10.

Growth in Early 1900's

The early decades of the twentieth century saw a number of new congregations planted and a growing missionary zeal. With the founding of Elkhart Institute (1894) and its successor Goshen College (1903) a number of future Ohio church leaders received a churchoriented education and their contributions became important. In 1900 the Elkhart Institute graduated A. J. Steiner and I. W. Royer, both of whom became influential leaders in Ohio churches. Foreign mission work challenged the congregations in the sending of M. C. and Lydia Lehman to India. Mrs. Lehman was the former Lydia

Ohio Mennonite Conference

Leaders

Left to right: A. J. Steiner, I. W. Royer, J. S. Hartzler. Hartzler was an instructor at the Elkhart Institute, Elkhart, Indiana, and Steiner and Royer attended the institute as students. Steiner and Royer played key roles in the leadership in Ohio Mennonite Conference. The Elkhart Institute through these men was influential in the work of these leaders in the Ohio churches.

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