'Yours for the salvation of Mexican people': Race, identity, and the growth/decline of Mennonite brethren missionary efforts in south Texas, 1937--1971

The Mennonite Brethren (MB) church in south Texas is an anomaly. Mennonite Brethren missionaries were once prominent in Protestant circles in south Texas between 1937 and 1971, planting eight churches during this time. Today, however, the Mennonite Brethren church is relegated to several small congregations sprinkled throughout Hidalgo and Starr County. This research argues that Mennonite Brethren missionary efforts with Mexican Americans were racist and oppressive. Furthermore, the racist ethos that developed was maintained throughout the life of the mission because of the institutional rigidity of the MB church. Both Church Growth Theory and the Contact Hypothesis are applied to better understand the individual and systemic relationship between Mexican Americans and Anglo MB.