Ephraim Gingerich (1917-2010)

Title: Ephraim Gingerich fonds

Dates of creation: 1952-2002

Physical description: 1 cm of textual material

Biographical sketch: Ephraim B. Gingerich, son of Christian Gingerich and Annie (Baechler) Gingerich, was born 11 October 1917 in Zurich, Ontario. Elsie Marie Martin, daughter of Simon Martin and Lydia (Bauman) Martin, was born on 3 April 1920 in St. Jacobs, Ontario.

Elsie graduated from Nurse’s Training in 1945 in Kitchener Ont. Ephraim was ordained to the ministry as assistant pastor to Solomon Baechler at the Blake Mennonite Church on 5 August 1946. He and Elsie met while studying at Ontario Mennonite Bible College and were married on 6 October 1948.

Ephraim and Elsie spent two years in Virginia where Ephraim attended Junior Bible College at Eastern Mennonite College (EMC) - Sept 1949-June 1951. Ephraim was ordained as bishop in 1952 and was actively involved in the Amish Mennonite Conference (later Western Ontario Mennonite Conference) over the next decade. Ephraim was pastor at Blake from 1946-1970, and at the Zurich Mennonite Church from 5 June 1966-1970. In December 1970 they resigned from service both at Blake and Zurich.

Over the next 15 years they served at the Steinmann (Dec. 1971-1973), Cassel (1973-1979), Hanover (July 1981-August 1982), Dungannon (Nov. 1982-August 1983), Nairn (Sept. 1983-June 1985) and Mapleview (1986-1987) churches. In later years Elsie worked as a nurse at Blue Water Rest Home. Ephraim continued to work the farm, as he had all his life. One of his great joys was raising horses.

They had four daughters -Yvonne, born in 1950 (living in North Vancouver, BC); Mary Margaret, born in 1952 (living in Burnaby, BC); Jane, born in 1956 (living in Zurich, Ontario); Debra, born in 1957 (living in Vancouver, BC) and three grandsons - Nathan, Adam and Ryan.

Custodial history: Donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario by the Ephraim Gingerich family in November 2007.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of examples of sermon notes spanning 1952-2002. The topics covered include: Passion; Fellowship; Repentance; Salvation; Advent; Christian Living; Discipleship; and Prayer. There are also a few sermons from Ephraim's retirment years.

Notes: For photographs related to Ephraim Gingerich search Mennonite Archival Image Database.

An encyclopedia entry for Ephraim Gingerich may be found in GAMEO.

Original archival description created March 2008 by Sam Steiner.