A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

history of the ages. These truths were fundamental, shared by all, and reflected no variation. The Mennonite Brethren eschatological hope historically was a relational principle with emphasis on holy living and exhortation to be ready for the Lord's return. Second, the Mennonite Brethren had room for different understandings of the how and when of the Lord's return. They spoke of these variations as uErkenntnissfragenn~l^vcls of understanding-which did not affect the relationship of trust and love within the fellowship. The shared focus on Christ as the center provided room for divergent opinions on the pe- ripheral details of the blessed hope. One incident, widely re- ferred to in conference lore, is telling: William Bestvater was presenting a series of prophetic messages using his large chart, outlining every detail of the events of eschatology, Abraham H. Unruh, who was present at these expositions, fi- nally jested: "Brother William, do you think God will consider the outline on these canvasses in carrying out his plans?" Both men laughed together good naturedly, Their love and regard for each other overrode their differences of interpreta- tion. 113 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH It is significant to observe that nearly all of the 398 articles in the Zionsbote and forty in the Christian Leader were writ- ten before 1950. Forty-four articles were written before 1910, 176 between 1910-1935 and 172 between 1936-1950, is impor- tant. The stress of world events (World War I and II, the Russ- ian Revolution and severe persecution of the church in Rus- sia) may account for the greater prominence of eschatology in the decades between 1912 and 1950, The absence of major emphasis on the blessed hope for the believer's life in the 1960s and 1970s suggests an important trend that interfaces with other more recent developments. 114 CHAPTER 10 Mennonite Brethren at the Turn of the Century The years 1890-1914, just prior to the First World War, were a period of rapid cultural and economic devel- opment for the Mennonite colonies in Russia. The fast growth of the Mennonite Brethren Church forced their integration into surrounding communities. Increasing in- volvement in education, alternative service and matters of so- cial, civil and public welfare gradually broke down the walls that had kept them isolated.1 MENNONITE BRETHREN IN RUSSIA Geographical Expansion The first fifty years of Mennonite Brethren history was a time when the Chortitza and Molotschna colonies birthed many daughter settlements. Pressured by a burgeoning popu- lation, the colonies purchas