Notizen zu dieser Person
Epp, Heinrich M. (1904-1958) EppHeinrichAnna.jpg Anna & Heinrich Epp Heinrich M. Epp: minister and farmer; born 9 February 1904 in Fischau,Molotschna Colony, South Russia to Martin H. Epp (1860-1912) andSusanna (Rempel) Epp (1873-1910). He was the tenth child of a familyof fifteen. He lost his mother at age 6 and his father at 8 and wasadopted by his uncle Jakob Epp of Rosenort. He married Anna Enns (b.24 October 1902 at Talma, Terek Settlement, d. 16 December 1958 atChilliwack, British Columbia, Canada) on 11 May 1924 in Suvorovka. Shewas the daughter of Elder Franz F. Enns (1871-1940) and Anna(Duerksen) Enns (1874-1938). Heinrich and Anna had eight sons and fivedaughters: Henry, Bruno, Frank, Anna, Menno, Martin, George, Susan,Lydia, Linda, Alvin, Viola and Rudie. Heinrich died very suddenly of astroke on 13 April 1958 in Chilliwack, BC, and Anna died of a braintumor later that same year. Both are buried in Abbotsford. In Rosenort Heinrich received his elementary education before going onto high school in Ohrlof and Lindenau, and began his teacher'straining in Halbstadt, which was interrupted by unrest in the country.He was baptized at age 19 on 27 May 1923 in the NikolaifelderMennonite congregation by Elder Franz F. Enns. After their marriage in 1924 the Epps immigrated to Canada. After twoweeks in Drake, Saskatchewan, they lived in Winkler, Manitoba forseveral years before settling on a farm in Lena, Manitoba in 1927.Here he became active in the Whitewater Mennonite Church for the next16 years, where he joined his father-in-law, Elder F. F. Enns, inserving, being ordained to the ministry by him on 4 August 1929. In 1945, upon an invitation from the West Abbotsford Mennonite Church,the Epps moved to Abbotsford to a 57-acre dairy and berry farm and toserve, unsalaried, in the church. He soon became the leading ministerin an active ministerial of several lay ministers and on 2 May 1948was ordained by Elder J. B. Wiens as the first elder of WestAbbotsford Mennonite Church. As leading minister at West Abbotsford, Heinrich was bothcongregational chairman as well as leader of the Vorstand, theministerial leadership team. An astute leader, he saw the needs,proposed well-thought-out solutions, mustered leadership approval andpresented motions for congregational support. When his congregation, at one point, discussed the need for a burialplace of their own, it was he who suggested a cemetery for use by allarea Mennonites. Under his direction, Hazelwood cemetery wasestablished. He was evangelically minded and had a burden for the lost and for thespiritual well-being of his congregation, his community and for theconference. He was the first to introduce evangelistic services in hischurch and to start "deeper life" services in the provincialconference. He stressed personal salvation and holy living as thecriteria for church membership. His motto of "Holy to the Lord" (Heilig dem Herrn-- Exodus 28:36)encapsulated his fourfold vision for the church: a vision of a holychurch, serving the Lord, faithful to Anabaptist principles,spiritually disciplined; a vision for the community-- Mennonitesettlers and immigrants as well as the surrounding non-Mennonitepeople; a vision of congregational programs of Bible study, education,music ministry, visitation and personal work, and evangelisticservices; and a vision for the calling of laborers who weretheologically educated, supported by the church, and were activelyserving. From 1949 to 1952 he served as chairperson of the Conference of theUnited Mennonite Churches of BC. He also served as chairperson of theProvincial Mennonite Relief Committee of British Columbia, and servedon the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization. As conferencechairperson Epp tried to influence the conference to place more of anemphasis on preaching repentance, conversion, and holy living. Thisemphasis was met with some resistance by those who were critical ofthe emotional aspects of evangelism and the perceived legalism ofthose striving to hold each other accountable in matters of holyliving. The two theological streams in the conference were not able tomaintain an attitude of mutual respect, leading Epp and the WestAbbotsford congregation to withdraw from the provincial conference on28 December 1953. The congregation rejoined the provincial conferencein 1957. During his ministry, West Abbotsford saw the church grow from 145members to 340. It was a period of rapid expansion and influx into theAbbotsford community. The mix within the church of Kanadier,Russlaender and Paraguayan Mennonites, often with very differentmindsets, yet working together, attests to his ability to lead andunite a church. Bibliography Ens, Anna Epp. The House of Heinrich: The Story of Heinrich Epp(1811-1863) of Rosenort, Molotschna and His Descendants. Winnipeg: EppBook Committee, 1980. Lehn, Cornelia. Frontier Challenge: A Story of the Conference ofMennonites in British Columbia. Clearbrook, B.C.: Conference ofMennonites in British Columbia, 1990. Loewen, D. Living Stones: a History of West Abbotsford MennoniteChurch 1936-1986. Abbotsford, BC: West Abbotsford Mennonite Church,1987. Peters, Gerhard I. Remember Our Leaders: Conference of Mennonites inCanada 1902-1977. Clearbrook, BC: The Mennonite Historical Society ofBritish Columbia, 1982. Archival material held by Anna Ens (daughter), Winnipeg, due to betransferred to the Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg. Additional Information Genealogical chart showing prominent members of the Epp family (pdffile created by Richard Thiessen) ©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Allrights reserved. To cite this page: MLA style: Ens, Alvin G. and Richard D. Thiessen. "Epp, Heinrich M.(1904-1958)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April2005. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 28July 2009 APA style: Ens, Alvin G. and Richard D. Thiessen. (April 2005). "Epp,Heinrich M. (1904-1958)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite EncyclopediaOnline. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 28July 2009
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