The Christian Leader Podcast
The Christian Leader Podcast is the official podcast from USMB, featuring honest and practical conversations for anyone following Jesus—in life, ministry, and everything in between. Join us as we disciple, develop, and deploy followers of Jesus for life and leadership.
The Christian Leader Podcast
On Mission from the Beginning: The History of MB Conventions (Peggy Goertzen)
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Peggy Goertzen is back for her fourth appearance on LEAD Pods, and she's bringing history to life once again. As director and archivist of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, Peggy is the go-to voice for all things MB heritage.
In this episode, she traces the roots of why Mennonite Brethren started gathering in the first place, taking us back to the 1870s when MB immigrants fled persecution in Russia and settled across Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. By 1879, scattered churches came together for a national gathering because, as Peggy puts it, they simply didn't want to be alone.
From love feasts and long sermons to big debates about missions, military service, and evangelism funding, Peggy draws a straight line from those early gatherings to why USMB still comes together today. With the 2026 Gathering in Salt Lake City just around the corner, this one is worth sharing with your whole team. Details at usmb.org.