A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

s to point out the fact that in spite of great improved economic conditions by 1926, the movement still increased in scope and would have continued to do so if the government had not imposed severe restrictions on emigration, making it virtually impossible for applicants to obtain passports. Between 1923 and 1927 over eighteen thousand were able to make the "trek to Canada." Although records of church affiliation of these emigrants are not available, it can be assumed that the Mennonite Brethren comprised close to twenty-five percent of the above figure. The story of the almost endless difficulties of these emigrants in trying to obtain passports, pass medical examinations, sell their property and arrange for transportation on credit, is ably told in the book Lost Fatherland. The account of their arrival and settlement in Canada will be given in chapter eleven. But what happened to those who remained in Russia? IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH 121 22. B. B. Jnnz 23. C. F. Klassen 24. Johann J. Toews The End of an Era With the initiation of the first five-year plan on October 1, 1928, began the forced collectivization of farms and the systematic "liquidation" of the "kulaks."'"' Those who refused to cooperate with the new order lost all civil rights and in many instances were exiled to concentration camps in northern Russia or Siberia. Since Mennonites as a class were regarded as "kulaks," they were the special target of punitive policies. The anti-Christian character of Communism manifested itself now in all its severity. Churches were closed and religious instruction forbidden since religion was considered "an opiate of the people." Ministers and church officials who protested against this ruthless liquidation of church property and religious freedom were arbitrarily arrested as counter-revolutionaries. Many Mennonite Brethren minis- ters suffered the fate of the latter. Typical perhaps is the experience of Johann J. Toews, outstanding teacher, leader and minister of the M.B. Church. During the time of mass emigration (1923-26) he felt duty-bound to stay with the flock. At the last All-Mennonite Conference (Ukraine) in the city of Melitopol in 1926, he delivered an eloquent address on spiritual renewal and improvement of congregational life." When doors began to close, Toews made several attempts to emigrate (in 1927 and again in 1929) but these attempts failed. While waiting near Moscow for exit visas, Toews was forcibly separated from his family and sentenced to eight months imprisonment. Here he was literally tortured for his faith in Christ. Repeatedly he was offered freedom if he would deny his faith. But he remained faithful. After imprisonment followed exile in northern Russia, where he died as a true hero of faith in 1933. " Besides ministers and Christian workers, another group bore the 122 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH l>runl of the Stalinist attacks: the young Me