A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

isted of a small group (four or five young people) deeply committed to Christ and the church, who would travel from church to church accompanied by a "youth sponsor." The purpose of the "caravan" was to communicate Christ — youth to youth. This ministry, carried on during the summer months, inspired youth groups in the churches to a life of Christian discipleship and service. Since 1968 the Board of Youth Services has been merged with the Board of Evangelism and Christian Education. A special "youth commission" of this board is now in charge of coordinating and supervising youth work. 4. Youth Work in Canada Youth work in the early Mennonite Brethren churches in Manitoba and Saskatchewan followed the pattern set by the congregations in the United States. This is understandable since the churches in Manitoba had been founded through the evangelistic outreach of the brethren from the south, and the first churches in Saskatchewan were established by immigrants from Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and several other states. By 1925 the Jugenduerein was an established institution in these churches. The large influx of Mennonite Brethren from Russia in the 1920's (described in chapter eleven) did not result in immediate changes in the pattern of youth work, although it appears that the Jugendverein in its traditional form did not become firmly established in many of these new congregations. Difficult economic conditions in the thirties and government service of many young men in the early forties, imposed serious limitations on the nature and scope of youth work during those years. The denominational Bible institutes rendered invaluable services to many Mennonite Brethren young people since they provided systematic Bible instruction not available in most congregations during that period. The end of World War II marks a turning point in the history of youth work in the Canadian M.B. Conference. The experiences of the war had revealed serious weaknesses in the theological views of many young men who were called to give an account of their faith when they appeared before the Mobilization Board. Many were ignorant of scriptural teaching as well as of historical distinctives to which their church was committed. In 1944 a joint meeting of several boards authorized H. S. Voth, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canada Inland Mission, to appoint a three-man committee. This committee was charged with the responsibility of preparing a "working plan" (Arbeitsplan) for youth work to be presented at the next conference." H. F. Klassen, who had TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE 233 been leader of the youth work in Manitoba, was appointed chairman, and Reuben Baerg (Hepburn) and J. A. Toews, Jr. (Coaldale) as members. In 1945 youth work appeared for the first time on the agenda of the" Canadian M.B. Conference. In his report, Klassen called attention to the "shaking of the foundations," and the need