Herman and Estelle Enns Scholarship

Herman and Estelle Enns Scholarship

The Herman and Estelle Enns Scholarship was founded in 1982 to support students a Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) as they prepare for ministry and leadership in the church.

In keeping with the intent of the fund, priority consideration may be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Canadian student involved in Clinical Pastoral Education
• Any student involved in Clinical Pastoral Education
• Any Canadian student

All qualified students are eligible to apply and will be considered. When applicants do not meet the preferred criteria, the scholarship may be awarded to other students who demonstrate financial need and alignment with the purposes of the fund.

As of June 30, 2025, the scholarship's market value was $20,270. The earnings are paid out annually to cover approximately 7% of tuition.

Support Herman and Estelle's scholarship

Click the big “Give Now!” button to give in U.S. dollars. If you’d like to give in Canadian dollars, click here.

If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to “AMBS,” note "Virgil and Louise Claassen Endowment for International Student Scholarships" in the memo line, and mail it to 3003 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517.

More about Herman and Estelle

Reverend Herman Enns, a graduate of Mennonite Biblical Seminary (1962), was a strong believer in training for Christian ministry and in Clinical Pastoral Education. He was a pastor at Hamilton Mennonite Church, Ont. for 12 years and was also instrumental in beginning a community service project known as the Welcome Inn. He taught at McMaster Divinity School in Hamilton, and served as chaplain at McMaster University Medical Centre. Herman was also active in inter-Mennonite work having served as secretary for the Ontario Conference of United Mennonite Churches as well as the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, he was moderator of the Ontario Conference and he was on the board of Mennonite Biblical Seminary from 1974-77.

On Sept. 9, 1961, during his seminary studies, he married Estelle Bartel of Hillsboro, Kansas. Estelle worked at Mennonite Biblical Seminary as Cashier-Bookkeeper and Receptionist from 1958-1962. Herman died suddenly of a heart attack on June 6, 1977. Hamilton Mennonite Church set up this AMBS scholarship to honour and remember Herman and Estelle’s contributions to their congregation, community and the broader church. Estelle lived on the AMBS campus in the 1985-86 school year, to be part of the seminary community and audit courses. Following that year she moved from Hamilton to Kitchener, Ont. and became a member at Stirling Ave. Mennonite Church in Kitchener.

In a paper on Clinical Pastoral Education, Herman stated "a theory for Clinical Pastoral Education must draw its inspiration from Jesus, the true liberator (Luke 4:18-19), the great physician who healed all manner of diseases, the enlightened teacher, who knew about emotional and spiritual renewal and rebirth, the faithful pastor whose congruent life style became a light along the way which He Himself opened up." This also would be fitting summary of Herman Enns' vision. [*This final paragraph is taken from Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online, so credit may be due to the author, Sam Steiner.]

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