A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

the booklet, True Nonresistance Through Christ (written by J. A. Toews) which was also printed by the Christian Press. In 1959 the Publications Committee of the Canadian Conference published Alternative Service in Canada During World War II by the same author. Relatively few books in the biblical-theological field have been produced within the Canadian Conference. The expository messages given at the annual Bible conferences in Winnipeg have provided the materials for two books. Messages by A. H. Unruh and H. H. Janzen have been published under the title Der Ewige Sohn Gottes (1948) and messages on 1 Corinthians by D. Ewert, F. C. Peters, and J. A. Toews appeared as Das ernste Ringen um die reine Gemeinde in 1965. In addition, several pamphlets on Christian ethics and church life have been published from time to time. The latest development in the history of Mennonite Brethren 296 HISTORY OF THE MENNON1TE BRETHREN CHURCH publications in Canada is the merger of the Christian Press bookstore with the "Faith and Life" bookstore of the General Conference Mennonites located at Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Initially the combined bookstore is to operate from the present premises of the Christian Press, but the goal of the amalgamation is expansion at a new location. 2. Developments in the United States As indicated earlier, P. H. Berg became editor-manager of the M.B. Publishing House in 1930. The economic depression of the thirties affected every phase of conference work, including publications. In his report to the General Conference in 1933 Berg stated: "The last three years were in many respects perhaps the most difficult in the history of our country, and our work of publications has felt the impact of the Depression all too keenly." 1 " Although the conference saw the need for enlarging the publication business in several directions, including the establishment of a small book bindery, it decided to postpone any expansion until economic conditions would improve. For reasons of economy also the responsibilities of editor and manager were again vested in one person. P. H. Berg must be given credit for his sagacity in keeping the publishing enterprise in operation during this difficult period. By 1936 there were pressing needs, however, that called for a new venture in publications. Many churches were in the midst of a language transition from German to English. The General Conference meeting in Reedley that year went on record as favoring an English periodical "in order to meet the needs of our English speaking young people." 39 This desire was realized when the Christian Leader appeared on March 1, 1937, as the official youth paper of the conference. P. H. Berg served as editor from 1937 through 1939, and J. W. Vogt, pastor of the Hillsboro M.B. Church, from 1940 to 1953. (During the last few years Vogt edited the paper in Corn, Oklahoma.) The Youth Committee was responsible for the publication