©Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Last updated January 31, 2003)
Frank Isaac fonds. -- 1951-1988 -- 1.05 m of textual records.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Frank K. Isaac was born in Schoenberg, Russia on March 24, 1923. Rev. Isaac's career in the Mennonite church began with his ordination as an assistant minister of the Steinbach Mennonite Church in 1956. In 1962 Rev. Isaac was given the role of leading minister, becoming the church's first salaried pastor. In 1969 Rev. Isaac took a one year sabbatical in order to study at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. He returned to the Steinbach congregation, serving there until 1975. Later in 1975, Rev. Isaac began his duties as minister of the Springfield Heights Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He served this congregation until his retirement from the ministry in 1988.
Along with his duties as a church minister, Frank Isaac was also involved with several Mennonite church conferences, most significantly with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. With the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba Rev. Isaac participated as a board member of the Camp Committee (1957-1959), the Sunday School Committee (1958-1966), as vice-Chair of the Conference (1967-1968), Secretary of the Conference (1970-1971), Chair of the Elim Bible School Board (1975-1979) and as a member of the Program/Nominating Committee (1983-1986). Rev. Isaac also served with the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, as a member of the Canadian Mennonite Bible College board (1973-1982) and with the Mennonite Central Committee, as a Manitoba board member (1987-1988). Subsequent involvement with the Mennonite Central Committee saw Frank and his wife Susan working with Umsiedler Mennonite immigrants in Germany from 1988-1989.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection reflects Rev. Frank K. Isaac's ministerial and conference involvements and this fonds is organized accordingly into six series: 1) Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, 1957-1988, 2) Conference of Mennonites in Canada, 1958-1977, 3) Mennonite Central Committee, 1988-1989, 4) General Conference, 1952-1978, 5) Steinbach Mennonite Church, 1951-1975, 6) Springfield Heights Mennonite Church, 1977-1985.
CUSTODIAL HISTORY
The material in this fonds was received by Anna Ens from Frank Isaac as research material for In Search of Unity, a study documenting the history of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Upon completion of the project in 1996 the materials were deposited at the Mennonite Heritage Centre.
NOTES
Some records, especially files of the 1950s, 1960s and approximately one half of the Mennonite Central Committee files, are in German.
Arranged and described by Myron Dyck in June 2000.
Accession No. 97-153.
Finding aid consists of a series of description with an inventory list.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba (CMM). -- 1957-1988. -- 57 cm of textual material.
This series consists of minutes, reports, notes and correspondence of the committees, programs and conferences relating to Rev. Isaac's involvement with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba. Included in this series is material associated with Elim Bible School, the Education and Program/Nominating Committees, annual meetings, radio ministry and Camps with Meaning.
Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC). -- 1958-1977. -- 11 cm of textual material.
This series consists of minutes, reports, notes and correspondence of committee, programs and conference relating to Rev. Isaac's involvement with the Conference of Mennonites in Canada. Included in this series are Conference and Annual reports, Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC) files, and material from the Canadian Mennonite Youth Organization.
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). -- 1988-1989. -- 5 cm of textual material.
The material in this series consists of reports and correspondence relating to Frank and Susan Isaac's service in Germany with MCC Europe.
General Conference (GC). -- 1952-1978. -- 3 cm of textual material.
The material in this series focuses on missions and evangelism. Included in this series is material from several Inter-GC Missions and Evangelism Conferences.
Steinbach Mennonite Church. -- 1951-1975. -- 21 cm of textual material.
This series consists of minutes, reports and correspondence relating to Rev. Isaac's duties as church minister at the Steinbach Mennonite Church. Included in this series are minutes from the Steinbach Young Peoples, correspondence with missionaries and colleagues, Rev. Isaac's involvement with the Steinbach Ministerial Association and his involvement in several local crusade initiatives.
Springfield Heights Mennonite Church. -- 1977-1985. -- 8 cm of textual material.
This series consists of minutes, reports and correspondence relating to Rev. Isaac's duties as church minister at Springfield Heights Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. The majority of material included in this series are minutes of congregational meetings and Church Council and the Youth Committee executive. Other material included is associated with the church's Sunday School program.
Frank Isaac fonds file list:
Volume 4858
CONFERENCE OF MENNONITES IN MANITOBA (CMM)
Volume 4859
CMM continued
CONFERENCE OF MENNONITES IN CANADA (CMC)
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC)
Volume 4860
GENERAL CONFERENCE (GC)
STEINBACH MENNONITE CHURCH
SPRINGFIELD HEIGHTS MENNONITE CHURCH