A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

with Peter Penner (an ordained minister from Russia) as presiding minister; Woodrow in 1909 with G. Reimche as first leader; Greenfarm (now extinct) in 1912 with J.W. Thiessen as first leader; Bethania (now extinct) in 1913, in the Turnhill school district, with Johann W. Neufeld, an ordained minister from Russia, as first leader; Fox Valley (now extinct) some forty miles north of Maple Creek, in 1914, under the direction of elder Benjamin Janz. 2< In Fox Valley as well as in several other congregations there were many members who had come from North Dakota. With their Volga-German (and in some instances Lutheran) background, they lacked a knowledge of Mennonite Brethren principles and practices. As a result, misunderstandings and tensions would often arise, and brethren from the more established congregations of Main Centre and Herbert would then be called in to assist in resolving these tensions. 2 ' Besides Benjamin Janz, the Herbert District profited greatly from the rich spiritual ministry of several other prominent leaders. Heinrich A. Neufeld (1865-1933) who moved to the Herbert area in 1911, traveled extensively as evangelist and Bible expositor. C. N. Hiebert, with his unique gifts in evangelism, was used of God in many churches to call sinners to repentance and encourage believers." Of special significance for the whole Herbert Kreis was the establishment of a Bible school in the town of Herbert in 1913. This institution, the first of its kind in Canada, was largely the fruit of the vision, courage and labor of John F. Harms. Harms had been engaged in educational efforts in Kansas some years earlier. When he settled on a farm at Flowing Well south of Herbert in 1908, he began to teach Bible classes during the winter months. In 1913 the hopes of the Northern District Conference became a reality when eighteen students enrolled for studies under Harms. When Harms moved back to the United States in 1918, the school had to be closed because of financial difficulties. In 1921 it was reopened under the capable leadership of William J. Bestvater. Teachers and students of the Bible school helped to promote a greater interest in Christian service and missions in the entire constituency. 27 MHNNONITK BRKTHREN COME TO CANADA 161 III. Expansion and Growth Through Immigration The year 1924 marked the beginning of a rapid expansion of the M.B. Church throughout Canada. This increase in membership and in the number of congregations was not so much the result of the propaga- tion of the gospel as it was of large scale immigration of Mennonite Brethren from the Soviet Union as pointed out at the beginning of this chapter. In his book, Mennonite Exodus, Frank H. Epp has given an excellent account of the rescue and resettlement of the Russian Mennonites since the Communist Revolution. In chapter eight we have also summarized this story, as well as the involvement of Mennonite Brethren in this mov