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The Growth and Challenges of the Church The work of spreading the Gospel continued in earnest, and within thirty-five years around 110 congregations had been established. The church spread rapidly, and congregations were founded throughout Switzerland, the Alsace, and Southern Germany. Before long the faith had spread to the regions of Austria-Hungary, and the Balkans. In Eastern Europe, the believers became known as Nazareans. It has been estimated that before the First World War, the population of the church in Hungary alone may have numbered as many as 30,000 members. The first church in North America was founded in 1847. Responding to a request for assistance, Samuel Froelich and the other Swiss Elders ordained Benedict Weyeneth an elder and sent him to an Amish-Mennonite congregation in New York. Weyeneth’s efforts led to the establishment of the denomination’s first congregation in what is now called Croghan, New York. |
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