Brethren in Christ Historical Society

Brethren in Christ Historical Society Nurturing understanding and appreciation of the Brethren in Christ Church and related groups since 1

The Brethren in Christ Historical Society exists to nurture understanding and appreciation of the historical, theological, and contemporary life and thought of the Brethren in Christ and related groups.

06/08/2026

John Dietz leading an Old Order River Brethren hymn at the Annual Heritage Service.

Today was the Annual Heritage Service at the historic Ringgold Meetinghouse. We had to cancel last year because of sever...
06/08/2026

Today was the Annual Heritage Service at the historic Ringgold Meetinghouse. We had to cancel last year because of severe storm damage. John Walker, a member of Ringgold board of trustees and caretaker for the meetinghouse, gave an update on repairs and the effort to restore the building to museum quality within the next two years. Joshua Nolt, executive director of the Historical Society, led the meeting which focused on the values and people of the Brethren in Christ Church and Old Order River Brethren. John Dietz, Historical Society board member, spoke about his grandfather's influence and the importance of humility in the OORB tradition. Joshua spoke about the influence of Luke Kiefer Jr.s analysis of the three "streams of our heritage." We also sang hymns from both traditions.

This morning, Messiah Lifeways residents had the opportunity to hear from Morris Sider and his biographer, Devin Manzull...
04/27/2026

This morning, Messiah Lifeways residents had the opportunity to hear from Morris Sider and his biographer, Devin Manzullo-Thomas, about Morris's career as the pre-eminent Brethren in Christ "Storyteller" and historian. Copies of the biography, "Storyteller: The Life and Ministry of E. Morris Sider,” are still available for sale for $12 each plus postage. Contact the Society's editor, Harriet Sider Bicksler, at [email protected].

At almost 99 years old, Mim Stern is still going strong at Messiah Lifeways. The first part of her memoir, "Stirrings: S...
04/21/2026

At almost 99 years old, Mim Stern is still going strong at Messiah Lifeways. The first part of her memoir, "Stirrings: Seventy-Plus Years in God Service," detailing her early years until she and her late husband Pete landed on the Brethren in Christ mission field in Africa, has been published in the April 2026 edition of our journal, BRETHREN IN CHRIST HISTORY AND LIFE. Read her story here: https://bic-history.org/journal-articles/stirrings/.

Imagine two young Lancaster County Brethren in Christ men in 1905: Henry T. Frey, age 28, and Levi F. Sheetz, age 22. Th...
04/21/2026

Imagine two young Lancaster County Brethren in Christ men in 1905: Henry T. Frey, age 28, and Levi F. Sheetz, age 22. They grew up near each other and knew each other from various regional denominational activities. Both were baptized in 1898 at the same service, and both were members of the Brethren in Christ Church. Henry married Katie B. Ginder a year after his baptism and began truck farming.

Sometime before 1905, Henry had a powerful and unique spiritual vision. Levi—soon after his graduation from Mount Joy High School—had established the fledgling “Florin News,” no doubt hoping it would become a thriving local newspaper. In 1905, the two men collaborated to produce a printed account of Henry’s vision. A black and white version of the vision appeared as a supplement to the EVANGELICAL VISITOR in May 1905. But it was also available through Levi as a color print (see below for the black and white version.

Read the rest of the article in the Spring 2026 edition of our newsletter, "History Matters" :https://bic-history.org/newsletter/

During the late 1980s, Kathleen Aiken wrote a series of reminiscences about growing up in a rural Brethren in Christ chu...
01/13/2026

During the late 1980s, Kathleen Aiken wrote a series of reminiscences about growing up in a rural Brethren in Christ church. Her memories are scattered nuggets and insights into Brethren in Christ life during the first quarter of the twentieth century that were written for the Fairview (Ohio) Brethren in Christ monthly newsletter. She called her column “Reminiscence Corner.” Kathleen’s memories include detailed reflections of life in a rural Brethren in Christ church during the early twentieth century. They provide insightful perspectives on church life in other congregations within the denomination.

You can read a collection of her remininscences, compiled and explained by Dwight Thomas, in the December 2025 edition of BRETHREN IN CHRIST HISTORY AND LIFE. Photo: bridge painting by Kathleen Aiken.
https://bic-history.org/journal-articles/a-pump-with-a-bright-tin-pump/

Check out the Fall 2025 edition of "History Matters," featuring a report on our annual meeting release of STORYTELLER: T...
12/11/2025

Check out the Fall 2025 edition of "History Matters," featuring a report on our annual meeting release of STORYTELLER: THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF E. MORRIS SIDER, and excerpt in which Morris describes his own storytelling philosophy, a preview of the upcoming new history of the Brethren in Christ Church, and the "image from the past." https://bic-history.org/newsletter/

Most of the Historical Society board attended the Sider Institute study conference today so we took advantage of the opo...
11/15/2025

Most of the Historical Society board attended the Sider Institute study conference today so we took advantage of the oportunity to get a photo. One of our board members led a workshop and her husband was a keynote speaker.

Canadian members of the Historical Society: Come celebrate the publication of Morris and Leone Sider’s biography TONIGHT...
10/19/2025

Canadian members of the Historical Society: Come celebrate the publication of Morris and Leone Sider’s biography TONIGHT at the Port Colborne Be in Christ Church! The event will include light refreshments, tours of the BIC Canada Archives, and brief remarks from the biography’s author, Dr. Devin Manzullo-Thomas. More details below.

At our annual meeting today, the Historical Society celebrated the life and ministry of E. Morris Sider, the Society’s f...
10/04/2025

At our annual meeting today, the Historical Society celebrated the life and ministry of E. Morris Sider, the Society’s first editor and executive director and the author of more than thirty books on Brethren in Christ history. His official biography by Devin Manzullo-Thomas, entitled STORYTELLER, was released at the meeting. Watch for more reporting from the event in the fall edition of “History Matters” and on our website. Society members will receive a copy of the book, and additional copies are for sale at $12.00 each plus postage. Email [email protected].

Address

Mechanicsburg, PA
17055

Telephone

+17176916048

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Brethren in Christ Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Brethren in Christ Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Share