A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ary. Several new features such as hymn of the month suggestions and action plans were introduced under his creative leadership. A survey which the Board of Christian Literature conducted in the spring of 1969, was both disturbing and encouraging. Findings of the survey (to which 1200 families and 130 pastors had responded) were as follows: "Less than half of the families have regular daily devotions (according to re- ports from pastors). Eighty percent of those who practice family devo- tions use Worship Together."" The devotional guide did not only meet a widely felt need in the 300 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH M.B. Conference. At the 1969 convention the board was happy to report an interest in the (Old) Mennonite Conference to investigate the possibility of merging their devotional guide with Worship Together. This was the first step in the process that led to the publication of an inter- Mennonite devotional booklet. After prolonged consultations and negotiations among representatives of the (Old) Mennonites, General Conference Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren, the new worship devotional Rejoice!, edited by George Konrad, appeared on March 1, 1972. The total printing of the first issue of Rejoice! was 26,000, with more than 7,300 of these going into Mennonite Brethren homes.'" The Board of Christian Literature rapidly moved into other areas to meet specific needs in the work of the church. In 1968 it published A Manual for Church Membership Classes prepared by an editorial commission consisting of Loyal Martin (coordinator), Al Kroeker, I. Tiessen, H. H. Voth, and Katie Funk Wiebe. A work book entitled, A Study Guide for Church Membership Classes, written by George Konrad, was also published in 1968. A book of helps for ministers, The Minister's Manual was prepared by an editorial commission consisting of Wilmer Kornelson (coordinator), Waldo Hiebert, Orlando Wiebe, and Herbert Brandt. In 1970 the BCL published an illustrated, colorful forty-eight page booklet entitled Introducing the Mennonite Brethren Church, designed to present a basic outline of the historical developments and doc- trinal position of the Mennonite Brethren Church. It was prepared in extensive consultation with pastors and conference agencies in order to provide information for young people and new converts who come from a different church background or have perhaps had no contact with any church. Perhaps the most ambitious undertaking of the young board was the publication of a symposium The Church in Mission (1967), edited by A. J. Klassen. This book, dedicated to J. B. Toews as a sixtieth anniversary tribute for his contribution to the brotherhood as an educator, pastor, and missions administrator, contains a series of twenty-one essays, written by as many leaders of the church, on biblical foundations, historical recovery, and newer dimensions of the church's mission. The vision and personal invol