16.

The Growth of

Newer Congregations

In all parts of the Ohio and Eastern Mennonite Conference there has been a growth of new congregations and missions, especially since the close of World War II. The growth is explained in several ways. The desire to extend the church into unchurched areas is one of them. Frequently certain of the older congregations håve outgrown their facilities and the problem is solved by founding new congregation units, often in locations where there are persons without church privileges. The growth of new fellowship centers in cities has been due in part to the presence of young men serving in I-W or Voluntary Service units. Mennonite students in urban centers, together with a growing number of Mennonite young couples who reside in cities, have formed small groups for worship and fellowship. Thus both overflow and extension efforts account for the new churches.

An example of the growth of a new church which drew its members from "full" congregations is the Hartville congregation at Hartville in Stark County, Ohio. It began during the rationing days of World War II when a small fellowship group met in an Acme store in the town. A Sunday school was started, and H. N. Troyer, a pastor from Aurora, Ohio, took charge of the group. The number increased, many coming from nearby Amish churches, and in 1944 a congregation of forty-nine charter members was formed. Upon Troyer's retirement, Lester Wyse of Chief, Michigan, became pastor. A building with a large educational plant was erected in 1952. By 1965 membership was close to 400. Edward Diener is the present pastor.

At Burton, Ohio, a congregation grew from the efforts of the Plainyiew Church at Aurora, some twenty miles away. As a result of meetings held by William G. Detweiler and Enos Hartzler a number of Amish people transferred membership to the new con

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