Our History

The second major spiritual awakening after the Reformation was the Pietist movement. Pietism began as a spiritual renewal within the Lutheran and Reformed churches. It emphasized the need for true conversion and a Spirit-filled life.

This message resonated with Alexander Mack and a small group of believers. In Schwarzenau, Germany, they joined with Mack in a careful study of Scripture. Convicted of their need for water baptism as adult believers, they organized a church in 1708. Mack and other brethren immediately began preaching beyond their community. Stiff opposition and persecution arose from the state churches.

In 1719, the group began migrating to Pennsylvania. In the following years, they prospered and headed west. Economic opportunity and evangelistic fervor drove them across the continental United States. Now known as the German Baptist Brethren, they experienced growing pains. A schism brought about a three-way split in the denomination in the 1880's. In 1908, the primary body became the Church of the Brethren.

However, cultural change and the lack of sound theology to deal with it left the church vulnerable. In the early 1900's conservatives were growing concerned with the church's drift. Efforts to bring reform were unsuccessful. In 1926, several like-minded leaders withdrew to form the Dunkard Brethren Church. Pleasant Ridge was among the congregations established at the onset of this movement.