A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ministers. . . . (some) report that, especially young people, as a result of reading the Leader, for the first time are beginning to realize what programs in missions, education, relief, and other areas our Conference is carrying on, stating that they "never knew" our Conference was doing all this. No doubt this will also influence their giving, their praying, and their going. 4 - As a result of this plan, the circulation of the Christian Leader increased to 6,000 by 1960. The subscriptions to the Zionsbote, however, gradually declined and consequently the 1963 General Conference in Winnipeg accepted the motion to "publish the Zionsbote until January 1, 1965, at which time all remaining subscriptions be transferred to the Mennonitinche Rundschau."* 3 Thus the eventful pilgrimage of this " Messenger of Zion" in the Mennonite Brethren Church came to an end after eighty years of faithful service. 298 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH In addition to the books published by the Christian Press, a goodly number of books and pamphlets have been printed by the M.B. Publishing House in Hillsboro, some on a job basis, and others published by the Publishing House. Among these, according to Orlando Harms are the following: Jesus kommt wieder and Topical Outline Studies in Bible Doctrine by H. F. Toews; the Confession of Faith (both German and English); Fundamentals of Faith and Working by Prayer by D. Edmond Hiebert; Kurzgefasste Einleitung ins Alte Testament by A. H. Unruh; Der wundervolle Ratschluss Gottes mit der Menschheit by J. W. Reimer; The Growth of Foreign Missions in the Mennonite Brethren Church by G. W. Peters; The Mennonite Brethren Church by J. H. Lohrenz; Sixty Years of M.B. Missions by Mrs. H. T. Esau; Your Church and You by F. C. Peters, and many other books and pamphlets." In 1946 the Publishing House joined the publication boards of the General Conference Mennonites and the (Old) Mennonites in the production of The Mennonite Encyclopedia. The first volume of this invaluable resource for the study of Anabaptist-Mennonite history appeared in 1955, and the fourth and final volume in 1959. IV. New Era in Publications (Since 1963) Some significant developments in Mennonite Brethren publication efforts have occurred during the last decade. In 1963 the Board of Reference and Counsel of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren recommended to the convention the establishment of a "Christian Literature Commission." The rationale for this recommendation is given as follows: Inasmuch as there is a great need at home and abroad for the production of appropriate Christian literature in the form of books, pamphlets, etc., and inasmuch as the printed page is of tremendous influence in the world today, and inasmuch as proper literature offers a great opportunity to represent our Mennonite Brethren faith and church and to promote the purpose and program of our Conference, we recommend