History of the Carson Center

The development of the Carson Center has come about through a confluence of factors. The Carson Church, Elaine Kroeker (on the left), a Tabor College board member who was a member of the church, and brothers David and Paul Wiebe (missionary children who grew up in India, David a Tabor board member, and Paul a sociologist with a passion for the church in India), and President Larry Nikkel, each played instrumental roles the development of the Carson Center.

The history of the Carson Center clearly begins with the decision of the Carson Church in Delft, Minnesota to close. The Carson Church, which has had a remarkable history of promoting international missions, decided to give a third of the its proceeds generated from closing the church to Tabor College in the fall of 2005. At the same time, David Wiebe presented a proposal related to mission, service, and education to the college board of trustees. The proposal, developed with the input of his brother Paul, encouraged Tabor College to consider developing a relationship with the Mennonite Brethren church and Centenary Seminary in India, a sister institution owned by the Indian Mennonite Brethren church.

President Nikkel, wanting to honor the legacy of the Carson Church in a way that would last, suggested that the donation of funds to Tabor College be placed in an endowment named after the Carson Church. The Carson Center was formally approved in February, 2006 by the Tabor College Board of Trustees.

Activities of the Carson Center began immediately, albeit in modest ways. Dr. Lynn Jost took a group of students and adults interested in India, to the Centenary Seminary where, among other things, a Bible class was held with both Tabor students and Centenary Seminary students attending. Paul Wiebe (appointed Adjunct Professor of International Studies), accompanied by David Wiebe, visited various points in India and explored the potential for a relationship between Tabor College and Centenary Seminary. The Mennonite Brethren Church subsequently passed a unanimous resolution welcoming a relationship with Tabor College. Paul also developed and distributed a newsletter for Centenary Seminary. Following his return, Paul raised and sent funds to the Mennonite Brethren Church in India for the first writers conference, a meeting of church representatives organized to begin to document the history of the church.

The Carson Center was given a major boost in June of 2006 with a donation of $100,000 in by a donor supportive of the initiative. With the original gift by the Carson Church and the second major donation, the Carson Center is poised to begin to carry out it work of promoting mission, service and global education,. There is much be to done for the Center to fully realize its potential, but the momentum that has emerged far surpasses that of those who only a year ago planted the seeds of what has become a grand vision for Tabor College and the church.