A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ued during 1941-42. Classes were TRAINING FOR LIFE AND SERVICE 265 resumed in Virgil in 1943 and as a result a new society was formed. Work continued under the auspices of the Virgil Bible School Society until 1948, when the Ontario conference assumed the administrative responsibility. High school classes had been added, beginning in 1944, so that two schools emerged on one campus. The operation of two institutions on the same grounds created certain problems. Consequently the M.B. Conference of Ontario ac- cepted a recommendation for relocation in 1953. In 1955 the Bible school relocated to Kitchener, where it was housed in the educational building of the Kitchener M.B. Church. However, relocation did not solve the problem of enrollment, which remained small. In 1963 the school was closed. In order to encourage young people to attend Mennonite Brethren Bible schools in Western Canada, the Ontario Conference subsidized each student who enrolled in a denominational Bible school. A number of men have devoted years of service to the Bible school program in Ontario. Besides the brethren mentioned above, the following could be named: A. J. Block, H. Penner, F. Kroeker, P. J. Esau, and W. Kornelson, who served as the school's last principal. Although only three Bible institutes have been in operation in recent years, the Bible school movement among Mennonite Brethren in Canada continues to be a vital spiritual force in the brotherhood. An upsurge in interest and enrollment during the past few years indicates that these schools continue to meet the needs of many young people in their preparation for life and Christian service. Mennonite Brethren High Schools Toward the end of World War II and in the immediate post-war period Mennonite Brethren in Canada established five private high schools. This accelerated effort to provide education on a secondary level was in part precipitated by the rapid rural-urban shift of the M.B. population; in part it was also the result of an increasing demand for such education in preparation for vocational training or university matriculation. The basic motivation, however, in establishing Christian high schools has been an underlying philosophy of Christian education. The objectives of one of these institutions accurately reflects the goals of all M.B. high schools. Eden Christian College (high school) has stated the objectives as follows: 1 . direct unsaved students to a conversion experience; 2. train the students in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; 3. lay the foundation for a fruitful life of service in the Kingdom of God; 4. seek to preserve the spiritual heritage with which God has blessed our church; 5. offer a course of studies in which scholarship and academic thoroughness are fostered in a truly Christian atmosphere. - 7 266 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Only a brief historical sketch of these schools can be given here.