THE HISTORY OF THE BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH

The Brethren in Christ Church began in 1788 through a religious revival. They simply called themselves “Brethren.” They baptized one another in a branch of the Susquehanna River, near Marietta, PA and became known as “River Brethren.” A number of families settled in Ontario, Canada who were called “Tunkers” (German for “to dip”). Both names eventually gave way to “Brethren in Christ.”

The early brethren were known as people of the book. They were determined that everything they believed should be straight from God’s Word, not from man’s idea. They accepted the basic approach to life taught by the Anabaptists, including non-resistance, believers baptism, discipleship, and separation from the world.

In the late 19^th century the Brethren in Christ started city and oversea missions. During this period, the teaching of Wesleyan Holiness entered the churches in the Midwest and the General Conference later endorsed it as an official tenet of faith. Mission outreaches have produced churches in Zimbabwe, Zambia, India, Japan, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, and England — in fact, in all continents except Australia and Antarctica! There are presently more Brethren in Christ members overseas than in the US and Canada combined.

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In the 20^th century the Brethren in Christ sensed a need for educational institutions to equip personnel for mission endeavors. This led to the founding of schools, two of which grew into colleges (Messiah College and Niagara Christian College). In North America special missions have been developed among Native Americans and inter-city ministries. Special educational ministries include homes for senior citizens (Messiah Village, PA and Upland Manor, CA), orphanage care (Timber Bay Children’s Home, Saskatchewan, Canada and Paxton Street Home, Harrisburg, PA), a number of camps and Christian retreat centers, a publishing house (Evangel Press, IN), and a number of Christian bookstores (Christian Light Bookstore, PA).