A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

tion. It has been estimated that there are some two hundred and forty places in the Soviet Union where Mennonite Brethren and Baptists wofship together, but not nearly all of these are registered with the government. Their public worship services in northern Kazakhstan are described by Krestyaninov as follows: On Sunday they meet in the afternoon for worship purposes followed by musical presentations by the youth. The evening service is closed with a prayer meeting. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays there is special instruction of youth and their relatives who intend to be baptized. On Thursday evening choir and orchestral practices take place. On Saturday evening musical performances are given followed by prayer meetings. 1 " From the above description it is obvious, that Mennonite Brethren in Russia carry on a church program that is spiritually enriching and meaningful. Visitors, however, have expressed concern over the somewhat "narrow pietism" of the Mennonite Brethren in the Soviet Union. The lack of a trained ministry, the restriction of the expression of their Christian faith to the home and the worship services in the church, the absence of theological books and periodicals — all these have contributed to this type of "otherworldly" pietism. The promotion of an itinerant ministry, and the introduction of correspondence courses for ministerial candidates and Christian workers in the last few years, are perhaps the first steps to correct this situation. Although severely restricted in the expression of its faith there is a living and growing Mennonite Brethren Church in the U.S.S.R. today. A survey of its history during the past fifty years provides a vivid demonstration of the truth of Christ's great prophetic utterance which we often heard from the lips of our brethren in Russia: "I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Mt. 16:18). A definitive history of this last period in the Soviet Union is contingent on future developments in that country. PART II THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA Introductory Note: In order to facilitate a greater "in depth" study of the various aspects in the faith and life of the M.B. Church in North America, a different methodology in the organization of historical materials will be employed than in Part One. After a brief survey of the initial settlement and subsequent geographical expansion of Mennonite Brethren and Krimmer Mennonite Brethren in the United States and Canada in the first several chapters, an attempt will be made to present the concerns and activities of the brotherhood in topical form, showing growth and development as well as changing conditions and needs throughout this entire period. Chapter 10 Mennonite Brethren Come to the United States Almost two hundred years before the first Mennonite Brethren set foot on American soil, other heirs of the early Anabaptists had found