). At this location they built a high quality recording studio that also serves the wider community. Ed Cornelson became the director in 1999.
The Abundant Life began airing on Altona’s CFAM in 1957 with Frank H. Epp as the primary speaker. By 1961 the program was broadcasting in all four western provinces. The broadcast faced a deficit in 1964 that began many years of difficulties. The broadcast was cut in half, down to fifteen minutes, in an attempt to reach a younger non-committed audience.
The Abundant Life continued to face difficulties until the late 1970’s when it altered it’s audience to those in Mennonite congregations.
The Abundant Life became a teaching program and included speakers such as Frank Dyck, Vern Ratzlaff, David D. Klassen, and John H. Neufeld. These Biblically based lessons soon reached beyond the Mennonite community into many homes. In 1994 the program was estimated to have as many as 50,000 listeners. In 2002 the program still airs on CFAM and radio stations around North America.
Frohe Botschaft is a Sunday morning radio program broadcasted in German. It began in 1956 under the leadership of Gerhard Ens. The first broadcast was on a Christian Station in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1957 the program aired on CFAM.
Wort des Lebens also began broadcasting from CFAM in 1957. These two programs have been successful and steady since their beginning.
Frohe Botschaft and
Wort des Lebens continue to air on CFAM and other stations around North America. Speakers for the all the radio programs come from the wider Mennonite constituency, focusing on ministers and speakers from Manitoba.
Faith and Life Communications also organizes volunteer choirs to supply the radio Broadcasts with high quality music. These choirs have been very successful and presently there are three – a male choir, a women’s choir, and a young adult choir.
Scope and content
The material in this collection consists of transcripts of inspirational talks from the various speakers presented on
Abundant Life,
Frohe Botschaft, and
Bibelstudien im Heim.
Custodial history
The custodial history of this fonds is unclear.
Notes
- Volume 731.
- Finding aid consists of a file list.
- No restrictions on access.
- The files related to Frohe Botschaft and Bibelstudien im Heim are in German.
- The official repository of the Faith and Life Communications records are at the Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg.
- Described by Leslie Wiebe, July 31, 2002.
- Location: CMBS Institutional Records – Faith and Life Communications.
Textual file list
Volume 731
- Mennonite Radio Mission correspondence, list of transcripts, and radio messenger bulletins. – 1967, 1983.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Frank H. Epp. – 1958–1964.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Bernie Wiebe. – 1960–1970.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Jake Harms. – 1964–1966.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Victor Sawatzky. – 1969.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Waldo Neufeld. – 1971–1972.
- The Abundant Life. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by various speakers. – 1967, 1969, 1971–1974.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Jakob K. Klassen. – 1958–1986.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by John R. Friesen. – 1966, 1989.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Samuel Gerber. – 1967.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Waldemar Janzen. – 1979.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by Peter Bartel. – 1979–1982.
- Frohe Botschaft. – Transcripts of Inspirational talks by various speakers. – 1963–1964, 1977–1987, 1991.
- Bibelstudien im Heim. – Lektionen 1–12.
